Antler size is affected by three major factors:

1. Heredity

2. What The Deer Has To Eat

3. How Old The Deer Is

Genetics determine how big the antlers might become. All experienced game managers or deer hunters know what is scientific truth:  maximum antler size is largely determined by genetics. Leases are often managed in a way to produce the biggest bucks by limiting the size of the antlers that are permitted to be harvested. The gene pool of a deer population can be “antlered up” by limiting the number of deer that can be killed who have genetically superior racks and increasing the kill rate of those buck with genetically inferior racks. Although there is some doubt regarding the benefit of these practices (effective killing of inferior antlered deer is sometimes impossible given the harvest rates to population in general), it has a genuinely good motive.

Nutrition is the next contributor to antler size. Even if a deer has superior genetics, when there are not enough nutrients available for the deer to eat, the antlers will never reach their full size.  Most experienced hunters have hunted through seasons where drought has affected the food sources for the deer and the large antlered deer just weren’t there. It is crucial for the deer population to receive adequate nutrition year-round if they are to reach their antler producing potential. Most antler growth takes place during the Spring and Summer months so this is the most important time. This means that when foraging conditions are poor during the spring and summer months, antler growth will be limited. However, if time and energy are put into habitat management, adequate nutrition and foraging will be made more likely. Supplemental feedings are sometimes needed.

The final factor is age, however research suggests that once a buck has reached 3+ years of age genetics and nutrition play a larger part in antler growth. Usually antler size potential increases throughout the first few years of life. It continues to increase some during the fourth through sixth year. However, the actual growth rate and size depend on the breed of deer and the deers genetics. For this reason, the harvesting of bucks younger than 4 years is not encouraged. I can recall my dad’s complaints when neighbors would kill a two year old buck at a nearby farm and he would sadly make exclamations such as, “That deer still had milk on its breath.” It is recommended that young bucks be allowed to mature fully before being harvested. If you are at a point where you need venison, but can’t seem to get a mature buck, then you should harvest a doe. The next season’s hunt will be better for it.

We hope that you use these advanced deer hunting tips and techniques during deer hunting season to enjoy the most successful hunt ever.

And please visit us at www.Deer-HuntingTips.com to learn the secrets and deer hunting tips the pros know.

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Where Will You Be Hunting?

The two main types of deer hunting environments are the deep woods/dense brush and open range country. Some locations are a combination of both environments. You need different rifles and styles of shooting for each kind of terrain.

Deer Hunting Rifles for Deep Woods or Dense Brush

Deer hunting rifles with short to medium range shooting characteristics are needed for situations when you’re in the woods. Typically, you’ll be shooting anything from 25 to 200 yards at deer in this environment, so this range is important. It is to your advantage that your deep woods deer hunting rifle be relatively light (less than nine pounds with the scope), and be relatively short in length with a barrel length of twenty two inches or shorter. When in dense brush, you have to be able to move around. Deer hunting rifles which can be reloaded quickly, such as automatics and lever actions, are suggested in rough country deer hunting since fast follow up shots are frequently needed. I would recommend using heavy bullet cartridges, .270 caliber or greater, with at least a 120 grain bullet, in order to penetrate any brush that might be in the way of your intended target. Any cartridges that travel more than 2200 feet per second have a higher chance of being deflected by the brush, and are therefore not well suited to densely wooded terrain. Scopes of four power or adjustable scopes going down to 3X are suggested, and if the terrain only allows shots of up to fifty yards you may prefer open sighting. Practice at the rifle range to determine if you can become comfortable with open site shooting.

Deer Hunting Rifles for the Open Range

Deer hunting rifles which are good performers in open areas are those designed for longer range shooting, up to three hundred yards or farther. In this situation, mobility is less important than being able to shoot accurately, and the ability to make long distance shots.  That said, most open range deer hunting rifles are heavier than their deep woods counterparts, and have a longer barrel. The best calibers and cartridges for open range deer hunting, are flat shooting, and high velocity. Calibers in the 6MM (.243) caliber range or higher will be OK, and bullets from 100 grain and heavier will work. Generally, the larger the caliber is, the heavier the bullet will need to be for the best ballistic accuracy. Scopes with a 6 X 9 variable power are what most shooters will need at the very least.

