Outdoors: Helpful hints to ponder as hunting season approaches

Posted: Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Georgia's archery season for deer is just around the corner and the excitement that comes with it is equivalent to Christmas morning for a 5-year-old.

Here are some things that might help you bag the big one and make your season a success:

The season opens Sept. 11 statewide, and the early part of the season puts you at an advantage. The woods haven't been trampled by humans and the result is more deer movement during daylight hours.

Once the sounds and smells of hunters permeate your hunting area, the deer can change patterns and be hesitant to move until after dark.

It may be hot and humid and the insects will probably be intolerable, but that built-in benefit may be just the edge you need to get bring down the buck you've been waiting for.

The early part of the season is advantageous for another reason: it is easier to figure out the patterns of deer movement.

In their late-summer pattern, deer are tuned into finding and using areas where food is plentiful, being near a water supply and having a place to bed down where they feel safe.

Your goal is to figure out how they are getting to and from these areas and setting up your stand accordingly.

It is a wise move to have two stands to rotate between because wind direction will sometimes dictate the path they take and you need to be in a position to use that in your favor.

The white-tail deer has a legendary nose, thus wind direction and scent control are important.

There are literally hundreds of products and ways to help with scent control, but the most efficient way to keep a deer from smelling you is to use the wind to your advantage. That is not always possible when wind swirls or changes without notice.

There are also days when the wind is so light that it is hard to figure out which way the air is moving. The slightest bit of air movement in the wrong direction can prove to be your undoing.

That said, you should at least take basic precautions to make sure you are not stinking up the woods with your odor.

Whether you use the available products on the market to control scent or just use common-sense tactics like not smoking, washing your gear in odorless detergent or contaminating your hunting ground with unnecessary walking around, just understand that you will get more opportunities if you pay attention to this detail.

Another misconception is that you have to use a bow that is maxed out for you on the draw. For most shots, a 50- or 60-pound draw weight will generate plenty of speed for a kill.

Having a bow that is difficult to get in position can do a couple of things - it can cause you to make more noise prior to the shot and it may even keep you from getting a shot if your stance angle is not ideal.

Another reason is that as the weather gets colder, your bow is going to get harder to pull back. If you are at your strength limit in the fall, you might have a hard time with it once cold weather moves in.

There are a few other things to consider as you prepare for opening day. Some of these may work for you and others may not apply, depending on where you are hunting.

Make sure your broadheads are sharp. If you shoot them into a target, they will not be as sharp as they could be. If you have killed an animal with a broadhead, don't use it again without changing or sharpening the blades.

Use decoys if you are hunting in an area where they can be easily seen by the deer. Decoys in the woods are not much use, but can be helpful if hunting open areas.

Lastly, don't forget the most important thing: practice as much as possible. You can't do anything more important in preparing for a season. All your hard work and preparation can go down the drain if you can't hit your target.

As you get ready for the new season, remember that you are playing on your rival's home field, and he has the edge. Do everything you can to put the advantage on your side.

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