Preparing for Success on Your Ohio Deer Hunt

Over the years, I have put many hours in the woods. We have all made our share of mistakes. The more I hunt, especially for mature deer, the more I realize I must do everything possible to avoid these errors. If you're like me, you're always looking to improve your odds of harvesting a trophy Ohio whitetail deer. Many of us pour countless amounts of time, effort, and money into our favorite pastime of deer hunting. It only makes sense that we do everything we can to achieve success. Here are some tips that may make the difference in bringing home that world-class whitetail you're after while hunting with us. We have an abundance of trophy bucks on our farms, but unfortunately, many hunters miss out on that buck of a lifetime for various reasons.

You might start reading this and think you don't need tips. But let me tell you. Even professional, All-Star MLB pitchers make mistakes and must be reminded by their pitching coach what they are doing wrong. Likewise, as hunters, we need reminders to ensure we are in proper form! 

It's essential to utilize all or as many of these tips as possible in your arsenal, so let's start digging!

PREPARATION:

The first thing that will help make your Ohio deer hunt a success is preparation.

Before you come:  Review your hunter's checklist and add necessary items well before your trip to avoid forgetting something important.

Wash all your camouflage and base layers. Hang them out to dry and spray them with scent killer, including your rubber boots, days before you come. It's best to have fresh, scent-free gear when you arrive.

Knowing your equipment is an even more crucial component to your success. Do you zero your gun or crossbow before you come? We hope so!

We all know that consistent practice with a compound bow is necessary. But do you regularly practice shooting your gun or crossbow to improve your shooting skills?

Sometimes, it's the simple things like buying your hunting license and tags online before you come to Ohio so you don't have to scramble when you arrive. This way, you have time to double-check your equipment when you get here instead of wasting time looking for a place to buy your tags. Even worse, you realize you forgot your hunter's safety card at home. Buy your license and tag ahead of time at home if possible. If you have questions, please let us know. We will be glad to help!

When you arrive: When you get here, you will want to check to see if your weapon is zeroed. Bumpy truck rides can and do easily throw things off. So please ask us where you can check your weapon when you arrive. Tip: You can reduce issues with this if you wrap your gun/bow cases in blankets or thick foam for the trip to Ohio. However, we still recommend checking it when you arrive to make sure. Bring your target and whatever you need to check your weapon!

BE VERSATILE.

You can take this further and practice shooting left and right-handed with your gun or crossbow. It may sound silly, but hear me out. Imagine it's DAY 4 of your Ohio archery deer hunt for a minute. You have been waiting for your target buck all week and have just one more day to hunt. You are a right-handed shooter, so shooting out in front of you or off to your left is easy. Now you're in a treestand, and a dozen deer are walking around you, ready to pick up any movement or noise. It's a frosting morning, so you have more clothes on, and your stand makes a little noise when you move because everything is icy and cold. Your bait is off to your left, where you anticipate your shot. So you're comfortable sitting there pointing your weapon towards the bait. It seems like a perfect scenario, except we know it doesn't always work out like that. Maybe your buck decides to come in from the right instead, or he is checking out a doe off to your right and has no plan to stand on the bait pile. Either way, you are sitting there and anticipating the perfect bait shot. Now, you're in danger of being a victim of a missed opportunity.

If you can only shoot right-handed, you have two choices. First, you can sit there frozen and point your bow the wrong way, hoping the buck will proceed to the bait and give you the "right-handed friendly shot" you want.

Secondly, you can risk one of the many deer below busting you as you move your whole body on the frosty treestand completely to the right so you can make that awkward opposite-direction shot. This is where practicing and getting comfortable shooting both ways, particularly with a crossbow, is essential. Many would say, "Well, that's not my dominant eye, so I can't do it." However, if you practice shooting at a target opposite-handed REGULARLY, it will help you in situations like this. While at home hunting, pull up on a deer you don't plan to shoot and aim opposite-handed to get comfortable making that shot when needed.
 