Personal Preferences

When choosing a deer hunting rifle take the recommendations above as they apply best to your hunting environment and then Consider your ability to maintain a comfortable shooting manner when shooting high caliber or magnum caliber rifles. Do you really want to lug ten or twelve pounds of long rifle with you around your deer hunting terrain?

You can probably go to your local hunting rifle dealer and try out a variety of different deer  hunting rifles, and get a better feel for what you want and what “fits” you.. Whenever you have the chance, ask successful hunters what they use and why. If you’re really interested in learning about their firearms, you could ask your friends to let you hold and handle their rifles, and ask if there are any things that they don’t like about them

I invite you to learn much more about deer hunting rifles and other advanced deer hunting tips by visiting our website here: www.Deer-HuntingTips.com. And I also invite you to learn about deer calls and grunts here: www.Deer-HuntingTips.com/deer-grunts-and-calls.

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1. Tips For Safety:

· Never consume any alcoholic beverage before or during a hunt.

· You should always practice caution when handling any firearm; always expect the gun to be loaded, and never rely solely on the safety.

· That means you never consider climbing a stand or tree, crossing a fence, or jumping a ditch with a loaded gun.

· Do not pull the gun’s trigger unless you are completely certain that you are aiming at a deer. If there is any doubt about your target, do not fire.

2. Tips For Bagging A Deer:

· Get An Early Start – Many hunters like to spend the entire day in the woods, but the most likely times to bag a deer are sunrise and sunset. They are more likely to come out of the thick brush during the early morning and late pre-dusk hours for feed. With this in mind, you need to be in your deer stand or blind well before daylight begins in the mornings and well before it starts to get dark at night. This will allow you the time you need to get set-up and ready before the deer begin to move around. There’s nothing that will be more disappointing for you than getting to your blind or stand late, scaring away a magnificent buck in the process, and then not spotting any other deer for the remainder of the hunt.

· No Scents – Take the time to be certain that you or any of your equipment are not emitting any smells that would alert a deer of your presence. While it might be a scent that your spouse and friends love, to a deer it smells like danger. Do not use any cologne, after shave, deodorant, perfume, or scented soaps/body wash. Prior to going on your hunt, wash the clothing you will have on in an unscented detergent or with plain water. Understand that deer have an unbelievably sensitive sense of smell, and they will be heading for the hills at the barest hint of an unfamiliar scent.

· Do Not Move – While you are in a stand or a blind, you have to do your best to stay as still as possible. If you do have to move, make your movements very slowly. One of the hardest things for me to learn to be a successful hunter was how to slowly look from side to side as I sat for hours in a deer stand in the freezing cold. Deer are highly skittish and will run from any quick movements.

· Remain Silent – This is perhaps one of the most vital keys to any deer hunt. There have been various occasions and disappointing moments when I scared a deer away with the slightest of sounds. Deer have more sensitive ears than you would think. Deer are always on alert to a human voice or any sounds that seem unnatural to them. If you have a hunting partner with you and have to speak, use a very low whisper or even hand signals when you can. Also, be sure to keep track of your gun and binoculars, avoiding tapping either of these against the stand or each other.

There’s a lot of things to learn before you can use the word “expert” for yourself, but if you start out following these basic deer hunting tips they will definitely improve your chances of one day bringing home that trophy buck you’ve been dreaming about all this time.

We are hoping that you use these deer hunting tips during the upcoming deer hunting season.

And please check out www.Deer-HuntingTips.com for even more advanced deer hunting tips.

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If the deer hunter is going to hunt in an area where long range shots are required, it is vital that he/she purchases the best possible scope possible. If you want a scope that will allow you to observe, as well as shoot accurately from all ranges, get adjustable magnification scopes. Adjustable rifle scopes typically are a listed with the minimum magnification, the maximum magnification and the objective lens diameter. A “3 x 9 x 42″ scope will have a minimum magnification of 3 power, a maximum magnification of 9 power and an objective lens diameter of 40 millimeters.  Here are some valuable deer hunting tips regarding the magnification range of your scope.

