SAIL Blog

How to Hunt White-Tailed Deer: Tips, Techniques and Other Essentials

SAIL

October 15, 2024

Share

Facebook Email
Deer Hunting

Every year, hundreds of thousands of hunters venture into the woods in pursuit of the majestic and elusive white-tailed deer. With its keen hearing and acute sense of smell, this game presents a formidable and exciting challenge to hunting enthusiasts. To boost your chances of harvesting, you will need careful planning, strategic thinking, and effective tactics. Here are some essential tips, techniques and equipment to guide you in your deer-hunting adventure.

This article was written in collaboration with Born To Hunt.

In this post

  1. Where and when to hunt white-tailed deer
  2. How to set up your hunting zone
  3. Effective deer calling techniques
  4. Deer rubs and scrapes
  5. Deer hunting essentials

Where and when to hunt white-tailed deer

Quebec and Ontario offer many great locations for deer hunting. Anticosti and the Whitetail Triangle may come to mind, but they are far from the only areas of interest. This species of cervid is abundant around clearings, leafy and mixed forests, fields, and water sources, especially in the southern parts of both provinces. From private land to wildlife reserves and outfitters, hunters of all levels can find amazing white-tailed deer hunting locations across the territory.

Fall hunting dates

White-tailed deer season usually takes place around
October and November in Quebec, and between September and December in Ontario, depending on the hunting zone, weapon and type of deer.

Spring prep for deer season

Though you must wait until fall to hunt whitetail, the whole process begins well before opening day. Spring is the ideal time to start planning and setting up. As Martin from Born to Hunt explains, this is when you should choose your hunting zone, prepare mineral sites or food plots, and start creating attractive spots and trails for deer.
When the snow has melted but the trees haven’t leafed out yet, you have the best conditions to explore your hunting territory and look for signs of deer presence. It’s also a perfect time to set up trail cameras so you can understand the type of game you’re dealing with and start planning your hunting season.

How to set up your hunting zone

White-tailed deer are a smart species with highly acute senses, so you can’t leave your hunt to chance. Set up for success with timely planning and thorough preparation.

Installing trail cameras

To determine how to hunt white-tailed deer in the best
possible way, you must get to know the game in your hunting zone. This includes knowing which types of deer visit your site, the natural trails they use to get there, and their peak activity times. Placing trail cameras on your hunting grounds is the best way to achieve this.
A few reconnaissance visits may be necessary to find the right spots for your hunting cameras. Keep your eyes open for deer trails, bedding areas, scrapes and rubs, and aim to place your cameras in the transitional zones between where deer sleep and where they feed. To get the best and most precise images, choose models with a broad field of vision, a discreet and effective flash, and high definition for clear videos and pictures. Look toward brands like Browning and Spypoint to find the ones that suit your needs (and learn everything about trail cameras in our related blog article).

Hunting in a blind, tree stand, or on foot

Hunters have various takes on the best way to hunt deer. Many swear by using hides and lookout points, others prefer walking and scanning for game, and some even do a bit of both. Common to all methods is the need to stay silent, avoid excessive movement, cover your scent, and always position yourself to face the wind.
Still hunting is a stimulating challenge for sure. Rather than covering a lot of ground, the idea is to try to move toward areas likely to have deer, such as feeding spots early in the morning when it’s cool and quiet. You must walk slowly and carefully, stopping often to listen and scan your surroundings, and be extremely wary of noise and odours.
Hunting from a hide pairs well with baiting to attract game. If using a ground blind, cover it with brush and vegetation to blend in, or create a natural blind using elements like tree stumps, rocks, and branches. You can also install a stand to hide in the trees and get a higher vantage. Set up your lookout points about 150-200 metres from a baiting site, near the trails deer use to access it. If possible, use more than one hide so you can alternate and maximize your chances of success.

Baiting white-tailed deer

When preparing your hunting zone, you want to create
an area that deer will find attractive enough to visit again and again. With your game cameras in place, you can observe them and pick out the most strategic spots to create action, wait and, if all goes well, eventually harvest.
In the spring, when food is still scarce, deer actively seek salt and other minerals, so setting up mineral sites is a very effective way to attract them. Refill your site during the summer and again before the season starts. As you get closer to your hunting dates, start creating baiting sites for added attraction. Use foods like apples, corn, and carrots, or special deer mixes made for this purpose.

Using scents to attract deer

The acute sense of smell of white-tailed deer presents
a challenge when it comes to staying undetected. But if you know how to use it to your advantage, it can also prove to be a very helpful tool. Enhance the attractive effect of your baits and mineral sites by adding jam, coulis and other scented lures, or spread urines in fake scrapes or along deer trails to create scent lines.

Effective deer calling techniques

Drawing white-tailed deer closer with calls requires technique and timing. Calling is most effective during the rut and pre-rut, when deer are focused on finding mates and bucks become more territorial. Use female deer bleat calls to attract males, and grunt calls to trigger bucks’ competitive instincts. Pairing your calls with rattling, which simulates the clash of antlers during a spar between young bucks, can also help draw in males looking for action.
Earlier in the season and after the rut is over, calls should be used more sparingly. Keep in mind that excessive calling will sound unnatural and raise suspicion. You can use light grunts to draw a deer closer when it’s in sight, along with light doe calls or fawn bleats, for instance.