Now, let's imagine you are in the same scenario, but you have prepared yourself to be able to shoot opposite-handed CONFIDENTLY. Now, you can quietly switch your crossbow's stock over to the opposite shoulder to take your shot at the monster buck. No moving or twisting is required. Now, you have eliminated any significant movement and noise and significantly increased your chances of killing the buck that is popping out where you didn't expect to get a shot. Being able to do this comfortably may take some time, but it can be a game changer. Even if you think you can shoot both ways without regular practice, it will give you confidence at the moment of truth when you need it the most. Take a few shots every week opposite-handed and practice holding your crossbow opposite-handed regularly. It will make you more versatile and ultimately have more big bucks on the wall over the years.

HUNTING A TREE STAND:

Being able to execute in all scenarios is essential. Many hunts fail not just because of the limitations of the hunters but also because of their lack of being ready in the moment. For example, in most scenarios, I try to keep my phone in my pocket and be alert. This is extremely important anytime you are seeing or anticipating deer movement. Even more so in a treestand. I know a lot of hunters who leave their crossbows hanging in the tree and pass the time scrolling through social media, reading, or having candy-cush marathons. It's important to have the weapon in your hand as much as possible and BE READY—especially during the prime time of your hunt, which could be all day during a pre-rut and rut hunt! Because if you don't, your opportunity may come and go in seconds. You are only in Ohio for a few days, so make the best of it. It might save you from setting that 4 am alarm clock for the next day!

Don't forget that just because you're in a treestand doesn't mean you are invisible. Try not to move unnecessarily and BE STILL. Hear something? Try to look with your eyes before you snap your head to the left to look to see what is coming. If something is looking up, the game is over!

HUNTING IN A BLIND:

If you're hunting in a deer blind, especially on a baited hunt in Ohio, we recommend only opening the window that faces the bait in 90% of the situations. NEVER do we recommend opening every window or even three windows. Limit the open windows and make the opening as small as possible. Unfortunately, we went out to bait our spots at the end of the week and found that some of our hunters had every window open and wondered why they didn't see or get a deer. Sometimes, these deer sneak into these baits on high alert and look for unusual movement. Many times, there are a lot of eyes on you. If you sit in a Swiss cheese blind, it's only a matter of time before one of those mature does get your number! Some guys may think nothing of the fact that they spooked some deer because they caught them moving. They don't realize that the trophy buck is lying back 100 yards in the shadows, and when he sees his ladies or fellow antlered compadres get nervous and run off, it may cause him to either come in after dark or ghost you the rest of the week. In that case, your hunt is over mid-week, and you don't even know it. To avoid this, as much as possible, we need to do everything to limit our visibility and scent. Keeping those windows closed helps more than you would think. You can always peek out the edge of a closed window. You can even open the velcro or remove some of the elastic hooks ahead of time to open that window quickly and quietly if necessary. Except for the rut, most deer are approaching because they are heading towards the bait to feed. So keep that blind closed, and you will be successful more times than your hunting buddy who exposes himself with a wide-open blind.

SCENT ELIMINATION:

We all know a deer's senses are tough to beat. But doing everything you can do to conceal your scent can mean that you get that target buck you are after. We recommend daily showers with scent-killer products such as soap and shampoo before you go hunting. Use scent-eliminating deodorant. I like to use scent-killer body lotion as well. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, and use bacteria-killing mouthwash. Drink water to avoid dry mouth which leads to more mouth odor. Floss. It doesn't stop there.