Understanding the Magnification Range of a Scope

A standard scope will offer a deer hunting range of 3×9 magnification. However, if you will be in heavily wooded areas where you will probably be within fifty yards of the deer then a 4x scope will also work nicely. On the other hand, if your hunting grounds are open areas where you will need to shoot from a distance, then you will prefer a 4×12, or a 4.5×14. On the plains or in open country you can often leave your scope at a higher power. There’s less of a likelihood that an animal will sneak up on you, and your visibility is great. There are alo instances where you will be shooting from one hilltop to another.

Next We Will Look at The Objective Lens Size

40 to 44 mm is what you can expect to find in lens size on a medium variable deer rifle scope. However, you can purchase larger objective lenses that can go up to 75 mm. It is important to realize that objective lenses of these sizes are usually not to your advantage. The larger lenses do not typically function much different from smaller and lighter versions, unless you are in very dim conditions and then they must be set at the highest power option. Large objective lenses can make it hard to line up your eyes, and it can be quite uncomfortable. If your scope is mounted properly, you should be able to close your eyes, position your rifle on your shoulder so your face is on the gun stock in a firm but comfortable position (also know as shouldering your gun with proper, repeatable stock weld), open your eyes, and see directly down the center of your scope on each attempt. With large objective lenses you have to mount the rifle scope higher to keep the lens from touching the gun barrel, you won’t be able to have a comfortable scope. Not only will this scope make your rifle feel more awkward, it will also make it slower, less comfortable and unbalanced.

Using the proper scope to fit your rifle, meet your hunting environment, and meet your shooting style will make or break any effort you put into hunting. To make sure your scope is a match for your needs review this article and be sure to visit the complete web page that this article was condensed from at Deer Rifle Scopes.

If you want more deer hunting tips, read “Secrets of Finding Monster Bucks Revealed,” a free eBook that will show you were to find the giant bucks and how to track them down at Secrets of Finding Monster Bucks Revealed.

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If you want to shoot from long range, you should invest as much money as you can in your scope, so you can ensure accuracy. If you want a scope that will allow you to observe, as well as shoot accurately from all ranges, get adjustable magnification scopes. When you look for adjustable rifle scope, you can see the lens diameter, as well as the minimum and maximum magnifications. For example, a “3x9x42″ scope will offer magnification between 3 and nine power, and the objective lens diameter will be 40 millimeters.

Scope Light Transmission Attributes

The more magnification you have, the less light you get to your eyepiece. The larger the objective lens, the more you get through your eyepiece. Scopes transmit available light through the lenses to your eye, always losing a bit in the process. Even the highest quality and most expensive scopes only achieve a light transmission rate of around 98%. Anything above 95% is considered great, and most quality scopes are around 90%.

The Lenses and Coatings of a Scope

Most of the quality scopes you can find today are fogproof, waterproof, and have lenses that are coated. The coatings on the lenses can be quite expensive. Plus, lenses vary in the type, number, and quality of the coatings. You can definitely get a single coated lens scope that can blow most multicoated lenses out of the water. How well they function depends on what quality the glass and coatings are. Good quality does not come cheap.Coatings reduce glare, and loss of light due to reflection. Normally a coating will allow for better light transmission and sharper contrast in what you are looking at.

Understanding The Field Of View Of Your Scope

As you peer through your scope, your field of view is the area you are able to see moving from right to left at 100 yards distance. It is important to remember that scopes with higher magnifications will have lower fields of view. Likewise, scopes with lower magnifications will have greater fields of view. For instance, a typical 3 x 9 variable scope might have a field of view at 3 power of a bit over 30 feet, and at 9 power, the field of view would be around 14 feet. You won’t get better field of view with a bigger objective lens.

Your hunting experience can be ruined or made incredible through the simple application of a scope that befits your style of shooting. This article was condensed from and you can review the original at that site to be sure you are choosing the best scope for your rifle and needs.

And I invite you to find more valuable deer hunting tips on finding giant bucks in our latest eBook titled “Secrets of Finding Monster Bucks Revealed” which you can download completely free here by visiting our website: Deer-HuntingTips.com

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The advanced deer hunting tips I’m sharing with you here are for the true hunting masters.

