Whitetail Deer for Beginners
This year, the Ministry of Natural Resources has put out tag draws for Moose, Elk, antlerless deer, and the controlled deer category. They are still running and the results will be soon. While waiting in anticipation, let's prepare a little!
Let’s give you the rundown to the most common deer species in North America — Whitetail Deer. Their mannerisms, hunting methods, the best time to hunt them, clothing to wear, and the firearms commonly used to hunt them. For beginner hunters, we hope this is a good starting point.
Whitetails
White-tailed deer are named for the white patch under their tails. They flip their tail up and flash their white backside as they run to help distract and disorient predators.
They are nervous creatures with good eyesight, an amazing sense of smell, and sharp hearing. This makes them challenging to hunt. They can detect you from miles away. Plus, they're very agile, running at speeds of up to 48 Km/hr. They usually like to be alone, but sometimes graze in herds. They feed from just before sunset until morning, and then again from late afternoon to sunset. Think breakfast and dinner, but no lunch!
Season
The best time to hunt Whitetail deer is during their rutting season, September to December. This period is divided into 3 phases: pre-rut, rut and post-rut. During pre-rut and post-rut, the deer will focus on feeding and gaining energy, making them most active from sunrise to morning and late afternoon to sunset. As for the rutting season, bucks (male deer) will be busy searching for does (female deer) and can be seen during the day. Since bucks are distracted by breeding, they will be easier to hunt.
In Ontario, our open hunting season for deer usually runs the first two weeks of November. This season allows use of your rifle or shotgun, depending on the area you are hunting in. Bow hunting season is often much, much longer because… Good luck! Now there’s a challenge!
Firearms for Whitetails
Depending on where you live and what the local laws are, you might be able to hunt with rifles and shotguns, traditional muzzle-loading guns, and bows. There can be restrictions on firearms calibers or ammunition, and some areas will only allow the use of bows. It differs from area to area, so it's important to check the regulations here. More specific restrictions on the usage of the firearms can be found here.
Pre-season Scouting
Pre-season is a huge part of the hunt. Looking at habitat, behaviour patterns, where they hang out, and food sources set you up for your hunt. Before hunting anything we need to figure out where the deer are most likely to feed. Deer continuously change their feeding sites (eg. acorn patch, farmland, etc.) throughout the year and it might even change day by day. But one thing that doesn’t change often is their bedding areas (eg. thickets like marsh patches, newly planted Christmas trees, etc.). These areas are often connected to each other by a path like a deer trail. And pre-season scouting is for finding these areas.
During the pre-rut, bucks create scrapes and rubs near their territory at night. Scrapes are shallow digs in the soil where bucks deposit their scent, while rubs are made by rubbing their necks and antlers on tree branches. These will leave a mark for you to identify. These scents will attract other bucks and does. What a perfect spot for a hunter to set up camp!
Ways to hunt
There are two main ways to hunt Whitetail deer - stand hunting and still hunting.
Stand or ambush hunting - This method is popular among hunters who value a more passive approach. You set up a base on either an elevated surface like a tree or a ground blind and wait. There are pros and cons but the goal is masking your presence and waiting for the deer to come to you.
Still hunting - This method is for those who like a more active hunt. Despite its name, still hunting involves stalking and ambushing the deer. The hunter would track a buck or doe and follow it stealthily, waiting for the right moment to shoot. Camouflage and masking your scent and noise is crucial as the Whitetail deer have keen senses and could easily escape. How do you do that? Well, we can’t cover everything in one article!
What to wear?
It is important to dress for the weather, of course, but also important to dress for the hunt. For the weather, choose fabrics that will keep you comfortable for long periods. Moisture-wicking and soft natural fabrics like cotton and wool are popular. They to make less noise than synthetic materials like nylon or polyester and retain heat even when wet.
For the hunt, be careful about UV brighteners. Most of your fabric softeners and detergents have UV brighteners to make your clothes shine after a wash, and that will help the deer see you too! Use cleaners that don’t have that.
Don’t forget your 400 sq inches (0.26 m²) of hunter orange above the waist in Ontario. It’s the law for your safety. Hard to mistake a bright orange vest for a deer. Don’t worry though, the deer won’t spot you. Hunter Orange is outside their visual spectrum, so it won’t blow your cover.
Have fun!
Hunting whitetail deer can involve a lot of patience but the reward is worth it. If you're worried about hunting alone, try joining a party with friends or signing up for a hunting trip! You don't have to do it alone. Research until you feel confident. Happy hunting!
