New tricks tried in 2022 - win or fail?

Feel free to share any new tricks you tried this year, and how it worked out for you. Was your hunting experiment a win or fail?

This year I wore electronic earmuffs which amplifies sound to get a slight edge on hearing the deer approach, allowing to ensure I am ready when the action is about to happen.
Most electronic earmuffs applifies sound by 4 times, while blocking out louder damaging noise.
It did give me extra warning an 8pt, however I would have got him regardless.
Also helped me get ready on a doe crossing a narrow path 100 yards out, the doe I would have been late on if didn't get the edge hearing it seconds before stepping out.
Pro - Electronic muffs keep ears warm. Hearing protection is a bonus (which I should have started decades ago).
Con - Electronic muffs make it difficult to pinpoint direction animal is coming from so partially need to guess where sound is coming from. They do get annoying wearing for long period, found me taking them on and off every 20 minutes.
Conclusion - For now, was a very minor win. Will do again next year to decide if will continue to use while on the stand/in blind beyond then.

Tried hot apple juice in stand instead of tea during rut for the smell.

Don't know if it was the juice or rut, but got some activities around me

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Instead of walking through my main hunting field I drove through and parked near my ground blind. The lack of scent left seemed to fool the deer into coming into the field to feed before dark, the blind seemed to do a good job of blocking my scent, so yes both worked out good.

I tried the muffs a couple years ago, they picked up to much noise around me from the road a klick away, and you are correct they put a lot of pressure on my ears getting uncomfortable after awhile and the movement of taking them off I didn't like. As far as scent goes I have on blind that I have to walk right up my shooting lane. It has actually helped me as the deer stop to have a smell, giving me the shot.

I rarely check my trailcams but prefer to do it without my feet touching the ground (atv).
This year I decided that I would only use my 1hp machine to check cams and it definitely seems to be a lower impact, lower pressure method

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when hunting in groups or pairs, come in together and one fellow goes ahead. one hides and waits.
alot of time, the critters take off behind the fellow who goes ahead, leaving an ambush for the one who hides.

worked for my deer this year and ive had it happen a couple times in the past with coyotes and other animals.

Yep, happened to me and my cousin years ago on Manitoulin Island. We were doggers on a drive and there was a big clump of evergreens between the two of use and after we walked by the clump a buck took off behind us. They don't get big from being stupid.

I used my foxpro caller to rattle in a buck to about 20 yds..... It was a very cool experience.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...02a9c8b852.jpg
This works buddies say deer down I have to say settle need put boots on first. :)

I left my gun case against a tree at 12pm. At 5pm I realised I wasn't going to make it to my gun case before dark if I didn't leave now.

Got up, Started walking back along the hardwood ridge. Maybe 75 yards into a walk I bumped an 8 pointer with a doe. Luckily I had gun in hand and was ready.

Wasn't thinking straight when I put my gun case down. Worked put, Would have never seen that buck where I was sitting

The son in law sat in the same place for 5 days straight, watching the end of a beaver pond on his left and a river on his right never seen a thing. On the last day of the hunt he gave up early about 1 pm and went back to camp. I never seen a thing all week either and put in a lot of miles from dark to dark. I decided i would try some thing different. I went to the son in laws spot and sat by a blow down, on the other side in the direction he would be looking if he was there.100 yards away. I could see his spot from were i sat. And low and behold, i got a small buck and doe at 330 in the afternoon on the last day after only siting there for an hour. they came from behind, were he would have sat. I think they had him figured out most of the week. and came out knowing he was not there. at least that was my thinking. The son and son in-law were sure surprised when i called for help, as they had mentally given up after not seeing any thing all week. You never know, first minute of the hunt or last minute as long as your out there and try. cant wait for next year.

severn don;1206368]The son in law sat in the same place for 5 days straight, watching the end of a beaver pond on his left and a river on his right never seen a thing. On the last day of the hunt he gave up early about 1 pm and went back to camp. I never seen a thing all week either and put in a lot of miles from dark to dark. I decided i would try some thing different. I went to the son in laws spot and sat by a blow down, on the other side in the direction he would be looking if he was there.100 yards away. I could see his spot from were i sat. And low and behold, i got a small buck and doe at 330 in the afternoon on the last day after only siting there for an hour. they came from behind, were he would have sat. I think they had him figured out most of the week. and came out knowing he was not there. at least that was my thinking. The son and son in-law were sure surprised when i called for help, as they had mentally given up after not seeing any thing all week. You never know, first minute of the hunt or last minute as long as your out there and try. cant wait for next year.[/QUOTE]


Same type scenario for me my son sat on the blind I had used and I went deeper into the bush to a second feeder/stand. The adult doe with fawns he should have got at his blind had done a swicheroo back to my stand that had not been hunted and got shot following my track into my stand.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by severn don

The son in law sat in the same place for 5 days straight, watching the end of a beaver pond on his left and a river on his right never seen a thing. On the last day of the hunt he gave up early about 1 pm and went back to camp. I never seen a thing all week either and put in a lot of miles from dark to dark. I decided i would try some thing different. I went to the son in laws spot and sat by a blow down, on the other side in the direction he would be looking if he was there.100 yards away. I could see his spot from were i sat. And low and behold, i got a small buck and doe at 330 in the afternoon on the last day after only siting there for an hour. they came from behind, were he would have sat. I think they had him figured out most of the week. and came out knowing he was not there. at least that was my thinking. The son and son in-law were sure surprised when i called for help, as they had mentally given up after not seeing any thing all week. You never know, first minute of the hunt or last minute as long as your out there and try. cant wait for next year.

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I have seen guys jump in someone spot after they give up, most times they seem to get lucky quickly. Nit sure how or why that happens.