This time of year might not seem relevant for deer hunting, but if you want to find consistent success like some of the best big buck hunters, you might want to change your offseason approach.
But don’t just take it from me. I spoke with MeatEater’s Mark Kenyon, who knows a thing or two about chasing mature bucks. Mark has also interviewed the best deer hunters across the country, so he’s a bit of an encyclopedia when it comes to whitetail knowledge. Whether you hunt private or public lands, here are a few things he and the other experts do in the offseason to help them prepare for deer season.
Prepping Food Plots
Deer season feels like a long way from May, but the work you do now can directly affect your success in the fall. You don’t need to have everything ready at this point in the year, but it can help you get ahead of the curve. This is especially true if you have the access or ability to plant food plots.
“This time of year is for making your life easier,” Mark said. “Think weeding, spraying, or prepping a plot that maybe you want to plant later in the summer. Go ahead and mow it so you’re not starting from ground zero in August.”
It might not seem like a ton of work, but the more you do now, the less you’ll have to accomplish when the dead of summer hits.
Adjust Your Trail Cameras
Like your stand setups during season, now is a good time to reevaluate your trail cameras. Whether you need to replace batteries or move them to other areas as seasonal habitat change occurs, look for ways to maximize your trail camera strategy. If you’re already out chasing longbeards, this can be a good time to pull double duty.
“Turkey season is usually the time I like to go pull the rest of my cameras,” Mark said. “I’ll pull them down, clean them, change the batteries, etc. to make sure they’re ready to go in July when I redeploy them for summer scouting.”
A lot of hunters take the set-it-and-forget-it approach to trail cameras. This might work in certain spots, but you’ll likely need to adjust them at some point throughout the year.
Bring A Friend
You don’t have to wait until hunting season to invite your friends or family along for the ride. Besides, two sets of hands are better than one when you’re trying to knock out offseason projects or just “make it more fun,” according to Mark.
“Involving other people is a great way to build community in this area, and it makes it more likely that you’ll actually go do the work. So, just getting your kids outdoors or inviting your dad, grandpa, buddy, or wife to join you for these projects…it just becomes more enjoyable.”
On that same note, don’t hesitate to help someone else. Even if you don’t have permission to hunt somewhere, helping a buddy on their property can be a great way to learn or think about your own hunting spots. You might even get an invite for offering to help. I scored an awesome hunting spot by helping a friend hang trail cameras. What started as a simple scouting trip with a buddy turned into a reliable hunting spot not far from my house.
Develop A Shooting Routine
Shooting year round is a great habit to develop. But, even if you took a break through winter and turkey season, you still have plenty of time to practice before bow season.
“Early summer is great for getting and building good reps,” Mark said. “Now is the time to regain the form and make it fun. Build an archery league with your buddies or start a habit with your kids.”
Mark noted that starting your archery routine now can help you focus on more hunting-related shots when late summer arrives. Building a routine now and getting good reps means you can focus on taking elevated shots from the stand or saddle or even extending your range in August/September. Even if you only shoot a few arrows every day, those reps add up.
Wind Map Your Hunting Spots
There’s always a list of things I want to accomplish in-season that also run the risk of spooking deer. Wind mapping is one of those activities.
“Building out a wind map is something people talk about but rarely do,” Mark said, “but it’s a great thing to do in the offseason. Every time you put up a stand, take some milk weed with you and see what it does.”
You don’t have to make a special trip to wind map a property, but if you’re already trimming shooting lanes, pulling cameras, etc., you might as well wind map while you’re there. Even if it seems insignificant, it’s one of those little details that adds up and can help you kill a mature buck, Mark said.
Final Thoughts
While there are plenty of chores to prepare for deer season, there’s a reason this time of year is called the offseason. Hunters, even one as dialed as Mark, need this time to recharge or just do something else so they don’t burn out.
“It’s okay to take a break from this stuff,” he said. “Whether you’re fishing or turkey hunting, just make sure you do other stuff that you enjoy, too.”
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