Critical Tools & Tips

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Ski

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For those of you who take a serious approach to hunting old and/or big bucks, what is one tool or habit that is critical to success?

For me it's pruning sheers. I don't go to the woods without them. Lots of folks give heavy credence to scent control. I've been in the woods lots of times with guys like that and then see them casually walking through vegetation and brush without a second thought.

I'm different. I don't give scent control much thought but I'm very conscious about touching anything, especially anything that could touch my head. My pruning sheers are always in my hand cutting away leaves, snags. Small branches, etc. I cannot prevent the bottom of my boots touching the ground but I don't have to touch anything else. And it absolutely makes the difference. Anybody who's ever watched an old buck knows how they go slow and sniff EVERYTHING along the way

So how about yall? What's one thing that is an absolute? Could be a tool or maybe a strategic approach. For me it's pruning sheers to keep the woods from being a giant human scent wick. I wear a set out almost every season.

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The most used investment that I thought we wouldn't use as much as we do. Is an extendable power pole saw.

A bigger tool that has been used a ton is a skid steer with a grapple.

As far as in my pack that I never leave out of it is a fold saw and swivel bow hanger. And I always have binoculars always always always.

The biggest reason i think we consistently kill big deer is our preparation to capitalize on our opportunities. And being ready for our opportunities.

Honestly there's so much It's hard to pin point one or two things for me. This will be an interesting thread.
 
For me it's usually a 50 pound feed sack. I try to get the corn flavored ones. They smell like corn because they have 50 pounds of corn in them. Usually by the time I get to my stand I'm tired of carrying around 50 pounds so I dump out the actual corn. I feel like the scent isn't as good once the corn is gone so I usually get a new feed sack for the next trip
 
Binos - I want to be able to judge a deer before it's in range to determine if I need to concentrate on getting a shot, or if I'm going to let it walk. Most of the time, with binos, I can see a buck in some close brush, 30-50 yards, and can pick apart the outline to see if it meets my criteria as a shooter. The binos let me focus in on the deer while the background and foreground go blurry. Then I can get ready to execute a good shot when one becomes available.
 
Ski said:
For those of you who take a serious approach to hunting old and/or big bucks, what is one tool or habit that is critical to success?
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I thought about this for a long time, and honestly - and this will be a boring answer - the tool that makes me most successful is my ATV. I still do a lot of scouting leading up to season opener, and in the past, noticed just how jumpy older to mature bucks are about encountering human scent where people walk in the woods. However, I have also noticed these same bucks pay almost no attention to the scent an ATV leaves after it has been driven through the woods. For this reason, I now almost never scout on foot. I only scout from the back of my ATV, and the deer seem to be completely oblivious to the fact I've been there.
 
deerhunter10 said:
Honestly there's so much It's hard to pin point one or two things for me. This will be an interesting thread.
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Yeah it really is a broad topic. I've got a dozen different ways I could answer. I've got a broad blade hatchet/machete type thing i use a lot too. It's especially handy cutting a path through brier thickets or hinging 3" and smaller saplings. It's also good for hacking vines and branches for mock scrapes.

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BSK said:
I thought about this for a long time, and honestly - and this will be a boring answer - the tool that makes me most successful is my ATV. I still do a lot of scouting leading up to season opener, and in the past, noticed just how jumpy older to mature bucks are about encountering human scent where people walk in the woods. However, I have also noticed these same bucks pay almost no attention to the scent an ATV leaves after it has been driven through the woods. For this reason, I now almost never scout on foot. I only scout from the back of my ATV, and the deer seem to be completely oblivious to the fact I've been there.
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I certainly use my SxS for working on the property and putting around but can't say I've ever scouted from it or my atv. I don't hunt with it either, other than retrieval.
 
Buzzard Breath said:
Binos - I want to be able to judge a deer before it's in range to determine if I need to concentrate on getting a shot, or if I'm going to let it walk. Most of the time, with binos, I can see a buck in some close brush, 30-50 yards, and can pick apart the outline to see if it meets my criteria as a shooter. The binos let me focus in on the deer while the background and foreground go blurry. Then I can get ready to execute a good shot when one becomes available.
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Binos is something I've never used. I probably should get some now that my eyes are finally starting to wane.
 
BSK said:
I thought about this for a long time, and honestly - and this will be a boring answer - the tool that makes me most successful is my ATV. I still do a lot of scouting leading up to season opener, and in the past, noticed just how jumpy older to mature bucks are about encountering human scent where people walk in the woods. However, I have also noticed these same bucks pay almost no attention to the scent an ATV leaves after it has been driven through the woods. For this reason, I now almost never scout on foot. I only scout from the back of my ATV, and the deer seem to be completely oblivious to the fact I've been there.
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Oh man our side by sides and tractors are invaluable tools. Like I said to many to list.
 
Ski said:
I certainly use my SxS for working on the property and putting around but can't say I've ever scouted from it or my atv. I don't hunt with it either, other than retrieval.
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Because of what I do for a living (mapping and assessing properties from the back of my ATV) I'm forced to drive my ATV right through areas most smart ATV drivers would avoid. Because of all this "forced" extreme situation driving, I've gotten pretty good at driving an ATV anywhere. That's why I scout from it. Very few places I can't get my little ATV to (old standard trans Honda 350 Rancher). Up steep hills, down steep hills, through creeks and swamps, straight through brier-filled timber cuts, etc.
 
Like most folks, the time I'm most likely to kill an exceptional buck is during the rut. When I go on those hunts on WMA's where I'm in the woods all day for days in a row, I need some creature comforts.

Sounds silly, but my shoulder harness pack is a piece of equipment I won't go without. I can take all the food, drink, and clothing needed for those all day ground hunts that I do. That pack enables me to tough it out.

When I was a lot younger and only threw what I needed in the pockets of my cargo pants, I'd not be able to stay nearly as long. I won't do those type hunts anymore without that type pack.
 

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I've made it a habit to make friends with the locals. I'm blessed to have several farms to hunt but know good and well one day it will come to an end. I've met a couple of farmers I believe would let me hunt but don't need it quite yet.
Oh yeah my walking stick is always with me.
 
Boots that have never been on carpet, cabin floor, or anything but dirt.

So many variables to this.

A coyote call to scare deer out of a field so you can exit and not have a human affiliation
 
Lost Lake said:
Sounds silly, but my shoulder harness pack is a piece of equipment I won't go without. I can take all the food, drink, and clothing needed for those all day ground hunts that I do. That pack enables me to tough it out.
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Good point Lost Lake. Being comfortable is critical to hunting longer.
 
It's a hard choice as to what is most important. I'm boiling it down to two things - Summit Goliath Treestand and my Blanket Bag. These two things keep me very warm and comfortable, which allows me to spend significant time in the woods. The blanket bag takes the place of coveralls, insulated pants, and boot blankets - I get all that in one and stay my lower half stays warm and comfy in cold weather and is much easier to put on and carry in than coveralls, insulated pants, and boot blankets. To your original post, Ski, I try to make trails in so as not touch anything and wear gloves on the walk in and out.
 

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