 

Deer rubs and scrapes

When roaming your hunting grounds for white-tailed deer or signs of their presence, pay close attention to the trees and the ground around them. Deer have a habit of rubbing their antlers on trees and scraping the ground with their hooves to mark territory and establish dominance. When you spot one of these marks, keep your eyes peeled: you’ll probably see a few more around, revealing valuable information about the natural trails deer follow. Rubs and scrapes can also provide clues about the types of deer in the area (i.e., their age, size, etc.).

Choosing the right equipment

White-tailed deer hunting doesn’t require a lot of gear. Once you have your trail cameras, baiting sites and hunting zone set up, all you need are your game calls, weapon, and a few essentials.

Weapon and accessories

The choice of a weapon for white-tailed deer hunting is really a matter of personal preference. Whether you opt for a bow, crossbow, rifle, or shotgun, there are plenty of options to match every hunter’s needs and tastes. Pay great attention to quality, both for the weapon and every accessory you pair it with. A high-quality scope, for instance, can make a significant difference. If you’re hunting with a firearm, remember to wear ear protection for safety.

Deer hunting essentials

Your main focus when you’re out hunting should be on finding (and hopefully harvesting) game. One way to work toward that is to be well prepared and have all the necessary equipment with you.

Hunting clothing and boots

Hunting in the fall means you must be ready to face
all kinds of temperatures and weather conditions. Layering is your best option and will help you adapt to anything. Go with versatile and breathable layers early in the season, and focus more on warmth as you advance toward the colder months.

  • A waterproof and insulated hunting jacket is essential for rain (or snow!) and brisk wind.
  • For the lower half, choose hunting pants or overalls with a water-resistant and windproof exterior.
  • Consider adding heated accessories and clothing (like heated insoles, vests, or gloves) for comfort and safety if you hunt late in the season, and always carry accessories such as a tuque, neck warmer and gloves to stay warm.
  • Complete your hunting attire with a comfortable pair of boots that support your ankles, possibly waterproof or insulated depending on your preferences and where and when you’re going to hunt.

The other crucial feature for your hunting clothing is silence. The last thing you want is to make noise every time you move your arms or take a step. Make sure your clothes – fabric, closures, and accessories – are silent. The same goes for your gear: no one wants squeaky boots or a backpack with noisy zippers and buckles.

Optical instruments

Scanning the woods with your eyes alone can make it
seem like there’s no game in sight, but add binoculars and you may spot deer or signs of their presence that you would never have seen otherwise. Choose a high-quality model from a trusted brand like Bushnell or Vortex, and keep a soft cloth handy to wipe the lenses if they get wet or dirty.
Another essential tool for your gear checklist is a rangefinder. Aiming at the right distance is the key to making effective and ethical shots. Use your rangefinder ahead of the hunt to set distance markers and be ready when a deer appears.

Hunting backpack

You can’t go hunting without a reliable backpack to keep your essentials handy. Here’s what Martin from Born to Hunt always packs in his:

  • Flagging tape
  • Compass
  • Evisceration tools
  • Matches
  • Granola bars or similar snacks
  • Water bottle

You don’t need to overfill your backpack, but make sure you have enough snacks and water to last a few hours in case you’re forced to stay out longer than expected. A small first-aid kit is also a smart addition.

Multi-tool, game calls, and odour eliminators

You’ll never regret bringing a multi-tool on your hunting trip (or any outing, really). This highly versatile piece of gear is useful for butchering, cutting branches, handling tape or rope, making small repairs, and so much more.

Game calls are an important part of your white-tailed deer hunting strategy, so check that you have them before setting out on your trip. Ideally, bring more than one call to vary the sounds and maximize the effect on your prey.
Be sure to remove all unnatural scents from your hunting clothing and gear before setting foot in your hunting zone. Air everything out and use odour-eliminating products (soap, laundry detergent, dryer sheets, etc.) before storing it in airtight bags. When you leave, carry a bottle of odour eliminator and reapply regularly to evade the deer’s keen sense of smell.

GPS, cellphone, or radio

A GPS device is a very helpful tool when you’re on the
hunt, exploring your territory, and setting up your hunting zone. One of the most valuable features of a GPS for hunting is the ability to create waypoints. You can mark specific locations and reference points, such as blinds, baiting sites, deer rubs and scrapes. This helps you navigate and find your way around, plus it can play an important role in your strategy.

On your cellphone, you can use satellite views in apps like Avenza Maps (which conveniently works without cellular reception) to examine your territory and identify potential areas of interest in your hunting zone. It’s also useful for spotting paths and trails that may not appear on some maps and, like a GPS, it can help you find your way back if you get lost.
Since there may be no reception when you hunt deep in the woods or in remote areas, consider bringing a two-way radio or satellite communicator as well to ensure you can contact someone if needed.

FAQ

When is deer hunting season in Ontario?

What is the best time to hunt deer?

You might also like