3 Reasons You Suck At Deer Hunting 

It gets frustrating when I do these things and I see people that put no effort into scouting or anything like that and they always get bucks every year . I believe there's alot of luck that plays into hunting as well .

I wish I had this advice when I was 21 instead of 51. Still, following your advice and channel has gifted me the best three years of hunting in my life. 👍(because I used to SUCK!)

One neighbor has encouraged us to improve our hunting every year for the past 3. One of our gang of three hunters gave me one of your books and introduced me to your u-tube videos. The three of us are now believers and have watched as many of your videos as we can. We have declared 2022 as "The Year of Sturgis - Transformational by Design". Food plots have been enlarged or moved, mock scrapes are in place, water holes installed, Egyptian wheat planted for this year's screening, screening creating within food plots to "break them up", old stands replaced with newer (quieter/more comfortable), hinge cutting done to improve bedding areas, type of planting on food plots adjusted so we begin providing food in September through the end of the year. Thank you for your great videos and all the insight. We are hoping to utilize it and become herd influencers (we can only hope).

Jeff i couldn't agree more with your points, I used to be one of hunters, doing the samething year after year, your channel has helped me an incredible deal.

Jeff’s methods work! I started listening to his videos in early 2020 as a recommendation from a coworker. In 2020 I killed my new personal best buck, then beat it in 2021 with the one in my picture! Both were 18”+ wide 8 points on public land!

I'm on year 4, nothing yet. Closest I've come was 2 weeks ago calling a buck in during antlerless muzzleloader. Argh. This info is helpful though.

17 years owning my place to hunt 12 average sized bucks in a row first 12 years, I refer to those 12 years as B.S. 4 very mature very large bucks out of the last five years, I refer to those years as A.S. B.S.= Before Sturgis A.S. = After Sturgis And the three concepts of yours in this video are the biggest reasons for my improvement thanks!

Jeff, I used your information this past year in archery season in North West Pa. Had 3 days of rain and Monday it was to stop around 5am and the temps to go down almost 20 degree.So I took Monday off from work. Shot a nice mature 8 point. Not a giant but damn good mountain buck. Another younger 8 came through after mine was down. Thanks for the extra tools and info!!!

It is a lifetime process of learning. Your help puts many closer to the express lane of success.

You've taught me so much. Wish I found you when I was twenty years old . At sixty years old your videos helped me shoot the biggest buck of my life. Just got him back from the taxidermist today and still can't believe it. Thanks Jeff.

I’m gonna say this. I have tried these in several places and different styles but the hoop design pulling two saplings together is by far the most successful and hardest hit by deer in my area. They work the hoop design far more. I’ve lowered the bottom on the vine to about mid thigh maybe a tad higher (I’m 6’2” tall) and they are all over it. The congregate and it will slide down their backs and that seems to help with its attraction to other deer. This has been by far the best concept of yours I had enjoyed. The water hole being next. Thank you!

A big challenge of public land is if you find a good spot it’s not uncommon other people also find it’s a good area to hunt as well. I find I have to go far into public land to find good spot without much competition

Great topic. I couldn't agree more on hunt less by being strategic..wait for the right time and weather conditions then go in and capitalize! I used to hunt to much in early October and burn out my spots now I wait until at least Halloween weekend before hunt, it has improved my success rate more than any one thing IMHO.

All good advice. Iv'e been bow and rifle hunting Wisconsin 49 years. The #1 key to success before anything else is to have good hunting land. If you are young, don't ever let a spouse talk you out of investing in good hunting property because it's too expensive. I did and it could have been a great investment looking at the outrageous prices they want today. When I first started hunting, hardly anyone else I knew bow-hunted. Good private land was free and legal to hunt on unless posted and hardly anyone posted their land. How have thing changed. The sport has become immensely popular. Hunters I helped get their start in bow hunting who have invested in great hunting land have become much more successful than I. Not because of their greater hunting skills, but the because of better land they have to hunt on. Not having my own land I've spent most my years hunting public lands. A lot of FCL and MFL land I've hunted have been taken out of the programs because the land is too valuable when it could be sold or leased. I've seen too much greed creep into the sport. Some of the most successful hunters demand the best stands. Tell others they can't hunt those stands. I witness them fill their buck tag with a big buck. Hunt the same stand again and take another big buck having a family member tag it for them. Now I'm losing the mediocre land I'm leasing this year because the owners are building a summer home on the property and no longer want any hunters on it. Even good, affordable, lease land is hard to find. I'm likely going to have to give up the sport or go back to public hunting. More likely the former as any nearby public land is over-hunted.

