Features







 

Books

 

Fun & Games

Trivia Games

 

Contact Us


 

 

 

John's Journal... Entry 88, Day 3

Waddell's Deer-Hunting Secrets

click to enlargeEDITOR'S NOTE: Twenty-eight-year-old Michael Waddell of Columbus, Georgia, a longtime avid hunter of all game species, produces "Realtree Outdoors" T.V. shows and videos.

Question: What is your favorite deer-hunting gun?
Answer: I hunt with a model 700 338 Winchester Mag 380 caliber.

Question: What do you like about this rifle?
Answer: I like its accuracy. I know I don't have to sit there, tink around and spend a bunch of money to get the gun shooting correctly. I know it will shoot right out of the box.

Question: At what range do you normally take a deer with this rifle?
Answer: I'll confidently take a deer at 200 yards. I won't hesitate to take a deer further out with some of my rifles.

click to enlargeQuestion: Will you tell me about the biggest buck you've ever taken?
Answer: I shot a 150-plus 9-point B&C whitetail out in Texas. He ran 150 yards out and turned, and I shot him. I took that deer because I had confidence in my gun. You must be confident with your gun to be a successful hunter.

Question: Can you give me five deer-hunting secrets that not everyone knows?
Answer: My first suggestion is to hunt deer early in the season. An unpressured, mature buck is very predictable. If you can hunt in an area that has had little hunting pressure, you'll be able to pattern the mature bucks there, and you'll have a good chance of taking one.

My second secret is to hunt the prerut. I like hunting the prerut more than the rut, because mature deer are a lot more responsive to horn rattling and grunt calls during the prerut. Also, big bucks walk around looking for does. Often, the prerut gets classified with the rut because the prerut is only a couple of weeks prior to the rut. But two or three days prior to the peak of breeding, those big deer get out and move around. If you can pinpoint that peak-breeding day, you'll find the big bucks cruising the edge of fields and other food sources looking for does. They respond to calls and horn rattling because they are excited about the possibility of breeding.

My next secret is to not give up toward the end of deer season. After deer finish with the rut and running hard all season, even a mature deer will get run down. Up in the north country some of the deer push themselves to death's edge. So, if deer don't get their nutrition and get back into the feed, they may not make it, especially in cold-weather places. If you can get near a food source toward the end of the season, you'll have a good chance of bagging a good buck because he's got to come there to survive.

click to enlargeMy fourth secret is to know your equipment. Some of the best hunters are those who are not afraid to take shots in areas where other hunters are not comfortable. If your only opportunity to take the deer is as he clips through the woods at 35 yards, if you don't feel comfortable with your equipment, you'll probably pass up the opportunity. The hunter who is not comfortable with his rifle always waits for the perfect opportunities, but those perfect opportunities are rare. You have only a minimal chance to hunt big, mature bucks. You must be ready with your equipment so that when the deer gives you a little bit of opportunity, you can close the coffin on him.

To learn more about turkey hunting, you can order John E. Phillips' three turkey-hunting books by calling (800) 627-4295. Click on Books on Night Hawk's home page to learn more.

TOMORROW: FRIENDLY COMPETITION

 

 

 

Check back each day this week for more about Michael Waddell ...

Day 1 -Waddell Teaches Turkey
Day 2 -Waddell's Turkey-Hunting Secrets
Day 3 -Waddell's Deer-Hunting Secrets
Day 4 -Friendly Competition
Day 5 -Ganging Up On Turkeys

John's Journal