Bow Hunting Whitetail Deer

Whitetail deer challenging game for the avid hunter. While they do not grow to the proportions of their cousins the moose, they are still quite a savory catch to bag. They can grow as large as 87 inches and weigh as much as 300 pounds in Canada and the United States. These deer are very distinctive, due to the white coloring on their hindquarters, giving them the name. Bow hunting season is an exciting time in Canada, where many people plan their hunting trips to bag their own whitetail deer. Decisions must be made about using a tree stand vs. ground hunting for whitetail deer.  Different hunters feel differently about it, but this doesn't change how they all feel about bow hunting season. Whitetail deer are a challenge and one of the best parts of bow hunting season.

For hunters in Canada, whitetail deer are generally found in the south, closer to the United States. They prefer wooded areas with dense thickets, but can be found in many different types of habitats. This is why some hunters prefer using a tree stand to stalk their whitetail deer. In order to hunt whitetail deer successfully, there are a few things a hunter needs to do. Before the hunting trips it is a good idea to decide whether you will be using a tree stand, or hunting from the ground.

The first and most important thing is for a hunter to research their trip. Whitetail deer have extremely sharp senses, and bow hunting is a sport that requires skill to bag a catch as fast as a whitetail deer. Hunters need to make sure they know exactly what they need to do to bag a whitetail deer. Secondly, hunters need to make sure they have the right permits during the bow hunting season in Canada. This cannot be stressed enough, the right permits are essential to hunting whitetail deer. Whitetail deer are considered endangered in Canada and the United States.  Hunting whitetail deer without a permit can lead to some severe damages, including being banned from hunting the entire season. Hunting without the correct permits is illegal in Canada and is a burden on the other hunters, the authorities, and the conservation of wildlife efforts. Do the research long before the planned hunting trip so you are not scrambling for the information mere days before. The rules on the bow hunting season change every year.  It is wise to get updated information on whitetail deer with each of your planned hunting trips.

The other thing a hunter needs to know is how to properly shoot a whitetail deer. Whether shooting from a tree stand or on the ground, certain angles can lead to either missing the target entirely, or just injuring the whitetail deer without killing it. Proper bow hunting technique is important when hunting whitetail deer of any size. Be sure to have proper instruction in this matter before heading out on a hunting trip.

There is also the matter of whether you are planning on using a tree stand during your hunting trips. Tree stands are useful to bow hunters because it gives a slight advantage over the fine senses of the whitetail deer. Finally the last thing a hunter needs to know about whitetail deer is what to do with it afterwards. It would not do to simply throw the warm body on the hood of your car and go home, there are procedures to be followed to ensure the meat does not spoil, and the carcass is properly taken care of. All of this information is readily available on the Canadian government websites, so be sure to consult it before a big whitetail deer hunting trip.

Unless you are a seasoned hunter, it is quite possible you will not be able to bag a whitetail deer in your first hunting trips. Chances are you will remain in your tree stand, or on the ground, and be unable to bag the perfect whitetail deer. With the proper procedures and experience, you can have a safe bow hunting season and an unforgettable experience regardless of the outcome.




HuntingNet.com-Deer Hunting. Hunting Net Inc. 1996-2006. http://whitetaildeer.com/. November 1, 2006.

University of Michigan Museum of Zoology-Whitetail Deer. Dewey, T. and Animal Diversity Web Staff. 2003.