If you're new to hunting, welcome! You're joining a tradition that dates back to the dawn of humanity, making meaningful contact with nature and bringing healthful venison home to your family. If you haven't been hunting since you were young, the skills and tactics involved can seem intimidating to learn. What's more, you'll get all sorts of advice from people who may or may not really understand how deer behave. The good news is that the people who do understand how deer behave, the National Deer Association (NDA), have created a series of how-to videos that you'll find extremely helpful.
One of the aspects of deer hunting that newbies may find confusing is the difference between "stand" hunting and "still" hunting. (It doesn't help that "still hunting" actually refers to moving through the territory on foot, and "stand" hunting means staying put.) There are reasons why you may use one method one day, and another method a different day, and the NDA explains why.
Some hunters use actual physical decoys to lure deer in and make them feel safer. Some hunters just harness the power of sound to draw deer to them, by either mimicking the calls of a lonely doe or the sounds of a challenging buck. Others create a scenario out of the surrounding foliage by making "rubs" and "scrapes." There are reasons to do all of these things, and while they don't guarantee success, they may very well help.
At all times, of course, safety is first. As much as everyone would love it if you came home with a harvested deer, what everyone really wants is for you to come home safe. Both the National Deer Association and your NRA wish you a happy, healthy hunt!