I heard this from you a couple of years ago.I applied all of the new skills and I have been the most successful I've ever been .I live in north Ga were big bucks are hard to find .I'm not killing the biggest deer but I see deer almost every time I go now.Folks out all this info ,,for not hunting my best places half as much before and it made such a difference.DONT BURN OUT A STAND .The best advice for me for shore.Thanks JEFF

You are as real as it gets… no sugarcoating at all, No BS, and you tell it how it is. And that’s why I like to watch your videos. Keep it coming as the rut is starting to pick up!!

So often, I'm stuck with sub-optimal places to hunt - poor access, lack of bedding/feeding/movement areas singly or 2 of the 3, or limited to hunting on sub-optimal days, crowded with other hunters, etc.

Only four months till Bow season in northeast Louisiana! Ready to stick one of these big bodied Ag land bucks with my new Bowtech Solution SS. Love your content from Louisiana, Jeff!

Just got in from SMB fishin all day 🎣 What a great video and awesome knowledge shared ! Scrape vines , waterholes, green plots... Jeff's awesome ! Ty

Jeff, I’ve been hunting since I was 12 and I was brought up in a hunting family and I’ve always killed nice bucks, but your channel has really put a science as to why, and how I can actually do better. I’ve had alot more fun and understand of whitetails since I joined this channel years ago. Thanks for the content

Thank you! It's for the kids! I hunted from 76 to 85 much as my grandfather taught me. 85 - I went to a hunt camp with my father-inlaw. I spent 4 days. By the third day, I could smell deer. They had 15 stands on 1000 acres. I walked with the breeze in my face - got into a stand 12 ft up. Just enough to not be noticed. 9 points - 200 # of boned out meat. Your vids are challenging me to change and provide more food for the deer. Cheers!

Thanks Jeff, I am a fairly new hunter, I live in Brooklyn NY, but I make it out to public, and thank God I just have been given permission to hunt and modify a 60 acre property. Access has been my toughest problem due to designated parking spots for hunting only. Sometimes I bring my electric bike with me after parking and take the road to access way further up. It just gets tough when your hunting around community’s and cemetery’s you can’t go near or trespass. I am convinced access is the number one advantage for hunting for public and private. I look forward to to hearing more about access and it’s importance from you, I think you touch on them but would like to hear more scenarios. Thanks

I took your advice this past season. My daughter shot her 1st buck on October 23, and a few days later, I shot a nice 7pt just over 20inch inside spread.

People watch to many tv hunting channels. I cringe when I run across or see a gadget hunting show. It’s good to get solid info and not 20 minutes of selling gadgets here on YT! You should come to West Tennessee sometime. The problem we have is to many deer. Ag fields everywhere and this year is corn. Using some of your tactics by not having food-plots going in the spring and summer has diminished the numbers on my property until around when the leaves start falling. But we still have lots of deer and I don’t shoot does, never have. I moved my sets to the perimeter of my 200 acres and plots to the interior as well as bedding. Cut well maintained trails around property for easy in and out. This is to me the number one issue hunters have, is not knowing how to accomplish this. Good video and thanks for the consistent content weekly.

1000% on all points. This year I couldn't put as much time in the woods as last year so I strategized and played the wind, weather, and location for what's best for my stand location. Landed my first buck at the end of October. Strategy is more important than gear any day. Keep up the good content!

Jeff, I feel like a good video would be explaining different types of habit and what their purpose serves along with how deer use these (marshland, hardwoods, ridges. Etc). I hunt public land and am still learning where, how and why deer move how they do.

Good video Jeff. True, if you smell like a pig you won’t spoke deer, but if you smell like a human they’ll be gone for weeks! Guys from the city have been hunting the ten acres next to our property every weekend. The deer we used to see left the area for the rest of the season.

