Deer Hunting on Bare Ground

The first thing to decide: Where shall I go? Second: How many do I want to make up the party?

Where to go is the most important question to settle.

Now for your party. A perfect trip may be ruined by one person who does not fit. I recommend small parties, not over four. Two makes a good party.The next thing after making up your party and where to go is to decide on your camp. Shall you use a tent, a lean-to, an old logging camp or go to a regular Sporting camp?

A Sporting camp is the most comfortable and the least trouble, but sometimes the hunting is not so good on account of too many hunters.

The next question is: How are you going to hunt? With a small party I recommend still hunting as driving is out of the question. I realize that driving is fairly successful in the Southern States but not in Maine. I have found still hunting the most successful method on both bare ground and snow. Early in the season you stand a chance to get a good shot near camp. The best hunting is early in the morning, regardless of the season. The first thing to do is to find out the direction of the wind. Travel with the wind in your face. Walk slowly, stop often, take in all the territory around you and always be in position to shoot quickly.

Watch for fresh signs and try to follow the way you are going but always keep the wind in your face, if possible.

Do not hunt too long the first day or two. Start back to camp by 10:00 o’clock. The middle of the day is the poorest time to hunt. If you find fresh signs near camp go out again about 2:00 o’clock and sit down in a place where you have a good view and an open place to shoot.

If it is a beech-nut year you will do well to put in a lot of time on the beech ridges. You are very likely to find where deer have pawed over the beech leaves looking for nuts. Walk very slowly along where you can see quite a distance. If it is a bright, clear day keep near the edge of the ridge where the hard wood and black growth meet. If you find fresh signs sit down where you can see some distance looking into the wind. If you are not sure of the direction of the wind wet your finger in your mouth and hold it over your head. The side that feels cold is where the wind is coming from.

Lyman Lane, age 10, of East Swanzey, N.H. shot this deer with his Father’s 30-30 rifle at 8:30 A.M., December 13, 1950, just before going to school. Lyman has been well trained in the use of a rifle and is an excellent marksman. He dropped the deer at a distance of about 200 yards. He also shot a doe on the second day of the hunting season 1951. Again in 1952 Lyman shot a deer on the last day of the season. Therefore at the age of twelve, he has to his credit three deer, which is an unusual record.

If there are no beechnuts look for signs on burned ground and where lumbermen have operated. Deer browse on small hard wood shoots and raspberry bushes. Whenever you find signs keep a sharp lookout and step where you will not break twigs. Deer’s eyesight is poor but their sense of hearing and smelling is very keen. They are apt to scent or hear you and be off before you see them.

If you wound a deer and find blood do not rush him. Signal your partner. Sit down and wait for the deer to lie down and stiffen up. If in the afternoon, however, get him before you are obliged to leave for camp if possible as it may storm during the night and obliterate the trail.