just make sure bow is legal in the wmu you are in. many are closed this week for bow.
as for attracting deer if the carrots dont work try deer cane that outta bring em right in,
Also if the gun hunt is on, you have to wear your orange requirements even if bows are legal.
I usually use carrot cake as bait and a 100 pound test if there a lot of snow put a bobber on.
Originally Posted by seabast
Easy, attach a carrot on a string at the end of a stick. Works every time.....
"This is about unenforceable registration of weapons that violates the rights of people to own firearms."—Premier Ralph Klein (Alberta)Calgary Herald, 1998 October 9 (November 1, 1942 – March 29, 2013) OFAH Member
All kidding aside guys there is no guarantee that you will see deer it's called hunting. Best thing to do is make sure you are all legal for the spot you are at and give it a go. Sometimes you get lucky other times it might be years. Learn from what you see and don't be afraid to try things. Control your scent and noise, pay attention to the wind and best of all have fun
well just came back from WMU 47 just off 69. 6 days at camp. 2 days setup and scouting. 4 days hunting. no freaking deer came out during our sit ins; heard only a few shots. Saw a gorgeous bull moose off 300 meters. lots of deer tracks and feed eaten but i'll be dammed. now switching to bow hunt local WMU 73/60/78B ... *sigh* first year not even a single shot or sight.
Deer are really social animals and ask to join another group with a specific sound, no response :they will do two short notes louder and it's always the same. If the deer doesn't respond back,then they move on. Bucks are well aware of this sound and will run in when they hear it. Deer sometime do not want to socialize with other deer and just exnore the calling. Calling is like a two edge sword,it works but if it's bad you just gave your location away and deer will avoid or move around the location.
Your best bet is to find a funnel (pinch point ) and sit with a favourable wind and wait. Usually, does use the main trails and bucks use a trail that is down wind and almost invisible to scent check the main trails and stay in cover. During the rut anything and everything happens.
Set up close by. Tree stands keep you a bit out of sight and force you to stay still. Ground blinds are more intrusive and best set up before the season starts.
If you don't mind the optics-- a bag of steam rolled corn certainly helps attract them.
Agree with Mike Pal. A few guys find rattling works. Most don't. I think you need an area with a large number of dominant bucks and a population close to 1:1 for bucks :does for rattling to be effective. That would be Northwest Ontario or managed game farms in Texas