Jeff thank you so much for teaching me the right way and so much I thought I knew I didn’t know have until I found your channel! I don’t read or watch anything else but your stuff!

I think you made some really great points! I'm changing things up this year and I am really focused on learning techniques and strategies that I'll be able to employ year after year, rather than just getting lucky and waiting for a big buck to come by. I definitely subscribed because I know can learn a lot more from you!

You have the best videos....Backside of beding areas are GOLD. If you let my secret out, some will move in on my area. LOL

Hahaha love the title nor ehunters need to hear it keep videos up!!! Love to get y’all down and Florida !!!

I'd say buying a quality set of clothing, bow set up, and tree stand would be a better investment even before a food plot than scents or mineral licks, honestly.

Best, most straightforward advice I've heard in a long time!!

Jeff, I came across your content last year and implemented spending more time on the couch and the no till plot method. For the first time in years I had daylight pictures and daylight sightings of 3 out of 4 target bucks. I’ve since purchased your web classes for this year. Thanks for great content

Can you do a video on public land in the south where we are not close to any ag fields. We hunt national forest with oaks, pines and creeks.

I hate to think someone that came to this channel would complain about a kids event promotion...after all the FREE knowledge youve put out...cmon man !....thanks for what you doing with those kids

I only take a backpack now bc I'm starting to self film and need it to carry all my equipment.

I feel like this man harvests mature bucks and never misses Sunday mass at one of those strip mall churches

I'm surprised you had Gary Sutter at the Kicking Bear event, but only because he grew up close to me in Alberta. I assume like most Canadian NHL players, he finished his career in the states and decided to stay. It's pretty cool to see some Alberta representation.

Thanks for the great advice Jeff

My season might suck!! I was doing my couch scouting and my #1 hit lister decided to jump in front of a car. I see some good bucks 1/2 mile down the road we will see what happens in the next few weeks.

Love your advice and channel. You say it like it is. I watch 2 hunting channels online, yours and Dan infault.

That's exactly what hunters need to know thank you for telling the truth about not using products and stuff like that this is honestly and simple truth on how to hunt big bucks

Wonderful advice, it takes time for a buck to grow up to be a giant. If your in there location they are moving away from you. If you are not seeing the buck during daylight it’s most likely your fault or another bored hunter with their thumb up their butt walking into buck bedding area, which is usually nowhere near doe bedding. Know your area improve it once or twice and leave it alone for years. I had to learn this the hard way. I own and hunt a 5 acre piece of land that was in the middle of ag fields. There is absolutely zero trespassing and no one is allowed in there. I only hunt it every 3 years for a day or two. I call in massive bucks every time in a county that’s not known for 180+ bucks in southern Illinois, due to hunting pressure.

Your honesty is very much appreciated

Wonderful since a teen these hunters drove me nuts my spots our the only place deer go! And jealousy or go sit your stands. And never think scout or do anything besides sit same spot or quit as they get older . Over hunt list goes on . Than they think u have a lucky horseshoe

I feel targeted. 😂😂😂 I do suck so baaaaaad!

See I'm working with VERY damn little in way of hunting spots so I have no choice BUT to do all of these things he says is making me suck at hunting. I have to hunt on the small food plots I make, I have to use calls and scents lures, and I have to go out there whenever I can and personally speaking this app he schilling for is probably just like the Weather Channel app with just a few extra features on it that probably work about as well as using moon phases to hunt by

Oh hell there's more than three......Thanks Jeff .....And 1st

Thanks Jeff

Where I hunt is mostly open pasture next to a few thousand acres of woods that I have no access to. My problem is no matter when I try to walk in during early morning hours I spook deer that are out in the field no matter which way I try to come in. They will come in from the woods next door, problem is I can't seem to get there without spooking them because it's so open.

It’s pretty simple. If you want to become a better hunter focus on woodmanship skills and quit relying on technology to make up for a lack of those skills.

You are a refreshingly all right cat, sir.

Jeff, I love you videos. Your teachings have aided in me harvesting multiple mature bucks the last couple years. With that, I’m curious what brand and fit of hat you are wearing in this video? I like the fit and would like to use that hat for my company uniforms. Thanks for everything!

