12 Notes: ---------- Plan your hunt with the "Deer Expert" - get latest version Check weather conditions as hunt approaches to make sure you have a good plan and the right equipment - have lakes frozen? Put gun deer season on work vacation schedule Get up to hunting area early for pre-hunt scouting Reserve hunting lodge early Get deer license early and send in doe/extra deer permit in time Eat a more high carbohydrate meal the night before; easy on the heavy steaks Go to spring deer shows Make sure to sight in Use the right grain of bullet for proper expansion when you hit the deer Scout deer in off season Ask locals (farmsers,postman, deliverymen, etc) where they see big bucks or other deer Call outfitters, sporting goods store owners, taxidermists, hunting clubs, wardens, biologists, and forest managers to see where good deer hunting and big bucks are. Check all equipment ahead of time for proper working condition - especially check tree stands and safety harnesses Review deer cleaning procedure Make map of stand locations for different wind directions and approaches Sign up yourself and kids for hunter education and safety courses Use orange marking tape to mark areas where you find blood sign from a wounded deer so you can find them as you search or find the sign perhaps the next day. Remember to take these down when you find the deer and return. Sometimes a whistle will cause a running buck to stop. Shooting notes: When standing or with other techniques use some sort of rest - a branch, rock, ground, pack, tree - to get a steady, supported shot when possible - especially at longer distances. A sitting position with elbows on knee may also work. Set up a bipod from a forked branch if you can. (For a right handed shooter) - pull rifle butt securely into right shoulder with right hand. Left hand supports rifle weight and helps aiming. Do not grip to tightly - this causes less control. Press cheek firmly to stock. Take a deep breath, exhale part of it, keep remaining breath in lungs as you sight in so that breathing does not cause sight picture to wobble, squeeze off shot when satisfied with the sight picture. When you hold breath for extended seconds, it increases your heart beat causing wobbling. Squeeze the trigger smoothly without jerking. If possible get your shot ready and shoot when deer cannot see you or is looking away from you. The deer will not hear you take the safety off when you are downwind. Best shot when deer is broadside to you: Aim at deer just behind the front shoulder (up and a little right of the front leg of the deer). This gives you a fatal lung shot which is quick and merciful on the deer with no lost meat and a larger margin for success on the shot. When deer faces you, shoot for where neck joins body. When deer angles away from you place shot so it will eventually get into the lung area. e.g. when quartering away from you, shoot behind rib cage so bullet will go into lung area as it travels through the deer. This depends also on the speed of the animal. Shoot when deer stands still when possible. Lead deer more when they run faster; less or not at all when they move slowly. Practice allows you to master these techniques. At least practice them when you sight in. You can also practice the breathing technique before hand. You may want to simulate shooting beforehand at a minimum to get the feel of how to properly shoot and as a warm up exercise. Shoot only at a distance you have some confidence at. ** In freezing weather be careful of bolt "freezing" when shooting causing misfires. Dry bolt and firing pin (in addition to barrel) before going out. This prevents oil from acting like molasses and slowing bolt which requires a certain speed to cause ignition of the round. Also be careful of condensation caused by going from warm cabin or car to outside. Keep rifle in trunk during season. Added magnification on a scope may exagerate wobble