Where to Hunt

You've purchased and obtained your permits and you've practiced with your equipment. So, what's next? Well, it is now time to decide where you're going to be hunting. This will depend on what type of hunting you are going to be doing and what's available for you. Because I live in Kansas, I will be using my state as an example. I'll first show you regions to hunt near you, then, where to hunt, specifically out in the field.

Where to Hunt: Region

To begin, lets check out this website: Ksoutdoors
Save this website to refer back to. Here, you can find out all hunting seasons, permits needed, helpful information, where to hunt, and more.

On the left side of the page, scroll down until you see where to hunt. Next run your mouse, or click on your region, for Topeka, Ks, select the NorthEast region.

Here, you will see places that are either public land granted by the government or private property that is being leased out by their owners. For people who do not own their own land and need to hunt elsewhere, this is the website for you. These lands for public hunting do come with a stipulation. Most say archery hunting only. Do your due diligence to see if you can rifle hunt in the area you head out to. 

Where to Hunt: In Field 

It is now time to scout out the field you chose to hunt in. Here is when you choose what kind of hunter you are because, archery and rifle hunters will take two separate paths here. Let's begin with archery.

With archery, you need to hunt close to where you believe your deer will be walking or eating near. You want to be able to have a deer walk 50yd or closer without noticing you. With a tree stand you can do just that. However, you need to be placed in a field or on a deer trail where the deer are walking to either eat or go back to their bedding. More things you have to account for is wind, noice, and sight because these will prevent deer from walking anywhere close to you. Archery takes skill. Take the time to do more research on where to place yourself in a field as a archer. 

On the other side of the spectrum is rifle hunting. Although it's not a walk in the park, rifle hunting is much easier to find a place in a field with higher chances of taking down a deer. It's possible to hunt with a bow on the ground, but uncommon, however with a rifle you can hunt on or above ground with no problems. The advantage you have with a rifle that makes hunting easier is the distance. Being 200+yd away from your target allows your scent, noice, and sight to be more lenient while hunting. There can be some upsides and downsides to both though.

The greatest advantage you have as a bow hunter is the ability to hunt deep in the woods because your bow only reaches out 50yd max with accuracy. That is a disadvantage too. The other disadvantage is that your tree stand will need to be set up in advanced before hunting. The only exception to this is if you have climbing tree stand. Whereas as a rifle hunter, you use the open area, such as a field to your advantage. Vice Versa, the woods make rifle hunting more difficult.

With this knowledge given to you, understand where you can hunt legally in your region, but also take the time to scout out where to hunt in your field or woods! The great thing is you can move around and try different spots both within your region and out in the field. Just keep in mind hunting is hunting not shooting. Don't expect a deer to just walk right out in front of you, patience is key and will pay off. To put this last statement in perspective, I hunted the same field and the same spot every week all last year during the season. It wasn't until the very last day of the season that I shot my buck. So, don't just move constantly hoping to find a deer. Let them find you. Go out and scout your fields now! 

Equipment

As we come to the end of the first week of archery season, it's time to start talking about equipment. Don't feel pressured that you're rifle or especially your bow isn't sighted in because there is plenty of time left for both. So, let's get to it.

Archery

To begin, there are two types of bows:

Recurve:

This bow is much more simplistic compared to a compound bow. Although it is lightweight and easier to carry, the downside is that it relies on much more practice hit a target and requires much more strength to pull back the single stringed bow. 

Compound Bow:

Compared to the last bow, this one is much more complex and more expensive. The nice things about these bows are that they require less strength to pull them back. Due to the pulley system, the weight is distributed amongst the strings allowing for easier pull back. There is also more attachments that can be added to this bow including: a quiver (arrow holster), sights, and/or even a whisker biscuit which holds the arrow steady while drawing the bow back.

The main materials you need for a bow would be arrows, arrow heads which there are two types, practice and hunting tips, sightings (for a compound bow),a quick release which isn't necessary but very helpful, and lastly a target. The best way to learn to hunt with a bow is to practice daily. I would honestly recommend a compound bow as a starter bow because of the fact that its easier to use and you add sights. To set up the sight on a compound bow you usually have three to four pegs. Each peg should represent a yards away from you. So, for example, the top peg may be used for a deer at 20yd while the bottom one my be 50yd. To sight your bow, look down a peg at the yards you want and release the arrow. If you're too high lower the peg and vice versa.

Now go out and practice with your bow! If you want a challenge try aiming for this nearly impossible challenge that every hunter hopes to complete. I've only completed this challenge once in my life and it was a great feeling! So, here it is, as you shoot your first arrow at your target, you want to be so precise that you complete a Robin Hood. This is when your second arrow is in the exact same spot that it actually hits the second arrow dead on. Yeah you waste two arrows but its a great feeling knowing that you're that good!

