January NEWSLETTER 2010 |
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have topic you would wish to be discussed in a future newsletter, let us know and we will
consider it.
If you do not want future newsletters, please email or write us advising so and you will be
removed from the list.
Write to: Disappear Hunting Products Inc., PO Box 414, Wadsworth, OH 44282
Email: discoverscent@disappearhp.com
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HUNTERS
As we start another new year, as well as a new decade, this might be a good time to reflect upon the last
year, possibly the last ten years. In regards to your deer hunting, what would you like to change and what do
you want to keep the same? Have you accomplished what you set out to? If not, then what would be your
desired goals in the coming year and decade? For some, harvesting any deer is success and at the other end
of the spectrum, only a record book type buck will do. That leaves a lot of space in between. Let us break
down some goals and how we may accomplish them.
Now, I have never in all my years, met a hunter that is not thrilled to no end, if they collect a dandy buck.
This might not ever be their goal, but there is always a huge smile on their face, as they proudly show you
the pictures. So I suppose I would be on safe ground to say, that the majority of hunters could be trophy
hunters, given the right opportunity. So how can we improve the odds in our favor? The discourse I am about
to share with you is aimed at hunting big bucks, but the principles can be applied to hunting any deer.
First and foremost, we have to hunt where they exist. Not all areas in the US or Canada are going to
produce 150 class and up bucks. If your area is only producing small bucks, due to over population or
mismanagement, there is not a whole lot you can do, except try and collect the best your area has to offer.
So no matter where you are hunting, getting a crack at the best bucks, utilizes the same principles.
Deer are constantly leaving sign and the better we become at reading it, the more opportunities we are
going to have. As my knowledge has increased over the years, I am amazed at some people that are not
sure what rubs and scrapes represent. Or how to determine current food sources, as well as bedding and
safety areas. The most important piece of equipment you can own, is a field journal. I have come to the
conclusion, it is impossible to remember all of the little details from year to year. By writing them down and
also any related things that were different on that hunt. Example, food sources, were they totally different
this time, then last time? Recently, I was talking to an accomplished artist and I expressed my admiration
for her work. Upon asking how, she was able to do such wonderful drawings with charcoal, she shared this
with me. When she started out, she was told to take a picture of what she wanted to draw, then cut it into
small squares ( or grid ) and number them. Then she would take a blank piece of paper, draw the same
number of squares on it with corresponding numbers. With charcoal in hand, she would proceed to draw each
little square, one at a time. So if you want to have a beautiful, complete picture of where you hunt, make a
grid, filling in the blanks, as you scout and hunt year round. Saving this information from year to year, will
then allow you to see any differences. Another example, a farmer plants corn in the same field year after
year. Deer love corn. Now if he chops the corn in early Sep. for silage, as opposed to shelling or picking it in
Nov. or Dec., this is a huge factor on whether or not, deer will keep coming to those fields. Finding out the
farmers plans for the coming fall, will allow you to not waste time hunting the wrong places. Winter and early
spring are the best times, to cover every square foot of the entire area, you have permission to hunt, in
order to gain the total complete picture of what the deer are doing.
If the area you are hunting, consists of thousands to millions of acres, obviously you might have a hard
time covering that much territory. Making a grid of, let’s say one square mile blocks first, then taking your
chosen blocks and breaking them down into the small grids. What do you want to record? Anything that
pertains to deer, especially bucks. Scrapes, rubs, primary and secondary trails, bedding areas and feeding
areas, shed antler locations. Does the time of year produce shifts in the deer movements? Record that
information. It is very important to date your work, so that year in, year out, you are comparing Oct. to Oct.,
etc. I have found that topographical maps are a wonderful medium, to transfer the info of greatest
importance, giving me a year to year comparison on the actual terrain and any changes in deer habits and
movements. Next month, I will go into greater detail on collecting and utilizing the information you gather.
Keith Dotterer
As we start another new year, as well as a new decade, this might be a good time to reflect upon the last
year, possibly the last ten years. In regards to your deer hunting, what would you like to change and what do
you want to keep the same? Have you accomplished what you set out to? If not, then what would be your
desired goals in the coming year and decade? For some, harvesting any deer is success and at the other end
of the spectrum, only a record book type buck will do. That leaves a lot of space in between. Let us break
down some goals and how we may accomplish them.
Now, I have never in all my years, met a hunter that is not thrilled to no end, if they collect a dandy buck.
This might not ever be their goal, but there is always a huge smile on their face, as they proudly show you
the pictures. So I suppose I would be on safe ground to say, that the majority of hunters could be trophy
hunters, given the right opportunity. So how can we improve the odds in our favor? The discourse I am about
to share with you is aimed at hunting big bucks, but the principles can be applied to hunting any deer.
First and foremost, we have to hunt where they exist. Not all areas in the US or Canada are going to
produce 150 class and up bucks. If your area is only producing small bucks, due to over population or
mismanagement, there is not a whole lot you can do, except try and collect the best your area has to offer.
So no matter where you are hunting, getting a crack at the best bucks, utilizes the same principles.
Deer are constantly leaving sign and the better we become at reading it, the more opportunities we are
going to have. As my knowledge has increased over the years, I am amazed at some people that are not
sure what rubs and scrapes represent. Or how to determine current food sources, as well as bedding and
safety areas. The most important piece of equipment you can own, is a field journal. I have come to the
conclusion, it is impossible to remember all of the little details from year to year. By writing them down and
also any related things that were different on that hunt. Example, food sources, were they totally different
this time, then last time? Recently, I was talking to an accomplished artist and I expressed my admiration
for her work. Upon asking how, she was able to do such wonderful drawings with charcoal, she shared this
with me. When she started out, she was told to take a picture of what she wanted to draw, then cut it into
small squares ( or grid ) and number them. Then she would take a blank piece of paper, draw the same
number of squares on it with corresponding numbers. With charcoal in hand, she would proceed to draw each
little square, one at a time. So if you want to have a beautiful, complete picture of where you hunt, make a
grid, filling in the blanks, as you scout and hunt year round. Saving this information from year to year, will
then allow you to see any differences. Another example, a farmer plants corn in the same field year after
year. Deer love corn. Now if he chops the corn in early Sep. for silage, as opposed to shelling or picking it in
Nov. or Dec., this is a huge factor on whether or not, deer will keep coming to those fields. Finding out the
farmers plans for the coming fall, will allow you to not waste time hunting the wrong places. Winter and early
spring are the best times, to cover every square foot of the entire area, you have permission to hunt, in
order to gain the total complete picture of what the deer are doing.
If the area you are hunting, consists of thousands to millions of acres, obviously you might have a hard
time covering that much territory. Making a grid of, let’s say one square mile blocks first, then taking your
chosen blocks and breaking them down into the small grids. What do you want to record? Anything that
pertains to deer, especially bucks. Scrapes, rubs, primary and secondary trails, bedding areas and feeding
areas, shed antler locations. Does the time of year produce shifts in the deer movements? Record that
information. It is very important to date your work, so that year in, year out, you are comparing Oct. to Oct.,
etc. I have found that topographical maps are a wonderful medium, to transfer the info of greatest
importance, giving me a year to year comparison on the actual terrain and any changes in deer habits and
movements. Next month, I will go into greater detail on collecting and utilizing the information you gather.
Keith Dotterer
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