The Deer Hunting Guide – For The Serious Hunter

Guide For Trophy Whitetail Deer Hunting

Congratulations trophy whitetail deer hunter; you have found your free online deer hunting guide. This guide is packed full of great, useful deer hunting information you can use to become a successful trophy deer hunter. This is a guide to trophy whitetail deer hunting; deer management, land management, hunting strategies, hunting tips, equipment for hunting, the harvesting and processing of deer, and other very useful deer hunting information.

Thank you for visiting. For more great information about deer hunting and related products, check out the various adds throughout the website.  Please come back often for new deer hunting information (note; articles and stories listed with links – anything with an underline is a link to information about that word or phrase – note links at the bottom of article pages).  Under the “Info Guide” category header, check out the Site Map Page for complete listing of all article pages and links to them.

Your Personal Guide To Deer Hunting

My name is Steve Johnson. I was born and raised on a small dairy farm west of Moose Lake in north-central Minnesota. I was the eleventh child of twelve born to an early 1900 Swedish immigrant, Oscar W. Johnson, who became a carpenter and farmer. My mother, Hazel, who’s parents also immigrated from Sweden, managed our small dairy farm and family as my dad had to travel weekly for his carpentry work. Needless to say, at times food and clothing were challenging items to come by with a family of that size growing out of the Great Depression. Whitetail deer hunting was part survival for us as you can imagine. Our small farms dairy cattle were too valuable to depend on for meat. With a large family of twelve, seven girls and five boys, we had to be successful at hunting deer. Venison was a staple food for us starting in the November deer hunting season, and hopefully getting us through the winter if we had had a successful hunting season. My mother had some great venison recipes, so we didn’t mind eating a lot of deer meat. I have a great venison jerky recipe that is a favorite in our family. Our dependence on hunting deer for food led us to deer herd management. We hunted the natural predator’s of whitetail deer; mainly wolves, coyotes, bobcats, and bear. Back in the 1950′s and early 1960′s, our state had bounties on most of these predators. The money we collected from the bounties helped offset the cost of raising Black and Tan hunting hounds. But we do live in Minnesota, and sooner or later we are going to have a harsh winter that will effect the population of deer. We never dreamed we could plant and grow wildlife food plots and manage forest areas to help with the whitetail’s survival. Now, my passion is to ensure that deer and other wildlife on and around our family farm have the needed essentials and nutrition to survive our northern Minnesota winters. Today our farm (yes, after marrying a beautiful local girl by the name of Jeanne Marsyla, we bought that farm in 1994 from my brothers and sisters after both of my parents had passed away) is a work in progress for attracting and supporting wildlife, especially the whitetail deer. Through continuing hard work, financial costs, and dedicated devotion I am able to provide sufficient high quality food (farming activities and annually planting and refreshing of food plots), water (spring fed pond and maintaining a natural swamp drainage system), and shelter (planting of specific trees for food, wind breaks, bedding areas, and small sanctuaries) on our loved wildlife farm. I have also received great advice and consul from the U.S. Forest Service as it pertains to my goals and wildlife management plans. I am now retired from government civil service. I have also had the privilege and honor of serving my country with more than 28 1/2 years of total military service – active and reserves. I first served in the U. S. Army serving in Vietnam in 1970 -71 as a 8 inch and 175 mm howitzer gunner in Field Artillery; 7th8th-artillery. After returning from Vietnam in 1971 and finishing my commitment with the Army, I enlisted it the U. S. Air Force and Minnesota Air National Guard as a loadmaster flying on C-130′s retiring in October of 1999 with almost 4,000 airborne hours. Enough about me, lets get on to our passion.

New!  Now Available For Download – “Uncle Tee’s Great Venison Recipe’s” book.

For great mouth watering venison recipes, just click on the Shopping Cart at the top of any page for  my new Venison Recipe book! Order my new “Uncle Tee’s Great Venison Recipe’s” book for only $9.95 and start cooking great venison recipes for your family and hunting friends. This new venison cook book has over 123 delicious easy to make complete venison meals.  Also, don’t forget to check out the great recipes I have on this web site!