Thanks for another great video, Jeff!👊

I have not seen a buck since the hunted in 15 years I have seen doe's it would be nice but when you hunt state lands it's a chance I have seen at Six pointer on the side of a road but ever seen while I have hunted

Quality content….as usual, thank you for your expertise!

I do suck but getting better lol

Public land food sources is what I am struggling with. What is it that they are eating?

Your def. Right but i feel like your perception is squed because look at the beautful land you have the struggle of hunting public land is crazy and you def need some of those gadgets

Well I remember the Manila rope and wicked wicks scents Video, guess that’s not good anymore?

I’ve never had a stand location where the blind blows the same direction all the time

I think your app has a glitch. Click on a day to get weather details and it details the following day instead. Try it.

What is considered to much?once a week, twice or once every two weeks? I ask that because I am surrounded by state land and I have to take into consideration using that land in conjunction with the private I hunt. I’ll spend early season hiking into state and save private for these next two weeks.

Love this one! This is whitetail church!!

So how do I know what weather to wait for or even know when I should be out in the woods

My job dictates when I can hunt and it sucks

Seems I always bust deer going into the woods at dark in the a.m. Usually doe

Does anyone know the setting Jeff uses on his Earthway for Buckwheat???

This is my 3rd season and I have never had a opportunity for a buck. I have 6 doe in this span.

Man-made transition zones are cringeworthy. I've hunted a friend's farm before. Biggest deer I've ever shot. Also the single easiest deer I've ever shot. Man-made trails, rubs, bedding areas (I guess he planted stuff for it)... Idk what all my friend put into this set up. I just know that it was very easy. Easy compared to the way I usually hunt, anyway.

I am literally in the process of posting my hunting equipment on Facebook marketplace because I am so frustrated with Hunting.

I Don't Hunt Deer. I Only Hunt Elk Boar Duck Turkey and Pheasant

I don’t need a big buck or even a buck at all. I just want my first deer. This is my first year

Thanks for the info

Hunting open land without Food Plots & Fences requires an entire different effort. Shooting a Deer in my backyard would sicken me. Chasing for 4-6 days soaking wet and cold makes the kill far more rewarding!

How do we donate to camp kicking bear if we are not able to be part of the field day or raffle?

I hunt the Appalachian mountains lord I will never see the amount of deer say a Wisconsin hunter will see. If I drive south out of the mountains I will see way more deer.

Where do I get a hat?

Real talk

Deer really eating lily pads lately. Only eat the stalks.

Thanks for letting me feel better about myself lol

How long between hunts on a specific stand? Typically? For those weekend hunters, is 7 days enough?

My neighbor that parks in the same spot, walks to the same stand, no matter the wind direction every single day needs to see this video, actually nevermind. Stop putting out this content LOL

Deer pattern people just like people try to pattern deer !

Awesome

#1reason you didn't listen to Jeff.

I’m a better turkey hunter than deer hunter these days.

First

First, buy land. second, buy more land, and third buy, more land...

You don’t hear this in the hunting space. 👍

I hope I don’t suck at hunting ha ha

I'm not buying an app

This new generation hunting garbage is a bad money pit. Me an wife hunt just like you talk about and have the greatest experience every time. If you don’t wanna shoot deer go buy lures and every stupid thing in store. Lol you’ll be in luck you won’t shoot anything ha pry won’t see anything but you’ll hear there noses blow 😀

I love the ambush. Don't hunt that spot twice. You can have those good stand places. I seem to always find a freshly used trail in the thick with 20 yard shot at most and use your cammo wisely. I have had monsters run up on me and had no idea where I was at. I love hunting thick areas

This dude is the Einstein of white tails

Tree standers/blind hunters are just hilarious 😂 If you’re not callin’ crawlin’ walkin’ and stalkin’ you’re not a hunter! You’re Lee Harvey Oswald! Such a joke!

It’s pretty simple. If you want to become a better hunter focus on woodmanship skills and quit relying on technology to make up for a lack of those skills.

It’s pretty simple. If you want to become a better hunter focus on woodmanship skills and quit relying on technology to make up for a lack of those skills.