Next, I will talk about the importance of a good base layer. Polygiene is a new technology infused in some base and outer layers by companies like Sitka and more affordable options by companies like Element Outdoors. Polygiene doesn't allow bacteria to replicate. So whether you get sweaty or not, it keeps that body odor from happening. The first time I used my polygiene layers (lightweight shirt and pants base layer), I was soaking wet as I pulled a deer out of the woods on a 65-degree day. After we loaded that deer in the truck, I could squeeze the sweat out of my polygiene shirt. I figured it would stink like crazy, but when I smelled the shirt, it had ZERO smell. Make sure your innermost layers are polygiene. I even use the more affordable polygiene underwear from Element Outdoors. It keeps bacteria from producing odor, which is one of the first places it will happen. How many times do deer bust us because we are using inferior gear? When I wear other materials, I stink when I sweat. Who doesn't?

I am not saying that if you buy all polygiene gear, you are invisible to a deer's nose, but it does help tremendously. Even if it allows that buck to make a few extra steps before detecting you, it can make all the difference in the world. 100% merino or alpaca wool socks are a great addition as well. They have a similar effect as the polygiene, except for your feet. You can wear them more without washing because of these materials' anti-bacterial agents.

 I like to make sure that my main layers of camo get put on in the field. Put a sealable tote in the back of your truck and finish getting dressed in the field or even close to your stand so you don't sweat on the way out. When you have finished hunting, take those articles of clothing off and put them back in the tote before you leave. I use scent-neutralizing (not covering scent) wafers in my tote. On a sunny day, I might let them hang to air out while I'm not hunting. Spray everything down with scent-killing spray before you come and while you are here. Also, let your camo and boots air out days before you arrive.

While in the field, I use OZONICS. Some people think it doesn't work, and skeptics are everywhere. The majority of experts say it improves your chances significantly. I am convinced that the skeptics have never tried using Ozonics, or they expected it to be a miracle worker when they did no other steps to eliminate odor. Fortunately, I don't have to rely on the skeptic's opinions because I know firsthand that it has made a difference for me many times on world-class whitetails. If used correctly, it can significantly improve the chances of not getting detected.

Can you pick one of the things I said and say that won't make a significant difference? Sure, you can, and you would be right! For example, What's the point of using polygiene base layer pants if you have cotton or polyester underwear underneath that base layer? Bacteria will replicate in those non-polygiene underwear and cause odor. Outer layers don't have to be polygiene, but anything that comes in contact with your skin or sweat should be. Likewise, what is the point of spraying your camo down if you're burping up a coney dog from lunch or you stepped in a pool of diesel at the gas station because you didn't feel like taking your boots off?

Being mindful of everything or as much as possible will make the difference. In some situations, even Ozonics doesn't work as expected when you're getting swirling winds, but if you have a steady wind or a calm day, it can be very effective. Please read up on using Ozonics correctly; it will bring you opportunities you wouldn't usually get. Not to beat a dead horse, but you can't walk out smelling like a burrito and expect your Merino wool socks or ozonics to save the day. Apply all these things, and it will make a difference long enough for you to send an arrow through that trophy buck's pump station!

SCENT LURES:

Many ask: "Should I bring masking scents or scent lures such as sweet lures or even doe in heat or buck urine?" MY STRONG RECOMMENDATION IS TO LEAVE THEM AT HOME UNLESS WE SAY OTHERWISE! First of all, we have these deer patterned most of the time of the year. These mature bucks are coming into a bait pile. So, why would we add anything if your target buck is visiting regularly? It can only hurt you! Even during the rut, leave the doe in heat, sprays, drags, and wicks at home. Don't walk up to the bait and spray anything. Those bucks are coming to the bait because the does are there. Using a scent that may have sat on a shelf for three years in Walmart may throw off that mature buck. Even if it's the "good stuff," It may alert that hot doe just coming in to feed. What about those premium fresh/frozen scents? As I said, the answer is still the same. Depending on the time of year, your buck has been coming into the bait to feed or following a hot doe to the bait regularly before you came. We want everything to look and smell like the day before you arrived. As appealing as you think your scent lure might be, let's not disrupt that big buck. Leave them at home.

