This becomes much easier with enough target practice so the mind is well conditioned to focus on a specific point. Otherwise, the mind often struggles to overcome the realization that you’re shooting at a animal, which can bring on an overwhelming case of “Buck Fever.”

It’s also important to visualize the path of the bullet as it passes through the animal to ensure it will hit the heart and lungs. Depending on how the animal is standing relative to you, you may need to adjust the aim point for that reason. However, shots from the direct rear are never ethical because of all the tissue the bullet must travel to reach the heart and lungs. And frontal shots must be more precise to avoid hitting the stomach. There is nothing worse than having to clean a gut shot deer and it will result in points being deducted from your camp scorecard.

or the last 15 min.


I've got 3 animals on my wall that appeared in the last 15 min of shooting light.



Of course I've got like 9 others that were killed with plenty of light left but you get what I'm saying [/quote
Lol! Thanks for the laugh! Totally get what you’re saying

But the beer goes flat.

Hard to teach experience. But that's why they invented 16 oz screw offs. And makes a good pee bottle if you don't overflow it...

If you're "dumping" in the woods, cover your TP with leaves - landowner does not want to see TP scattered around property.

That's why I use camo TP! Reminds me I need to get some more.

Aim small, shoot small.

Make sure what you're shooting at is what it is. Identify.

And make sure your set ups have a good backstop. Know you target and what is behind it.

For guys who don't hunt A+ properties, I offer this nugget.....

If you would shoot it January 3rd, shoot it November 3rd

I offer this: if you would not shoot it on November 3rd, don't shoot it on January 3rd. That's killing for the sake of killing. Let it grow and shoot it on November 3rd of next year when there is no question in your mind..

be quiet.
be still.
pay attention to where the deer will be, you've already scouted
and know where that will be, right ? forget what's behind you.
put your phone away. put your paperback book away. put your gameboy away.
you can diddle with that stuff any other day of the year, or at night at camp.
watch for deer. you can't deer hunt every day of the year. use that time wisely.
if you don't know for sure that you can make the shot, don't try it.
learn from your mistakes and try your damndest to not do them again.

If you hunt in open country, you should spend A LOT of time with your binoculars glued to your face. And look for shiny things in the woods. When the sun is right, a deer will really shine.

Also get in the stand at least 30 minutes before first light in the morning.

Stay late last hour is the MAGIC HOUR. Having said that try to make sure the deer have left the area before you exit the stand. You do not want to "educate" a smart ol buck.

Don't come to the property and sight your gun in the day before the season opens. Show courtesy to fellow hunters and neighbors with quiet time.
If you get a deer early opening morning, don't drive back and forth and disturb other hunters till an agreed upon time.

You're drinking to slow..

One more.

The more you walk the more you see. Do your best not to tip the deer off that you’re coming after them.

I think the previous reply about November 3rd and January 3rd was not about desperation but about taking good opportunities as they come.
I past on 150ish main frame mature 10 point three or four seasons ago on opening evening of gun season. About 89 degrees and sunny. Kept thinking about how hot it was, and about all the bigger ghost bucks we’d seen on camera.
He slipped away and I never saw him again. Didn’t harvest a trophy buck that year. Never pass on a buck on the first day of the hunt that you would shoot on the last day of your hunt.
Probably the fourth or fifth time I’ve learned that lesson.

Bring a Pen/zip tie and Tag and fill the log out immediately after shooting.

One more for deer camp: Everyone has a favorite rifle, and what matters is that you're both comfortable with the rifle and caliber and shoot accurately with it. Don't be bragging about your sniper-setup 300WM with the scope that allows you to see the capillaries in the buck's eyeball and has a stock custom-carved by blind artisans. There are old-timers at that camp that have killed more deer than CWD with their trusty 30-06s or .243 and either iron sights or scopes the diameter of a pencil. The same goes for all your high-end gear and KUIU gear. It's cool, but rarely necessary and it definitely doesn't make a good hunter. Most of us were taught by old timers in jeans, ropers and the surplus army jackets or red/black plaid coats!

If you hunt around the Bandera area don't stay out too late at the Silver Dollar or 11th Street Bar.