Next Step Outdoors

By Aaron Olsen

The deer hunting basics are exactly that – the basics. Hunting is like golf in that you will never fully master every aspect. The more you learn, the more you realize how much you DON’T know. However, do not let that discourage you from getting started. The whole premise of this blog is to help people take the first step, and then the NEXT STEP, and then the next. Over the next few weeks, this series will help teach people the deer hunting basics, as well as serve as a tool that people can be directed to in the future to get started.

What?

• The pursuit of harvesting a deer as quickly and ethically as possible through legal means to provide lean, organic, all-natural meat to consume.
• Some people consider deer hunting a sport, others (including me) consider it a way of life.

Why? 

• Provide lean, 100% organic, non-GMO, all natural meat – Put food on the table.
• Love for the outdoors, God’s creations, and conservation.
• The thrill of the chase – Pursuing one of the most elusive animals on the planet.
• Camaraderie – Experiences and lasting memories with friends and family
• Disconnect from the everyday grind and connect with nature.
• Tradition, heritage, and pride.
• The challenge of outwitting a mature animal in its own environment.
• Heightened senses one feels when in predator mode.
• Enjoying the process, development, and achievement.

Who?

• You!
• Your sister, brother, father, mother, husband, wife, kids, and neighbor.
• 10,000,000+ other Americans.

Where?

• Private land – Family/friend owned property, permission from knocking on doors.
• Hunting Lease – Paying an annual fee to have exclusive hunting rights for a piece of property someone else owns.
• Public Land – There are millions of acres of public land nationwide that we, as Americans, have equal right to enjoy. (Check out my article about scouting public land properties)

When?

• In most states, deer hunting season ranges from mid-September to the end of January, although some states fluctuate a few weeks on either end.
• There are sub-seasons within that time that determine what weapons/methods of hunting are legal during that specific time.
• Check your state’s DNR website to confirm official season dates.

How?

• Methods – Treestand, blind, or spot and stalk (These will be discussed in much more detail in future segments).
• Weapons – Bow or Firearm (Rifle, muzzleloader, or shotgun)
• Game Plan – Intercept deer on their natural travel routes and get them in range without being seen, smelled, or heard. (This takes some understanding of deer behavior which we will get to in the future).
• Overcoming a Deer’s Keen Senses – Camouflage clothing to disrupt vision, quiet equipment and stealth to avoid being heard, using the wind to your advantage so you are not smelled.
• Equipment – This will be a separate article.

Our goal as hunters, conservationist, and outdoorsmen should be to recruit and introduce new people to hunting so that they may experience and enjoy what we spend so much time doing and thinking about. It is our duty and our obligation if we want the public land we are able to freely enjoy to be available to our kids and our kids’ kids some day. Please Like, Share, and Subscribe in hopes that even one new person will be introduced to the outdoors. Each week the Hunting Basics series will take the NEXT STEP and become a bit more advanced.