All Articles

The elusive whitetail deer is North America's most hunted big game animal. From east to West, North to South, whitetail deer are everywhere and hunted in different ways.

I absolutely love hunting, which probably seems obvious if I'm writing a blog for HuntWise, but it truly is one of the great passions of my life. The adventure, challenge, scenery, and solitude all speak to me on a very deep level.

Hunters have long leveraged height to gain a viewing advantage, reduce scent dispersion, and keep hidden out of the line of sight of their target animals. Some prefer a season-long setup with minimal movement and disruption to the natural environment.

What if you could have live footage and images of animal movements in your intended hunting zone all year round? For many hunting and outdoor enthusiasts, trail cams provide a window into the natural environment, providing otherwise unseen insights into animal movements undisturbed by human presence. 

As a seasoned hunter, I have spent years building my kit with the most valuable and trusted products. While every hunt is different, there are a few items I carry into the field every time. 

Yes, fanged deer are completely real. The term "vampire deer" is a common nickname used to describe several real-life species of small, primitive deer. Instead of the large antlers typically associated with deer, the males of these species grow elongated, downward-pointing upper canine teeth that look exactly like vampire fangs.

Many hunters prefer hunting above the ground. During deer season, this elevated position can give you an advantage over conditions on the ground that could spook a big buck cruising into your sights – whether it’s your scent or even the slightest movement at eye level that sends him running.

The Coues deer (commonly pronounced "cooz") is an elusive whitetail subspecies (Odocoileus virginianus couesi) scattered across the Southwest U.S. and Mexico. 

Growing up, I can only remember my dad taking a few days off work each year: Labor Day and Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Christmas, New Year's Day, and November 15th.

You can hunt near you on public land such as wildlife management areas, national forests, and other state or federally managed lands, or by gaining permission to hunt private property. The fastest way to find nearby hunting spots is to use a hunting app or map to identify access points, land ownership, and local hunting regulations.

You're glassing and spot a huge buck just out of range — what do you do next? Seasoned hunters understand that hoping deer wander into range is not always successful — sometimes, you have to call them.

Each year, hundreds, if not thousands, of hunters traverse across state lines to hunt the quarry that another state might have to offer. For some, this might mean leaving Ohio to cash in your Colorado moose points. For others, it might mean leaving the elk woods of Wyoming to head to Iowa for whitetail.