Tips for Hunting in the Woods

Hunting in the woods is much different from staking out an open field. You are more likely to make noise and your patterns must be different if you want to have any chance of spotting game. When your hunt takes you into the forest, follow these tips for staying stealthy and getting the kill.

Set Up Early

Hunting, regardless of the game and place, should start early in the morning, but this is especially true when hunting in the woods. Stepping over logs and on beds of dry, crispy leaves will alert game to your presence and spoil any chance of getting the kill. According to DeerHuntingTips.biz, it is best to sit quietly in your blind for quite a while after setting up to give the woods a chance to calm down. Before long, you’ll see game begin to drift your way.

Wear Orange

rtant when you are otherwise disguised by trees and foliage. Likewise, you should be on the look-out for flashes of orange in the woods that might signal the presence of another hunter. Never discharge your weapon if there is any doubt that another human is within range.

Cover Your Scent

Don’t let the wind cover in the woods fool you into thinking that game cannot smell you from a mile a way. Scent cover products, available at most outdoor stores, are used to blend your scent with the rest of your surroundings and avoid alerting animals. Some of these work better than others, so try out several products this hunting season to see which works best in the woods.

Wait for the Shot

For some reason, I’ve found that it is more tempting to let off a shot as soon as you see game in the woods than when hunting out in the open. Resist the urge. You will have far more luck hunting in the woods if you take time to set up the shot, when the animal is still and within range. Shooting too early could mean missing the animal entirely or failing to strike a killing blow.

Wait for the Approach

If the animal doesn’t drop right away after a shot while hunting in the woods, wait a good 30-45 minutes before trying to catch the trail. If you try to approach sooner, you will likely scare the animal farther away, reducing the chances of locating it before dark. Your loud footsteps in the woods will make it more difficult, so force yourself to stay in your blind if the animal has darted out of sight.

I’ve always found that hunting in the woods is more of a challenge, and I enjoy it more than hunting in a field. This, like any other hunting excursion, takes practice, so try out different techniques until you perfect one that works for you.

Source:

DeerHuntingTips.biz, Introduction to Hunting