The Importance of Scouting and Hunting

 What is Deer Scouting?

    Deer scouting is what hunters have to do year-round to eventually know in the fall during deer season where the deers are and if it is legal to hunt at the places they are. If a hunter knows a deer's patterns it is much easier to get it during the season. Looking for where they sleep, feeding areas, and trails they use to go about are all good resources and things that help in the long run. "Deer season never ends" (Banks Outdoors). It's true, the key to having a good hunt in the season is to always keep working during the offseason.



 
 (FieldsportChannel TV)

What to Scout for and When:

    First, to start off at the beginning of the year, January is an important month because this is when you can find the bedding areas of the deer because they are staying warm during the cold months. Also, if there is snow on the ground: "...don't miss the opportunity to get out after the first snowfall, when deer sign can be read like a book" (Lawrence Pyne). In March, it is one of the best times to go out scouting because there will be rubs against trees from the antlers of bucks and possibly broken antlers that were caused by buck fighting. Also, this is a good time to move any tree stands that were not in the ideal spots from last season. During the summer months, this is a good time to go out and possibly sit in places that are thought to have deer and see if any are there. Trail cameras also great to use during this time because they are out and about and the season is getting closer and closer. Finally, in September Lawrence Pyne says: "Deer are beginning to focus on fall food sources, and so should you. Get out and determine what preferred foods are most abundant. Just because apples or acorns were plentiful last fall doesn't mean they will be next year."

The Importance of Hunting:

    In general, deer hunting is not just a hobby but it is good for the environment. Hunting helps out the population of deer because there is not enough food for all of them to survive. "Controlled hunting can bring the deer back to a population size that is best for them. As a result, the surviving deer will be able to live healthy lives as there will be enough food to support the new population size" (Christopher Dolce). Another big reason why keeping the population regulated is good is that with an overwhelming population deer have no place to go which makes the chance of human interaction greater. This means deer will go onto highways more, even if the population was down there is still a chance but greater with more deer. This will cause crashes and damages to cars and people. "According to the National Highway Safety Administration (NHSA), there are about 1.5 million deer-related accidents annually. These accidents cause about 10,000 injuries, 175 to 200 deaths, and $1 billion in vehicle damage per year" (Christopher Dolce). If there are fewer deer there is a less likely chance of crashes to happen and deers will not suffer from crashes because they do not die instantly with accidents. 



    
Here's what you need to know about white-tailed deer season in Texas
(Michigan Department of Natural Resources)



Why I Hunt:

    I love to go outdoors and wake up super early to go hunting. My family and I hunt waterfowl, deer, and possibly turkey this year. I grew up with it in my family and there wasn't really a choice but in the past year or so I have really been getting into it. By hunting, I have not just learned that it is a fun hobby, but that it takes hard work, patience, and a whole lot of sitting still. I have also learned that it is not just as simple as going to the grocery store to buy a pack of meat. When we get our own meals and food, it just feels different and shows that is how it used to be before grocery stores were around. 



Works Cited

Banks Outdoors. "Scouting After Deer Season." Banks Outdoors, 20 Jan. 2017, banksoutdoors.com/scouting-after-deer-season/. Accessed 13 Jan. 2021.

Dolce, Christopher. "Opinion: Deer hunting is a necessary evil for deer and people." North Jersey, 20 Feb. 2018, www.northjersey.com/story/opinion/contributors/2018/02/20/deer-hunting-necessary-evil-deer-and-people/355179002/. Accessed 13 Jan. 2021.

FieldsportsChannel TV. Paul Childerley uses Zeiss binos to stalk Chinese water deer in Bedfordshire, UK. Flickr, 16 Mar. 2018, www.flickr.com/photos/fieldsportschannel/40944645871/. Accessed 13 Jan. 2021.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources. of Natural The Michigan Department of Natural Resources advises deer hunters to be prepared for big changes to DNR deer check stations this fall. KSAT, 8 Nov. 2020, www.ksat.com/news/local/2020/11/08/heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-white-tailed-deer-season-in-texas/. Accessed 13 Jan. 2021.

Pyne, Lawernce. "The Year-Round Deer Hunter." Field and Stream, 3 July 2002, www.fieldandstream.com/articles/hunting/2002/07/year-round-deer-hunter/#:~:text=1.&text=As%20summer%20days%20shorten%2C%20deer,antlers%20quite%20visible%20through%20binoculars. Accessed 13 Jan. 2021.






Comments

  1. AnonymousJanuary 15, 2021 at 10:21 AM

    I loved how in your writing I can really tell how much you love hunting. I found it very interesting how hunting can actually help populations of deer to success more. Many people who aren't into that type of activity should understand that hunting is sometimes healthy for the environment. Do you believe that hunting could be harmful for the environment in certain scenarios.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousJanuary 21, 2021 at 12:08 PM

      Yes I think that many people, especially where they can't get caught go over their limit of deer which can ultimately hurt the population.

      Delete
  2. Ms. LaClairJanuary 17, 2021 at 4:56 PM

    Good discussion of the benefits of hunting when it is done responsibly.

    ReplyDelete

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