Every deer season, hunters anticipate their first sighting of a fresh buck rub. It marks the beginning of mating rituals that render bucks less cautious than normal—and thus the signal that hunting season is in full force. Most hunters know that deer deposit scent (i.e., primer pheromones) when they scrape their antlers against trees, but did you know that different types of rubs indicate buck maturity, size, and behavior patterns?
“The rubber coated Talon Bracket is strapped to the tree with a tough webbing strap and, once in place, allows the hunter to haul up the stand and install it in less than 30 seconds,” says Petersen’s Bowhunting’s review of the Summit Raptor Series Hawk Hang On. “Another advantage of the Talon Bracket System is the ability to purchase multiple brackets and place them on trees at a variety of hunting locations,” allowing hunters to ambush game from different trees.
“The average hunter, like you or me, doesn’t typically have all the high level data at our finger tips to make educated observations. That said, we’re fortunate that this kind of data is actually made available for us,” says Wired to Hunt, which condenses the best of the 2015 Whitetail Report for its readers. “If you’re an avid whitetail hunter and/or concerned about the current state of deer and deer hunting in North America, this is a must read.”
If you want to consistently tag mature bucks throughout October and November, then you need to follow this high-impact treestand setup guide take advantage full advantage of whitetail funnels.
“The Goliath [is] for bow hunters of all shapes and sizes,” says a review from Bowhunter magazine. The Goliath SD is a specialty tree stand. Created for bow hunters who are “real-man-sized,” this “large climbing tree stand has a weight rating of 350 pounds and features a large climber that gives big hunters more room to move around.” This stand, although capable of holding more weight than most tree stands, is very light on its own. Summit Treestands wants deer hunters to be safe above all else.
“Just like with good hunting boots, good walking/jogging/workout shoes are important. Make that investment, start putting one foot forward and get going,” says hunter and writer for Deer & Deer Hunting, Alan Clemons, who suggests that hunters make some practical lifestyle changes to become better hunters. Hunting demands a lot of the sportsman. An easy way to feel better when performing the heavy manual labor required of most big game hunters is to improve your overall health. “Dragging out a deer…can be taxing even for healthy hunters. Being in shape can help you in the woods when you’re hauling out a buck or doe.”
“The Summit Cobra SD climbing tree stand will be the die hard bow hunters’ stand of choice,” says Deer & Deer Hunting writer Alan Clemons. This versatile tree stand allows hunters optimal positioning for bow hunting or gun hunting. “The open front climber weighs in at a mere 18 pounds and allows bow hunters the choice of either shooting from a seated or standing position.” Comfort and silence are of utmost importance to the serious deer hunter. Summit Treestands delivers: “It features state-of-the-art Dead Metal Sound Dampening Technology to reduce unwanted noises.”
“I’m constantly amazed at how difficult it is for some folks to find game…on the flip side there are hunters who seem to be able to wander into the woods and effortlessly bring home the bacon. What makes the difference?” asks accomplished big game hunter, Aram Benedikt, in a recent Outdoor Life article. Benedikt’s first tip: “No matter how hard you work, you won’t find game that isn’t there.” Secondly, hunt wisely and safely to optimize your chances for a big kill. And lastly, you won’t kill what you don’t see: “A savvy hunter can find a lot of game by locating a good vantage point and parking your binocular against your eyebrows for a while."
Hopefully, you utilized a good portion of the springtime to do your scouting and to pinpoint the best places to take deer on your property. But don’t prop up your feet and wait until hunting season just yet; your homework isn’t over. If you want an even better opportunity to take that monster buck, get out now and hang your rut stands early.
Unfortunately, statistics have shown that tree stand accidents are currently the number one cause of hunter-related injury every season. In fact, it’s estimated that one out of every three deer hunters who hunt from elevated stands are likely to experience a fall at some point in their lives that will result in serious injury. In order to avoid these senseless and often tragic accidents, follow these important safety tips when hanging, climbing, hunting or descending from a tree stand this fall. Remember, always follow your tree stand's owners manual before taking your tree stand into the woods.
“The exact same thing, time and again, even when your nervous system is in revolt,” that’s what your shooting method should allow you to do, says well-renowned archer, Levi Morgan. In this article from Field & Stream, Morgan reveals how he shoots so accurately and why he’s as good as he is—training. As far as bow hunting methods are concerned, Levi said, “I rely mostly on just two.” Aim and blindness aren’t usually associated with excellence in bow hunting, but they are the main components of Morgan’s training. “It’s a great all-around drill and the absolute best I know for target panic. I’ve seen it cure more cases than anything else.”
“What you want in a tree stand is what most guys want—a model that won’t break the bank, or your neck,” says Field & Stream writer Scott Bestul. So if you’re serious about hunting, yet frugal, the Summit Crush Series Pro Ladder is an attractive option. “If you’re on a tight budget, Summit’s Solo Deluxe model has a comfortable padded seat and the security of a shooting rail for just $130.”