Whitetail Trophy Deer

Our goal is to be your online whitetail deer hunting guide for trophy whitetail deer with accurate, useful, and pertinent information that will help you become a better deer hunter. Our deer hunting guide is about deer hunting strategies, deer hunting equipment, the harvesting of deer, and an Information guide for whitetail deer hunting. This guide will help to enhance your trophy whitetail deer hunting experience and success as a hunter. Today’s whitetail deer hunters we need to stay on top of the latest information pertaining to deer hunting.  Hunter’s have become a key predator of whitetails.  As a result, deer habits and behavior can and do change over time. A good example would be that about 45 years ago deer from the Eastern and Mid-Western part of our country would not be concerned with danger from above their line of eyesight.  With the advent and use of portable tree stands and permanent stands placed in heights above 12 – 15 feet, whitetail deer have become aware of dangers from above and frequently pay attention to the trees mast of branches, leaves, and anything unnatural.  Deer hunters should have a good basic understanding of the biology of the deer we hunt. Whitetail deer have developed very keen senses that protect them from predators and danger.  We should know and understand them; the what and why as it applies to deer habits and habitat. Why do deer bed in specific areas?  What are their fundamental needs and how does that affect their travel? How can we as deer hunters apply this valuable information to our hunting strategies and methods.  We should learn about the deer hunting history of our country. By knowing the past we can look to the future. We need to be involved in the management of whitetail deer habitat and our hunting legacy. Local and state agencies need and want our input. We need to support the politicians and policy-makers who support our hunting values and ethics. We must realize and support the economic value of deer hunting. The fee’s and taxes we pay as deer hunters are directly related to the quality of our deer hunting. Many rural economies depend on hunters. Manufacture’s, local sporting good stores, restaurants, lodging facilities, service stations, and more, depend on deer hunting related sales for a major source of income. We must be ethical hunters. We have no choice. Ethics will and do come into play for us. Within our deer hunting camp’s we must have a set of rules and bylaws for deer hunters to fallow and obey. On each and every hunting day trip we need to honor and obey the camps rules, the rules of fair chase, the humane harvesting of deer, and follow all hunting regulations to the letter of the law. We all need to have a copy of the game laws of our local hunting area to study and understand. Every year each states D.N.R.’s and Fish and Game regulations are updated, published, and distributed to sporting goods stores and other outdoor retail merchants; many if not all are also published online along with updates. There are no exceptions and no excuses allowed for breaking any game laws. Ignorance is not an excuse, all regulations and laws are published and undated; it is the hunters responsibility to know and understand them.

Strategies For Trophy Deer

Many trophy deer hunting strategies have been passed on from one generation to another. Some techniques work better then others. Much depends on the topography of the land you as a deer hunter will hunt on and around. Your deer hunting area and topography will help to dictate what hunting strategy you choose.  I have found it helps to keep a deer hunting journal of my deer hunting land and hunting area activities.  Here I record deer trails, stand sites, food plots, bedding areas, the refuge, swamps, certain trees – like apple and big oaks -, deer sightings, harvest kills, and more.  It’s important to know and understand the hunting real estate you own or are privileged to use. Will these hunting areas be readily available to you throughout the year? Can you do the scouting required to find that trophy buck of your dreams? Where should you place that deer hunting stand? Read my articles about Buying Deer Hunting Land and Recreational Deer Hunting Properties. I give you great information that you will need to know before signing a purchase agreement. This information could save you thousands of dollars and help you avoid the many pitfalls of buying real estate for hunting. Maybe you’ll be hunting real estate that a relative or friend owns. In our great country we have access to vast outdoor public hunting lands and areas that have been purchased and set aside with taxes and hunting fee’s. In the area you hunt, you will still need to do your scouting if you want to be a successful hunter. By scouting your hunting area you will learn more about trophy deer sign and deer activity. You’ll understand more about whitetail deer food and habitat; how to successfully develop and maintain food plots on your hunting land. Do you do your deer hunting alone? At times you will. Do you hunt with a group of deer hunters? How about guided deer hunts? Maybe a guided deer hunting trip to Montana is in your hunting future, if so you will want to research deer hunting in Montana.   If your going to go on a guided deer hunt and need to fly to a destination, be sure to check airline regulations pertaining to the transport of firearms and ammunition.

Deer hunting strategies will change with your deer hunting locations, time of year, weather conditions, the local deer heard, local whitetail habitat, available hunting equipment, the firearm you use, your physical condition and abilities, and of course – the money your willing to spend on your deer hunting passion.  By studying this deer hunting guide, you will have a better understanding of what strategy applies to your various deer hunting methods.

Equipment For Trophy Deer Hunting

Portable Deer Hunting Stand

Within this deer hunting guide you’ll find valuable information about hunting equipment. Your

deer hunting equipment needs to match your hunting method and plan. One size does not fit all here. The right hunting equipment and hunting gear is critical to your hunting success and enjoyment. You must consider all your options. What’s best for you and will fit your situation.

What specific hunting equipment may give you that one minuet, main, vital advantage for a successful trophy deer hunt.  Is it that portable tree stand you use, the one you can move around and strategically place in your deer hunting area?  Or is it a ladder stand or tripod stand that you leave in the same great spot year after year because it produces for you year after year.