Rifle

As i've said earlier in this blog, rifle season is my favorite season. Although its not as challenging, thats actually what can make it more exciting to novice hunters. Deer have a great sense of hearing and smell so being able to take down a deer 300yd away makes it easier and more enjoyable.

Now as with bows there are thousands of different rifles to choose from. Different calibers, different brands, even different models of the same gun. To make this as simple as possible I'm going to focus on one brand and the same model. The Remington 700, the rifle that i carry. To also make this as simple as possible the same gun can come in different calibers. Caliber refers to the bullet size. Look at these three guns:

These three guns are the exact same brand and model however, they are all different caliber guns. While one might be a .3006 (my gun), the other might be a .308 caliber. The difference in bullet size can make one bullet faster, .3006, while the other one might be slower but more powerful, .308. This is just a matter of preference. This also changes the sighting. 

For a rifle there are only three main materials you need for your gun. The scope (which isn't necessary but you reduce your distance dramatically, the bullets, and the gun itself. In order to sight in your gun you must shoot the same round of bullets through your gun. To make this as simplistic as possible, bullets may have more gun powder in some than others. This refers to the grain of the bullet. Maybe you're shooting a 165 grain or a 180 grain. It makes a difference. To help you understand how ballistics play into sighting here is a video that explains it better than reading. 

Finding your ballistics for your gun and bullet grain is as easy as looking it up on google. Take that knowledge and go out and practice! All this practice with bow your bow and/or rifle will pay off this season as you'll have a better chance of hitting your target and taking down your deer. 

Here is a fun video to watch and give you a good laugh to as of why you should practice!

Permits and Materials

            Being already three days into archery season for deer, it’s time to start getting ready for the hunt. However, where do you begin? Well, that all depends on are you going to hunt with a bow or a rifle. Like I said, archery season is already open. In fact, it’s the longest season, from September 11^th to December 31^st, excluding the extended antlerless season in January. Rifle season is only from November 29^th to December 10^th. No matter the case, here are the permits and materials needed to start your hunt.

            Assuming everyone reading this is over the age of 18, that’s the legal age to buy a rifle, we need to discuss permits and paperwork that you must have and carry. In order to hunt by yourself, there is a class that you must take. Hunter’s Education is a class that not only teaches hunters of safety precautions with their gun, but also how to be safe around other hunters. At the end of this class you receive your personal hunter’s identification number.

Using this number, you can now purchase a hunting license that is good for a year.

Yet, there is still one more permit you need to purchase and that is a deer tag. This will be tagged to the deer once you kill it.

So, in order to hunt this season, have your hunter’s education, hunting license, and deer tag with you at all times this season.

            Obviously, there is another material that is needed to hunt at the bare minimum. Yes, a bow for archery season or a rifle for rifle season. There are many choices when it comes to what bow or rifle to carry, but I will go over equipment setup in the next blog. Now, I also understand there is a list of other materials that make hunting easier on yourself, and that will also be stated in a future blog that I’m excited to get to. Stick around and keep reading because next week I’ll be going over the bulk of the season and that is setting up your bow and/or rifle.

See you next week,

Brenen

The Season's IntoBUCKtion

Tomorrow, September 11^th, starts the season of wearing camouflage and hunter’s orange. For everyone who is and isn’t aware, deer season here in Kansas is beginning. That means seize your rifle, muzzleloader, bow, or crossbow, and be ready to follow me as I talk about this year’s deer season.

            To preface, this blog will not be for the avid hunter, as they will already know all I’m going to cover and more. Instead, this is for novel hunters or, for those like me, they’ve hunted as a kid with their parent, lost interest, and just recently decided to pick up deer hunting again.

            As stated earlier, deer season launches tomorrow, however this muzzleloader and archery season. I personally do not have the understanding and know how of muzzleloaders and the season, so, my primary emphasis will be on rifle season and a short post or two about archery. Throughout these blogs I will be covering materials and permits needed to hunt, how to set up your equipment, places to hunt here in Kansas, what exactly you’re hunting for. For example, are you hunting for mule or whitetail deer? Are you more interested in a buck or a doe? These are just a few of the subjects I plan to explain throughout the season.

            The reason I’m covering this topic is the same reason why I’m the right person to cover it. I’m in your boots, still new to this on my own. It’s only been two years of deer hunting on my own and just last year of taking down my first buck. My goal throughout this is to express information to everyone reading that was passed down to me from my father years ago. I plan on posting every Thursday, right before the weekend so you can go out and hunt or practice with the information I’m giving you.

Good luck and,

Tis’ the Season: Deer Season