Whitetail Deer Body Language

whitetailOne of the smartest tips that you can take with you when going deer hunting is that you should absolutely know where a deer is hit once you’ve shot it before you begin to track it. If you’re wrong about where the deer was hit, you may be in for a not so nice surprise when you stalk after a deer that isn’t injured in the way that you thought it was. What you can do for this is to note the body language of the deer when it is hit in order to help you determine where the deer was hit.

The ultimate hit when it comes to any animal is the hit that puts the animal down right away, as this way you do not have to make any estimations of where the deer was hurt or whether you should track it now or once it’s had some time to calm down. If the deer that you shoot does not drop and die within sight, then you are going to need to make a guess about where the deer was shot so that you can determine what to do next. A deer that is poorly hit can easily run for miles if you push it too hard while tracking it, and you may lose it if you are not careful.

A deer that is shot in the gut will typically arch its back, trotting with stiff legs. In this case, the deer will not last long, but you may need to shoot him a second time because gut shots are not often immediately fatal.

A deer that is hit in the legs will often kick out as if it were a mule. While a deer like this will not be able to run as far or as fast, a deer bent on recovering can give you quite a chase if you are not careful. It might be best to drop back and give him some time to slow or stop before you pursue him.

A deer that is shot in the lung will not always kick out its leg, but it will probably flag up or try to run away before it dies. They do not usually travel very far at all because a lung shot deer is one that will die quickly, so this is a deer that you should not be afraid to pursue immediately.

When a hit deer runs without any bucking or jumping, it will likely run in whatever direction was being faced when you shot it, even if that means running in a counterintuitive direction such as up hill. While this is not always the case, it is a rule of thumb that you can rely on in many situations.

The ideal way to land a deer is to shoot it in the heart, but the heart is small and it is a relatively low target to hit. If you do hit a deer in the heart, it will drop relatively quickly, so tracking is not typically necessary.

Photo Credits: Emery_Way

Originally posted 2009-08-06 05:03:11. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Why You Should Obey Hunting Laws

The hunting laws in your area are necessary reading before you go on a hunt. While some people think it’s fun or a bit of a joke to hunt and fish without licenses or permits and basically do what they want, hunting laws should be taken seriously. They’re very often put in place for the safety and protection of hunters as well as other people. That shouldn’t be taken lightly. They should be respected to make sure that you stay as safe as possible and pedestrians stay safe, and to make hunting season enjoyable and worry free for everyone.

There also may be hunting laws put in place to protect the animals from being over-hunted or abused. By and large, hunters respect the animals that they’re hunting. They’re an important food source for many families and they provide a lot of enjoyment for the hunter who enjoys the chase. Respecting the animals as well as people means following hunting laws.

One of the most important hunting laws to follow is not hunting out of season. If you hunt deer when deer season is already gone, you’re considered a poacher. Poachers aren’t very well-respected in the hunting community because they’re refusing to follow the same rules that govern everyone else. It can prove dangerous because people aren’t expecting to find anyone shooting at animals and may not be prepared. Many people who are going to be out during various hunting seasons will dress in reflective bright colors to avoid being mistaken for an animal. Poachers are putting them at risk by being out and shooting during the off-season. A poacher can also be fined and imprisoned for hunting off-season. Always be aware of the hunting laws and the dates in your area.

Also, be aware that each area can make its own laws and while some may not make sense to you, they still have to be followed. There are various laws that affect shotgun and rifle hunting and separate laws often that affect bow hunting. As an example of laws that are put in place to protect both people and animals, there’s a law in many areas about the smallest amount of draw a bow can have when used for hunting. In Texas for example, a compound bow used for hunting must have at least a 40 pound draw unless the hunter is using it to hunt squirrel.

Why does it matter if the bow has that minimum draw? Because the bow with less draw weight behind it is less likely to be able to kill an animal. It’s more likely to simply wound and animal and then animal may die of those wounds later after its bolted to where the hunter can’t find it. It can cause unnecessary suffering. And in some cases, a wounded animal that’s in pain may actually turn on the hunter. Animals are wild and unpredictable so using a compound bow that’s probably not going to be able to deliver a killing shot is simply irresponsible.

Photo Credits: ATKR

Originally posted 2010-03-30 09:37:17. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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