Preparing To Hunt Your Quarry

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In preparing for a hunt it is critical to educate yourself about he game you plan to pursue. Understanding your quarry will increase your success and add interest and enjoyment to the hunting experience.

Study Your Quarry

A prepared hunter studies the quarry and learns about the animal’s habits, food preference, habitat and other characteristics. Knowledge of the animal’s anatomy is also essential to placing a good, killing shot.

Practicing spotting game sign is a good way to begin. Game sign provides clues that help a hunter locate the game. Sight, hearing, smell and touch all come into play.

Visual signs include:

Tracks

Scrapes or rubs made by head, antlers or hooves

Scat (droppings)

Terrain that may shelter or attract animals

Trampled vegetation

Hair or feathers

Trails

Browse (roughtly torn twigs, buds or leaf endings)

Auditory Signs Include:

Bleating or calling signs

Calls from other animals, such as deer snorts

Smell Signs Include:

Musk or rut odors

Urine

Touch Signs Include: Checking the freshness of signs or tracks

Scout the hunting area prior to hunting season as part of your pre-hunt preparations. Steps you can take include:

* Use topographical maps that indicate features such as water, fields and wooded areas.

* Careful, slow travel in the area may identify game trails, bedding areas, waterholes and other game signs that will be extremely valuable when hunting season opens.

* “Stump-sitting” is a great way to quietly observe the area without disturbing the wildlife. Early morning and late afternoon are prime times for spotting game.

A good time to scout is after the hunting season and before leaf-out.