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Hunting Tips | NIGHT HUNTING

Gain the advantage with these great deer hunting tips.

Watch the Wind

We are not only talking about your set up, but as you approach your stand position. Many predators catch human scent as hunters walk to a set up. Do not walk into a location when your scent is going to be beating you there.

Crunchy snow

This tip is related to #1. Predators have fantastic hearing. If the snow is noisy underfoot, you will spook game out of the area. For nighttime hunts, make short calling set ups as soon as possible without having to walk far distances. Hunters can then progress into the hunting area knowing that any close vicinity predators have fair opportunity to respond with minimal spooking.

Know your distances

Misjudging distance is a major contributor to missed shots. If you have access to land for night hunting, be sure that you use a rangefinder in the daylight on landmarks such as hedgerows, trees, and farm equipment. By doing so, you will have some idea of distance when a predator shows up in the darkness of night.

Anticipate the shot

This is not an exact science, but if you can have your gun pointed in the right direction when a predator appears, you will have a major advantage. In the dark, hunters can move to adjust a shot slightly more than during the light. If the predator howls or barks in the distance, you can anticipate his approach better as well. By having your weapon ready, you can concentrate on the shot and not on getting into position without being detected.

Watch the backside

It is believed that for every 1 predator spotted by hunters, 5 more respond without being seen. When hunting with a partner, have one hunter sit facing the opposite direction. It is this hunter who may intercept the predators as they approach the backside of a set up in attempt to wind the situation.

Is your light ready?

Proper spotlight care is vital to its use afield. If you simply snap on a red lens and start hunting, you may be in for trouble. Many times the red lens will not for a secure fit around the light and a white light will leak out.

This is enough to scare off predators in many situations. In order to prevent this, take camouflage tape and seal off the area around the lens. Another tip is to place a tube made out of cardboard or pvc around the light. The tube will really direct the light beam and avoid the occurrence of lighting up objects close to the hunter.

A battery of batteries

We mentioned previously that the equipment involved in night hunting is often cumbersome to carry. Knowing that a single spotlight will not carry enough charge to get you through a night, the hunter must have a backup plan. One idea is to purchase multiple lights. I did this and still have 3 or 4 at my disposal. However, it gets to be a pain to carry them around and have them in your backpack and even in your vehicle. A more efficient idea is to purchase spare 6 volt batteries and have them with you. Although they have some weight, they are far less bulky.

Hidden Landscapes

The last thing you want to have happen is to call in a coyote only to loose sight of him as he approaches. This usually happens when hunters set up in new areas and do not realize that the terrain has dips or rises in it that will hinder your vision at the moment of truth. It is often beneficial to set up high in the landscape so that you are looking down on the area you are calling.

Proper use of spotlight

The manner is which you use your light may have direct consequence on your hunting success. Number one, scan the area quickly. Keep the beam moving to catch any eyes of incoming critters. If eyes are detected, keep the light on! Switching the light on and off may alarm or spook the predator. Direct the beam so that the bottom edge of the beam (known as the halo) is on the eyes. Many times a predator will get spooked if the intensity of the main beam is focused directly at the eyes. It is best to play it safe and only highlight the glowing eyes by using the halo to your advantage.

After the shot

The work is not complete after the trigger has been pulled. Hopefully, you will hear the telltale "whump" of a hit. Even so, keep calling and scanning the area for other predators as it is not uncommon to have them come in as pairs. Make a mental note of where you shot, so that you will have an easier time of finding the downed critter. Better yet, have a partner keep a light on the critter as you go to retrieve it.