Opening Gun Season

Target 

1. Determine your goals 
2. Set realistic expectations 
3. Have fun 

Create a Goal 

In any hunting situation, the hunter’s first instinct should be to ask, “what is my goal on this specific hunt?” There are short term hunting goals (think opening weekend) and long term hunting goals (think the entire hunting season).

A hunting goal can look differently for each individual hunter. Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help you come up with your own hunting goal! 

1. Am I hunting private or public land? 
2. Am I hunting for meat or for antlers? 
3. Am I hunting alone, with a group, or taking another person hunting? Your goal should answer these questions and more if needed. 

Your Goal and Hunting Public Land on “The Opener.” 

Hunting on public land for “the gun opener” can be exciting, challenging, frustrating, and rewarding! Setting clear and realistic expectations are even more vital when hunting on public land. No matter what your goal is, it is important to remember to have realistic expectations. You WILL see other people, you will see other trucks, and you absolutely need a plan A, B, and C. 

Plan to have several spots that you would be willing to hunt. It is common and almost guaranteed to show up to your planned hunting spot and find a truck already parked there. That is fine! Have a plan B and stay flexible. There are going to be other hunters no matter what, and that is not always a bad thing! 

What is your hunting goal? Obviously you are wanting to kill something, or you wouldn’t be in the woods. Let’s break down how to reach your hunting goal. If your hunting goal is to shoot a deer, any deer, use the advantage that is in your hands. Maybe you are taking a kid, maybe you are hunting for meat, or maybe you are a new hunter. Regardless, if your goal is to kill the first deer you see, then hunt where there will be deer, and you can shoot them from a distance. Do not hunt in the middle of thick cover where your range is super limited. Rather, hunt the edge of a thicket, a power line, an overgrown bedding area, under a dropping oak tree, or a planted crop field. Bottom line, hunt where you can use that gun, and where deer congregate.

If your goal is to kill a big buck, you need to curb your expectations. Remember, it is public land and there will never be as many hunters in the woods as there are on opening day of a rifle season. First thing to remember is that oftentimes the rut is still happening. Don’t be afraid to use similar strategies to those you might have been using several weeks ago during bow season. Second factor is to scout. Scout, scout, scout, and scout some more. If your goal is to hunt and harvest a big buck, understand that it takes more effort. You will likely not set up on the first field you find and shoot a booner. You do not just need to scout for deer signs, but for buck signs. These bucks are smart. They have already been hunted all of bow season and maybe a muzzie season as well. Find a saddle way back in the woods, hunt the point of a ridge where a big buck might be bedded looking down into a bottom for danger with the wind at his back, hunt the edge of thick cover where does might be bedded, and be prepared to stay on the move. Bottom line, you gotta work for these big deer. He is not going to come to you like he will when hunting that food plot on private land. Don’t be discouraged, you can do it.

HAVE FUN!

This is especially important if you are a new hunter, hunting with a child, or on a
group hunt. These three situations all call for a fun filled, high success weekend. Don’t strain yourself. Do not hunt until you are beyond exhausted. Keep it light and fun. This is why I love hunting for meat on opening day. Oftentimes I am with friends, or family members, and there are youngins present. Most of the time, no one cares what you show up with as long as it’s brown. So, have an optimistic idea of hunting, and know that just being in the woods is better than not.