1. Scout Your Area Ahead of Time – I don’t mean analyze where you are going to sit when the truck drops you off, I mean really get to know the area you are hunting. Some of my most successful hunting seasons were started months before opening day. I would ask permission to go to the lease I was going to hunt on and scout all the areas. You can investigate all the potential hunting areas by “dry hunting.” This is similar to actual hunting, only you bring a camera instead of a gun. You will focus your attention on determining which areas have the most deer movement, the largest bucks, and the highest buck to doe ratio. You can walk around the lease in the middle of the day, looking for big buck signs that I could see.

2. Learn to Recognize Big Buck Signs – In order to find out where the trophy bucks reside, learn what to search for. Keep your eyes open for tracks. You want to look at how big the tracks are, how many tracks there are, and in which direction the tracks are going. This will allow you to understand how big the deer are in a given area, how many there are, and what their movement patterns are. Scrapes – look for any areas that look like scratches from the bucks antlers and urine; this is what they do to mark their territory and attract mates, and you’ll often find them under branches. Another thing you want to look for are rubs. As a buck attempts to get the velvet off their new antlers thy need to rub on trees and posts. They also do this to mark their territory during rutting season. If you find a “rub line,” you will be able to find six or more rubs in a matter of about 100 yards. Most often, rubs are on the side of the tree that the buck came from, so knowing which sides of the trees have rub lines will tell you which way the bucks are going. You will also want to look for bedding areas, noting the size of the beds. No signs of bucks means no bucks!

3. Know How Your Firearm Shoots – Know the ballistics of the caliber and cartridge you are using. Know the distance you will need to shoot and be able to make adjustments for geography; for example, the rise on short shoots and the fall for long shots. You should practice judging how far your shots are and maybe even walk off the distances to possible sighting areas. This will allow you to know if you are making a 400 yard shot and also know how much your bullet is likely to drop making this shot. Doing this will enable you to be able to adjust your aim to make a quality shot.

4. Shot Placement – You’ll be much better at your shot placement when you know how best to aim your deer hunting rifle. A lot of other hunters don’t agree with me on my preference, but I am a “neck shooter.” A shot properly placed anywhere on the neck brings down your deer, right then, every time. No matter where you hit the neck, you’ll get him very effectively; you’ll either sever the carotid artery or breach the spinal column, or some variation thereof, depending on how high or low the bullet lands. From a broadside, front or rear quarter angle, or head-on angle the neck target is as large as the traditional “behind the lower shoulder” target and much more effective. Taking a full rear shot is not advisable unless you have a trophy buck standing there and you just can’t leave it. If you have to clean a deer that has been shot up the rectum in not at all pleasant. Be sure to place your shot very carefully – the best deer hunters try to bring down their quarry in one shot.

5. Attactants, Calls, and Rattling – While we do not have time to go into a lot of detail, some important deer hunting tips are to use attractants (like natural food plots, salt licks/mineral blocks, feeders, and flavored blocks), deer calls, and rattling methods. You have to do some prep work beforehand with food attractants. You’ll have to put in enough time and effort into a food plot as you would a garden. Continuous feeding of an area should start weeks or even months ahead of the hunting season so the deer get used to the location and timing of their free meals. Calling or rattling up bucks is a hit and miss technique that normally only works during a rut. Occasionally I have been able to bring a buck in slowly and cautiously by rattling outside of the rutting season, but during the rut, they tend to rush right in. You could run the risk of getting run over by bucks if you rattle, so make sure you are prepared to act quickly if you want to do this. It’ll take a lot of time to get good at this. There’s a learning curve involved in knowing how to effectively mimic the calls or recreate the fighting sounds of deer. But once you learn how to do this, it’s a very useful skill.

Every deer hunter wants to display a trophy buck at some point, and some of us can’t rest unless we bag at least one grand creature every season. If you are going to join the ranks of the elite hunters, then you need to know the advanced deer hunting tips the elite hunters know.

If you want to learn more about deer hunting and tips that can help you land the large bucks that get you trophy racks, go to http://www.deer-huntingtips.com and have a better hunting season than you’ve had in years.

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