Using a tripod deer hunting stand

Have you tried hunting deer from hunting blinds? It is a great hunting strategy.  Try using a Deer Decoy for extra excitement and fun.  What type of firearms will you hunt with? If you hunt with a rifle for example, what caliber should you be using or consider? What bullet weight, in grains, is best to use for your deer hunting situations? Do you need a magnum or does your ego need one? Sometimes it is nice to be the king. What rifle scope should I be using, and how much should I spend on one? But what if your hunting equipment causes you to hesitate or not use a quality deer hunting strategy; i.e., an expensive rifle set-up you won’t hunt with in the rain. Or you say to yourself; “I’m not bringing this rifle through that thick, heavy brush, I’ll scratch it all up.” Now you have missed a hunting opportunity caused by having the wrong hunting equipment at the wrong time. Do you need more than one rifle? Maybe, maybe not; we can help you decide.  How and where will you sight in your deer hunting firearms?  Maybe you would like to build a solid shooting table/bench if you have the land to safely sight in rifles.  Expenses and the cost of deer hunting equipment must and should be considered too. Your archery hunting equipment investment may add up and could be considerable if your new to archery hunting; but quality equipment is well worth it and will last.  Options are available when buying archery equipment.  You may want to consider making your own arrows.  Making your own custom arrows allows you to fine tune them for your shooting style and bow.  Your choice of firearms; either rifle, shotgun, muzzleloader, pistol, bow or crossbow will or should dictate the type and color content of the hunting clothing you will need. You also have to outfit yourself for the climate you will be hunting in. As a trophy deer hunter you will experience various climate extremes in the outdoors dealing with the weather; warmth, wind, rain, freezing cold, snow, etc., You must be prepared and have quality equipment and accessories. You should have a good daypack that can carry enough needed items like a good flashlight, your trail camera or event camera, food and water, compass and map or GPS, phone, safety and emergency equipment, and other accessories you will want with you while hunting.  All of you equipment should be safe for hunting. You need to continually educate yourself and mentor young hunters. Young deer hunter’s need to attend hunter education classes and pass proficiency tests before going field to hunt whitetail deer. Many states have different regulations regarding the age of young first time deer hunters. Be sure to research the game laws in your state that pertain to the age of young/youthful hunters new to deer hunting. Also, new products are developed and introduced throughout the year that will add to your equipment needs, wants and desires.

Harvesting Trophy Deer

To successfully harvest whitetail deer year after year a deer hunter should become a serious student in the art and skill of hunting deer. As your deer hunting guide, we’ll help you to educate yourself and learn about the whitetail deer and how to hunt them. You’ll enjoy hunting more, and will become a better hunter and sportsman. When that moment comes — and it will — that you have the opportunity to harvest a trophy whitetail deer (and every deer is a trophy to someone), take a deep breath, relax, and calm yourself. Pick a spot so your shot placement on that buck or doe will ensure a quick and humane kill. Soon; you will be into the field care, gutting your deer, skinning your deer, and then the processing of your trophy whitetail deer; then its into your kitchen for some favorite venison recipes for all to feast on. Try some of our great venison recipes; grilling venison steaks, best venison burgers, venison potato sausage (So Good!), venison stew, make your own venison summer sausage, venison chops, venison chili, venison crock-pot roast, venison tenderloin and wild rice soup, venison tenderloin tips, venison meatloaf, venison green bean casserole, and every ones favorite venison jerky. I have a great recipe for a venison dry rub for when grilling. Also; please try my venison marinate, you’ll love it!

Don’t forget to order my Venison Recipe Book for just $9.95 (Secure ordering – No S&H! – download it on your laptop and bring it to your deer hunting camp) and start using it before the hunting season. This year, impress your hunting camp’s deer hunters with new flavorful venison recipes that are easy to use and prepare. Each venison recipe lists how many it feeds and comes with a full menu of side dishes to serve with your delicious venison. You can order this great venison recipe book by clicking on the secure Shopping Cart at the top of any page. Download the recipe book on your computer or laptop and print it out if you want. Enjoy your passion and share it with others. They will be grateful and I thank you!