Book Your Ohio Deer Hunt:
Email or Call us today at 419-543-3433

PERSISTENCE: 

Another reason our hunters are unsuccessful on their Ohio deer hunt is a lack of effort. Depending on the time of the season, we only hunt in the evenings because morning hunts can hurt more than help in those early and late season times. But during peak movement in late October through mid-November, we advise hunters to sit all day or at least as long as possible. I can't tell you how often hunters affected their pre-rut or rut hunt or saw fewer deer by getting out of the stand because they thought the deer wouldn't move until "prime time." This can be partially true on a warm day, but it's not a reason to get out of the stand, and here is why: If you get out for lunch, you are making four different trips (out, back, out, back) each day. Remember, you are in their living room., bedroom and kitchen. You're walking near their bedding and where they are coming to feed. You're making yourself visible, making noise, stepping on dry leaves, and broadcasting more scent as you walk in and out. Imagine you get out at 9:30 am for breakfast. You end up bumping deer all around you as you walk back to your truck. And again, hours later, right before prime time, they are getting bumped as you head back out. If you didn't get out for lunch, these deer would have probably bedded or stayed around you. They would have been close for the evening trip to the bait pile. Simply put, you'll increase your chances of seeing the buck you're after and having more deer activity if you can sit all day.

Sure, you are right; they may not be running circles around your stand at noon, but because you stayed in the stand, that buck or hot doe thinks it safe to come to the bait pile sooner because there are no signs of danger all day.

Besides, it's better to have a sandwich, some nuts, or an apple in the stand than it is for you to contaminate your gear by walking into a greasy spoon restaurant for a sausage gravy breakfast or a burrito supreme.

Everyone loves hunting the rut, but it's not for everyone. If you're the kind of guy who doesn't like long sits or all-day sits, then you're better off doing an early-season, post-rut, or late-season hunt.

If you can't sit all day and still want to hunt the rut, let us know you don't want to sit all day, as we will need to put you on specific stands that aren't affected as much by getting out at midday. Some stand locations are strategically positioned where the deer are traveling through, but no bedding is near the stand. We NEED to know your plan regarding sitting all day or getting out for the sake of your hunt and those around you. We don't want to put the hunter who wants to get out every day for lunch in a spot that is just off of a bedding area or a spot where he has to walk through the whole property to get back to his truck as this can affect the quality of your hunt as well as others that may be hunting that farm. Please be upfront and honest about what you are capable of and willing to do, and we will be able to put you in the best position to harvest the trophy buck!

Remember to prepare yourself with food and water to get you through those long hunts. It's also important to watch the weather to make sure you're dressed appropriately to endure. Take some packable rain gear or an extra layer in your backpack when the wind picks up. It might just be the reason you have another stud on the wall.

Ironically, guys who don't like to sit a long time end up doing more time than guys who hunt all day because those "hardcore" guys tend to score sooner.

LISTENING TO THE GUIDE

Perhaps one of the biggest things a hunter needs to do to be successful is to listen to the guide/outfitter. Many guys want to move if they don't see a buck they are after in the first couple of days. First, what you see on days 1, 2, or 3 can be the polar opposite of what you see on days 4 or 5. We have seen it a million times. We have even been guilty of it ourselves in that a hunter didn't see what they were looking for, and we moved them because another buck daylighted somewhere else. Then they sit in stand number 2, and the main target buck shows up at stand number 1 the next day or so later. Meanwhile, nothing is showing now at stand number 2. Remember that you were placed in the first spot for a reason. It is your "Plan A". Moving after that to 2 and 3 other locations puts you in front of some new scenery, but welcome to Plan B or Plan C. Trust us, we would rather put you where you will see a shooter buck. If we think you have a better chance on stand number 2 or something significantly changes elsewhere, we will move you and/or discuss it with you. But otherwise, we are putting unnecessary pressure on stands for no reason. We wouldn't want to mess up the hunting unnecessarily for the next guy, either. Think of it his way: we want to keep hunters from playing musical chairs with your spots before you come to camp, too! It is how we keep the big bucks frequenting all these spots and pressure to a minimum. Sit hard, do everything you can, and we will do the rest.

