Patience and Planning are Key
The perfect hunting spot is almost as elusive as the animal you’re trying to hunt. If you don’t know what you’re doing, that is. You can’t just go to a random spot and expect the right game to appear.
As wild and random as a hunting area might appear, it’s actually follows rules. And with the proper planning, you can get a spot perfect for hunting your next prey.
Whether you’re a seasoned hunter or a newbie, you can improve your game with the following tips.
10 Tips to Choose a Perfect Hunting Spot
1. Start Scoping Early
If you’re hunting in the fall, it’s good to start scoping the area in March. The spring foliage would not yet be in full bloom, and the woods would look a lot like how they would during the fall months.
Additionally, you can see the signs of animals from the previous fall. This includes beddings, scat, tracks, you name it.
By scoping early, you can anticipate the movements of the animals as the seasons change. You develop an inkling of where the game will be when you’re hunting them.
Plus, starting out early will give you time to make plans and preparations for the hunt, including the following tips.
2. E-Scouting
E-scouting is when you use online tools such as Google Earth and GPS to get the lay of the land.
You want to have a general knowledge of the area you’re hunting in. How does this help you choose the perfect hunting spot?
By e-scouting, you can survey the area in a realistic way. Maps don’t provide you with nearly as helpful an image as e-scouting. Satellite imagery has complete changed the way in which people hunt.
E-scouting enables you to look for food and water sources, accessibility options, and potential covers.
With the use of online tools, you can carve the area into narrower spots where you can search for signs.
3. Look for Animal Signs
The main goal of scouting the area is to look for signs of animal presence. After the initial early scoping and the e-scouting, it’s time to put your boots on the ground.
Here’s a list of what to look for:
- Scat or feces
- Bedding sites
- Tracks
- Fur snags
- Rub lines
- Beaten down trails
The fresher the signs are, the closer you are to your prize. However, this process requires strenuous detective work.
Don’t expect to get it done quickly. The best spots to look for animal activity are near bodies of water or around their natural habitats.
You can always count on bodies of water to attract wildlife.
4. Avoid Noxious Plants
Before setting up your camp or blind, check for noxious or harmful plants. To the greatest extent possible, you want the ability to go in and out of your blind safely, quietly, and quickly.
This is very important; especially if you’re setting up a ground blind.
Examples of noxious plants are nettles, poison ivy, thorny bushes, and poison oak.
5. Take into Account Wind Direction
Never forget to consider the area’s predominant wind direction. Animals can pick up a human scent from miles away.
If the wind takes your scent towards the animal, you already lost the game without knowing it.
6. Think of Shooting Lanes
Whether you’re hunting with a bow and arrow or with a rifle and telescopic sight, you want to have a clear line of sight in all directions.
You can make sure you have open shooting lanes by choosing a spot with few branches and leaves in a six to seven foot area off the ground.
7. Opt for Minimal Impact
Strive to pick a spot that requires the least removal of vegetation and branches. As much as possible, you want to preserve the natural look of the spot you’re setting a blind up in.
For one, an unnatural-looking spot is a red flag for animals. Secondly, natural vegetation and branches can help camouflage you from approaching animals.
8. Think of Room for Your Equipment and Personal Comfort
You want a spot that will give you enough room for your equipment. You also want enough room for comfort.
Hunting involves a lot of waiting. You want to ensure you’re comfortable while remaining patient. You’ll be doing a lot of sitting, standing, and kneeling, so it’s best to do so when you’re not confined within an uncomfortable area.
9. Set Your Blind Two Weeks in Advance
Give the animals in the area time to accustom themselves to the presence of your blind or tree stand.
Try to set up everything at least two weeks before you start hunting.
The more time animals have to adjust to your site, the less cautious they are around it. It’ll make hunting easier for you.
Though this tip doesn’t address how to choose the perfect spot, it will help to ensure the spot you’ve chosen is made perfect.
10. Choose a Safe Spot
Hunting is by no means an easy sport. You should take all the steps you can to keep yourself safe.
If the area is in a predator’s territory and you’re ill equipped to take it on, it’s best to find a different hunting ground.
When choosing a spot for a ground blind, make sure the land is steady. When choosing a tree for a stand, make sure the tree is healthy, strong, and can carry your weight, in addition to the weight of your equipment.
Hunting Takes Practice
It’s not easy to get everything right on the first try. Becoming a skilled hunter takes time and requires that you develop your skill set.
You will naturally develop an eye for what makes the perfect hunting over time. Don’t expect to learn the rules of the jungle your first time hunting in it.
Scout the area. Plan the hunting trip. Stick to the basics. Incorporate the lessons you learn into your next hunt. You’ll be surprised by how much you begin to improve.
Before you know it, you’ll take down your prize. Be patient. Plan ahead and get prepared. And practice.
Have questions or suggestions about finding the perfect hunting spot? Leave a comment below or contact Bunker Bob directly.