Information Guide To Trophy Deer

In our deer hunting guide site, check out our information guide to research information about deer hunting that will be useful and informative for you and your situation. Click on this link for information to individual states D.N.R’s and Canadian provinces for hunting information and regulations. When planning a deer hunt out of state or out of country in which you will be flying to your hunting destination; be sure to read and adhere to the specific airlines regulations pertaining too the transportation of firearms and ammunition (click on this link for information).  Make sure you pass on your deer hunting passion by mentoring young deer hunters.  We have a page full of information about young deer hunters age requirements, and useful links for updated information. Our information guide will be updated often with articles you can easily link to for valuable insights and more hunting tips you can put to use. In fact; bookmark this web site for quick reference and come back often for new, useful and pertinent information. It doesn’t matter what your trophy whitetail deer hunting experience is. All of us can learn a new thing or two about hunting deer. The deer hunting book of knowledge is not complete. In the near future, I will write and publish an online e-book that you will be able to purchase through this web site at a very reasonable price (less then a couple delivered pizzas). You can then then download this e-book on your computer, laptop, and/or print it out if you want. Then; you will be able to take this book, packed full of facts about deer hunting, deer behavior, equipment, tactics and strategies, and other useful hunting information and hunting tips, with you to your hunting camp or on your hunting trips for great reference or just good camp reading. This e-book will be much more detailed, filled with more whitetail deer facts, deer hunting tips, excellent references, more great recipes and just be a lot of fun to read. By reading and studying this book and web site guide; you will be a better educated and informed deer hunter. Your deer hunting situational awareness will be more acute. This deer hunting guide will help you with the knowledge and confidence you will need to become a better whitetail deer hunter. Check out my live hunting video on field dressing a doe I harvested while archery hunting, October of 2006; it will help any deer hunter, new or old, with one of the few unpleasant aspects of harvesting a whitetail deer. Gutting a deer is the initial phase of deer processing. Done right; it is easy, can be done quickly, and it doesn’t have to be an unpleasant experience. Soon, in the near future, I will publish another deer hunting video of field dressing a deer; this time with better camera angles. I’ll even slow down a little too, OK?

States D.N.R., Fish & Game, & Canada’s Hunting Information links

Major Airlines Baggage Regulations For Transporting Firearms & Ammunition

I also have a great article about a disabled young deer hunter, Bob Konu, a next door neighbor of ours who lost both lower legs in a corn chopping farming accident in September of 2007. Bob was only 19 years old when it happened. Later that fall I guided and mentored this young man for a week as I helped him rifle hunt for deer around his fathers farm. He seen quiet a few deer, but never harvested one as he wanted a trophy buck. In 2008, I have made a special effort to help Bob hunt deer again; this time starting in the archery season. Later during the rifle season, Bob was able to harvest a nice doe for the freezer. In 2009 he was able to harvest a nice 1 1/2 year old buck the first day of Minnesota’s rifle season. He is doing well now and looking forward the the 2010 season. Within this article you will find valuable information about deer hunting with physical disabilities. If you know someone who is disabled and would like to deer hunt – help them; it is so rewarding. If you are a disabled, work towards being able to enjoy your passion of deer hunting. Tell those in your hunting camp you want to help and be involved. Don’t give up for a minute. You’ll enjoy the rewards and it is great therapy for those around you and in your deer hunting camp.

Field Dressing – Click here for the full-sized version

More Goals To Help You Become A Better Deer Hunter

One of our goals in this comprehensive deer hunting guide is to help educate you so that you may attain that deer hunting experience you so dream of and long for. One of the ways I hope to do this is by making deer hunting videos; hunting videos that are educational. I will update and add hunting information and hunting tips as I learn them. By coming back and reviewing our hunting guide you will be able to pick up many more great hunting tips (did an old-timer, grandfather, dad or uncle ever mention chewing on pine needles to mask breath odor….or if hunting in cattle and farm country, go ahead, step in that cow pie (cow shit)….in fact….both feet please!). Just one hunting tip may allow you to fool that weary trophy buck — imagine a 10 or 12 pointer, 150 point plus, walking into your shooting range………just maybe….

Trophy Deer Hunting – Your Passion – Feed It And Share It

As whitetail deer hunters, we are always in need of new deer hunting products; especially hunting equipment and hunting clothing. We are a proud bunch that loves to show the world our hunting passion. We place whitetail deer window decals on our trucks. We scour the latest deer hunting magazine as soon as it arrives in our mail box. We read and pick over deer hunting web sites like this one for bits of information that may help us become more successful deer hunters. We watch and re-watch TV shows dedicated to deer hunting. We buy videos about deer hunting. We were baseball caps that display our deer hunting passion. We like the look of wearing a camouflage jacket out in public. I enjoy wearing top quality hunting gear, or hunting clothing that says: “I’m a deer hunter; I’m rugged, and I spend a lot of time in the wild. I don’t do tea, and I don’t snuggle”. My wife asked me once about deer hunting: “Why do you deer hunt so much and why is it such a passion?” I replied: “Would you rather I go sit on a bar stool or sit on a hunting stand?” Since then there has never been a problem about my deer hunting or any expense that applies to it. Enough Said! Now when I bring home the venison, she knows we will be eating real good for a lot of meals as I do all the cooking of our venison meals.

Most of the time we have to budget for our hunting needs and desires. Here is a thought that works well for me and my hunting family; I buy deer hunting gifts for Christmas, Birthdays, Anniversaries and more. These are just a few dates that we can fuel our passion and share it with others. You can also give family and friends a list of your own hunting needs for these special dates. Don’t forget to buy and give my “Venison Recipe Book” for any of these special occasions or events.

Thank you for visiting, please come back often, and the best of luck to you. Now go fuel your Passion!