We do not tolerate people moving around on their own, moving our stands, using their own bait, or hunting anywhere other than where we have you. Again, this can cause pressure issues, and you wouldn't want the guy that hunts this farm before you walking all around before you got to hunt there.

Another aspect of "listening to the guide" is heading out to your stand when we recommend it. For example, last year, we should have killed several big bucks coming in regularly at 2:30 pm. In this case, we told the hunter to slip in around noon and sit still because they are daylighting regularly at this time. Instead, the hunter showed up at 4:30 pm because they didn't want to sit that long and missed their chance because those big boys showed up when they weren't there! It's better to put some time in the stand or hunt hard for a day or 2 in a situation like this because now that person hunts all week and ends up getting nothing because they are blowing their target buck out without even knowing it.

When you do shoot a deer, let the guide know immediately. DO NOT pursue the animal or get out and check your arrow, regardless of how good of a shot you think you had. Call or text us immediately! If there is no cell service, wait for a bit or quietly creep out, if possible, without spooking the deer. Then head back to your truck, where you can get a signal. We will come up with a game plan and give it time. Then, we will track your deer together. Don't be that hunter who went home with nothing because you pushed your deer before it expired. We don't allow our hunters to track deer without us there for that reason. Remember, we only say these things because we want you to be a success!

IN CONCLUSION

As hunters, we owe it to ourselves to ensure we do everything possible. We invest too much time, energy, and money into deer hunting not to take it seriously.

Remember that we mentioned all these things because we have either learned from these same mistakes or witnessed our hunters make these mistakes. We are passionate about your success and put more pressure on ourselves than you probably do.

As you already know, hunting is hunting, and things can go wrong. But if you do everything you can to ensure success, it helps us give you the hunt you're spending your hard-earned money on. Weather, acorn production, crops, Lady Luck, and other unforeseen circumstances can affect our results. Regardless, we strive to do everything we can to ensure your success, and we hope you will as well!

RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT:

Ozonics Scent Eliminator: Highly recommended for those of you who are focused on scent control! Which should be everyone. This device can be a game-changer for your hunt! There are various models to choose from. If you're doing all-day sits, it's recommended that you get a second battery, as one battery won't last all day on a dark-to-dark hunt. https://ozonicshunting.com/collections/scent-elimination-devices/products/hr500

Polygiene Base Layers and Underwear:  Great product that keeps odor from replicating. Although they last several days without washing, depending on the activity intensity, we recommend several layers you can rotate and wear throughout the week. Several companies offer polygiene technology, but these are the most affordable ones.   https://elementoutdoors.com/collections/all/base-layer

100% Merino Wool Socks: Another great item to help control scent. Good socks are another component of scent control and being comfortable in the stand. I have sweated in these, and your feet don't stink at the end of the day because bacteria can't replicate like they can on other cheaper hunting socks. It also keeps you warm even if they get wet. https://www.minus33.com/collections/hunt-fish-wool-socks/products/expedition-wool-mountaineer-sock 

Primos Trigger Gen 3 Tall Trigger Stick: Great way to stead your shot in a stand or blind. This shooting rest self-adjusts with a pull of a trigger. So it's ready instantly in the moment of truth. https://www.primos.com/shooting-sticks/trigger-sticks-tri-pods/trigger-stick-gen3-tall-tripod-shooting-stick/PO-65815.html 

ONX Membership: Great App for your phone. It allows you to see property lines and allows us to share a pin of your stand location. Although most of our stands are obvious and easy to get to, this makes life easier in some situations. Here is their website, but you would want to go to your phone to download the app. https://www.onxmaps.com/

For more information, visit our Ohio deer hunting page.

Book Your Ohio Deer Hunt:
Email or Call us today at 419-543-3433