Jason Moffitt Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 I'm new to hunting and would like to get as much assistance in the do's and don't as I can get. I'm in the military and don't get much time to get out and hunt but it's always been something I've wanted to learn, especially as I get closer to mandatory retirement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Andrus Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 Welcome Jason, you joined a good family here and all the guys and gals will help you in anyway including myself. And thank you for your service... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Moffitt Posted December 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2014 Tim, Thank you. I appreciate any assistance that I can get. I hope you and all the Real Tree staff have a merry Christmas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Andrus Posted December 24, 2014 Report Share Posted December 24, 2014 thanks Jason! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted December 24, 2014 Report Share Posted December 24, 2014 Welcome to the forums Jason. Thank you for serving. A great group of very knowledgeable hunters here. Ask away with any questions. Merry Christmas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Moffitt Posted December 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2014 Thank you. Honestly, I need to learn everything from A - Z about the basics of hunting, field dressing a deer, hanging a tree stand, etc. You name it, I need to learn about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Moffitt Posted December 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2014 Can you tell me how you can tell the age of a deer by just looking at it? What are you looking at to decipher the age of the deer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Moffitt Posted December 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2014 Can you tell me how you tell the age of a deer just by looking at it? What is it that you are looking at or looking for to decipher the age of the deer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Andrus Posted December 25, 2014 Report Share Posted December 25, 2014 http://www.venaticfanatics.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Aging-Deer.jpg this might help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Moffitt Posted December 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2014 Tim, that does help. Thank you for the information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Moffitt Posted December 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2014 Another question, how do you know how high to place your tree stand or how high your blind should be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Moffitt Posted December 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 25, 2014 Ok, the draw weight on my bow is too heavy... How do I adjust it to make it lighter? We had a hunting outfitter in our town but it closed recently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Andrus Posted December 26, 2014 Report Share Posted December 26, 2014 Jason the height of stand or blind depends on situation no 2 places are the same If bowhunting you don't want to get too high you want to make sure you take out both lungs if too high you might just take out one long and have long tracking job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Moffitt Posted December 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 26, 2014 Tim, that all makes sense. Thanks again for the great information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Andrus Posted December 27, 2014 Report Share Posted December 27, 2014 welcome, glad to. I and Realtree are here to help in any way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted December 27, 2014 Report Share Posted December 27, 2014 i'm about a zero on whitetails, but know a little about mule deer, elk & antelope. let me know what i can do to help you with western hunting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Moffitt Posted December 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2014 Steve, I appreciate the offer. I think I should try and take down a white tail before attempting to take down a big ole mule deer, elk or antelope. If I ever go on vacation or take a hunting trip out west, I will get in touch with you. Thanks again for reaching out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Andrus Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 Jason where is it you call home? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Moffitt Posted December 30, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 30, 2014 I was born and raised in Illinois. At 18 I joined the Marine Corps and have been in the Corps ever since. I currently reside in SC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted December 31, 2014 Report Share Posted December 31, 2014 Welcome Jason - I'm from IL and we have some big whitetails around here. Not sure about SC - was there in the 80's at Fort Jackson for basic, but never got off the base. Tim is right about stand height (you might catch him laying the smack down on a RT Monster buck video if you catch the right one. He's a great resource and forum friend. Stand height can help with getting your scent up and out of the reach of a deers nostrils and if you don't have a lot of branches or leaves to provide cover height will help you remain undetected. When determining height only go as high as you are comfortable and always use a safety harness. Tree stands are the number one cause of hunting related accidents. Some tree stands have ladders an only go 12-20 feet. Climbing stands are dependent on the branches that get in the way while rapid rails and a hang on stand allow you to go up just about any tree as high as you like. My lowest stand is 16 feet and I use old Christmas trees tied around it to provide cover. My highest is 35 feet because its the only tree big enough and is at the bottom of a ravine. I had it at 20 feet but the deer were walking the sides of the hill and my stand (while 20 feet high) was only 10 feet above the deers eye level. At 35 feet I am now 25 feet above their eye level and they don't pick me out or scent me as much. It's rare that I get a stand right the first time I set it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Moffitt Posted January 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 Fly, thanks for all the great information and advice. So, you think that a tree stand is better than a ground blind and the reason is because of scent and being in the eye sight of the deer. I'm not against a tree stand at all but would like to purchase the gear that is going to bring the deer into bow range. We were going by our new house last night and a 4-point buck came walking across the road as if he owned it. I know they are here just need them to come out during daylight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted January 1, 2015 Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 Each type setup has its place. A ground blind can be extremely effective where you don't have good options for tree stands. Late season when there is little cover a ground blind on a fence row can really pay off. You can get away with a little movement in a blind. Getting a bow drawn or getting a gun up without a deer picking you off can be tough if you are not well blended into the cover around you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Moffitt Posted January 1, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 1, 2015 Copy. I definitely understand that. As before, this all makes sense and seems to me that it's pretty much based on what Mother Nature gives you to work with. You must make the best of what you have to work with in order to be successful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Andrus Posted January 2, 2015 Report Share Posted January 2, 2015 Jason does any of your friends hunt that could show u hands on some tips? If not we here at Realtree are happy to help you but sometimes hands on is easier to show u stuff .........If you have any other questions fire away... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted January 2, 2015 Report Share Posted January 2, 2015 I have 2 ground blinds that I purchased to take my kids gun hunting when they were younger. Now that they are older I never even brought my blinds out of the basement this year. From my experience deer will get used to a blind and walk close to it, but it takes a couple weeks. In addition, when I zip down the windows they get more weary of the black triangles. They sure are nice when it's 15 degrees and windy or 35 and raining though. The biggest disadvantage I find is that it limits my visibility. To stay hidden the back windows need to stay shut and deer seem to come in from where you least expect them to a lot. I like the 360 degree view a tree stand affords as well as the elevated position. I just enjoy hunting from tree stands a lot more than ground blinds which motivates me to stay in the woods longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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