Deer Hunting Tips: Deer Attractants, Scent Elimination and Gun Safety
This article addresses several valuable tips for deer hunters, including:
· Deer Attractants – There are a variety of different tactics that hunters can employ to attract deer to a specific hunting area.
o Natural Food Plots – This is essentially a garden area that is planted with clover, corn, brassicas, alfalfa, wheat and/or soybeans, which are all healthy attractants for deer.
o Salt Licks/Mineral Blocks – Helping to promote muscle and bone growth, salt and mineral blocks are attractive to deer and wildlife.
o Feeders – Some states allow hunters to set up automatic feeders, providing nutrients to deer herds.
o Food Flavored Blocks and Liquid Gel Formulas – Similar to salt licks and mineral blocks, these have the added attraction of food aromas to help attract more deer.
· Scent Elimination – Deer can smell human scent, as their noses are so powerful they become extremely wary of any foreign or dangerous smells. Hunters must take great care to eliminate their scent when hunting. This includes:
o Clothing – Scent free containers are the most effective way for hunters to eliminate clothing smell. Hunters need to eliminate smell on their jackets, pants, gloves, shirts, hats and socks.
o Boots – If not using rubber boots, hunters need to make sure they use a scent free soap to wash their boots, helping remove any foreign scents on the boots and the soles. Storing boots in a scent-free container is also an excellent way to transport them once they are washed.
o Body Odor – Dedicated hunters know the importance of showering with scent free shampoo and soap. It is also important to wear scent free deodorant and not wear any cologne, scented hair products or aftershave.
o Equipment – Tree stands and all hunting equipment need to be scent free. Neutralizer sprays or cover scent sprays can easily be sprayed on guns, bags and other equipment.
· Gun Safety – Gun safety is a vital part of being a productive, successful and safe hunter. Below are three important gun safety tips for hunters to remember:
o Point in a Safe Direction – Weapons should always be pointed in a safe direction, never at someone.
o Off the Trigger! – Fingers should remain off the trigger until the hunter is ready to shoot the weapon.
o
Unload, Unload, Unload – Weapons should always
remain unloaded until they are ready to use. Transporting a loaded weapon is
never advisable.
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Crockett Outdoor’s BBQ Venison SteakMakes 1-2 poundsPrep time: 24 hoursCook time: appx. 15 MinutesYou will need:1-2 Lbs veisonn back straps cut into 3/4 inch chops (let them thaw out if frozen)MARINADE INGREDIENTS:1/3 cup soy sauce of your choice1/2 teaspoon mesquite liquid smoke1 teaspoon louisiana hot sauce1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg1 tablespoon sugar1/2 teaspoon ground garlic powder1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lime juiceMIX ALL INGREDIENCE TOGETHER TO CREATE MARINADE[IF WANTING A QUICKER MARINADE USE 1 package of Mccormick Grill Mates Mesquite Flavored Marinade & 1 cup Honey BBQ sauce]FOR LATER USE:1 cup Honey BBQ sauceMilk (enough to submerge chops for soaking)Preperation:Take 1-2 pounds of chops (after being thawed out) rinse them with water and squeeze – repeat until blood is almost completely out of the meatNext put chops in a container and cover with milk – refridgerate for 4 hours then drain (the milk works as a tenderizer) Rinse and squeeze chops again to remove any remaining blood (this should remove any game taste)Place chops back into a clean container and pour marinade over the top (if chops are not fully submerged you may add extra honey BBQ sauce to the mixture)Let the chops marinade over night. In the morning flip and tenderize (I don’t have a tenderizer so I stabb with a fork).At noon flip and tenderize again then stir in the 1 cup Honey BBQ Sauce to the marinadeCooking Instructions:Pre-heat grill to 300 or 350 (I usually cook at 300 for a nice slow cook)Place meat on grill and let cook 5-7 minutes on each sidePour the remaining marinade on the meat and let cook for 1-2 minutes each side – or until chop looks done…This recipe has been a favorite of ours and have recieved many compliments on how tender the meat is. If you know someone who doesn’t like the gamey taste of meat let them try this recipe because it should have very little game taste (if any). The prep time is a little longer than normal but you won’t be let down.