Minnesota's whitetail deer hunting season
Leif's trophy buck was following an estrus doe into a well-used clover field. It was getting late in the day; only 20 minutes of legal shooting light left. The weather was cold, about 18 degrees with a stiff Northwest wind of about 12 to 15 miles per hour. Leif decided to deer hunt one of our 17 foot ladder stand's which covers a small 6 -7 acre field of clover. He had been this hunting stand since mid-afternoon. He was cold, but knew he had to toughen it out if he was to have a chance at a decent big buck that had been coming into the area often. We knew this particular big buck was hitting this field at night as he had left a few scrapes along the field edges.
We had a pretty good idea this nice buck had made it through the hunting season as most big buck hunting stories seem to get around; especially in our deer hunting area where most hunters shoot what they see when it comes to whitetail deer. Leif's Determination Leif had already bow hunted 2 full weeks and several weekends during the fall of 2008. As an ethical deer hunter; he had passed up shooting does, yearlings, and small bucks while deer hunting in the hopes of harvesting a trophy whitetail buck. I myself (Leif's dad), had already harvested 2 does with bow; so we had venison in the freezer. We weren't meat hunting now, you might say that square was already filled. We work to practice Quality Deer Management principles.
We harvest a few does yearly and let the small bucks walk. We allow ourselves to harvest 8 point bucks or better. Sometimes you make a decision to harvest what the good "Lord" blesses you with.Staying On Stand Pays Off With only a few minutes of light left for hunting, Leif's mind started to wonder. He thought to himself: "Only one day left to hunt with my Remington model 700, .308 caliber rifle after tonight." In December, I will only get a couple opportunities for deer hunting with my "Mathews" bow after this weekend.
And it's going to start getting cold here in Northern Minnesota. At best, you hope for zero degrees and sunshine. Then Leif heard the familiar "crunch-crunch" of leaves being stepped on through the brush. It's about time he thought to himself, I hope it's a nice one. Then, all of a sudden, a doe and fawn bolted out of the dense brush into the clover field and started grazing on their evening salad mix of frozen clover and other grasses.
Leif's heart sank, another doe and fawn. When is it my turn? He thought. He watched the doe for any signs of other deer approaching. She kept looking back into the brush from which she had come. Leif heard nothing. Leif noticed her tail was was waving in the air. It was level to her butt, kind of half mast he thought. Maybe, just maybe, he thought. Leif gave a low, subtle grunt from his doe grunt call. A minute or two passed. He then heard another familiar "crunch-crunch" coming towards the field. Everything became quiet. Leif's heart started to race as he hoped this was the big buck coming in to have dinner with his sweetheart already in the clover field. He controlled his breathing and repeated to himself, "Stay calm, just pick a spot behind the shoulder when he comes out.
Skinning A Whitetail Deer The Easy Way
As a whitetail deer season hunter many of us have struggled with this chore. Let me share a deer hunting tip and show you how Skinning Deer The Easy Way works. Removing the hide of a whitetail deer by a hunter can be done very quick and without a lot of effort. This hunting tip is known by many hunters. I take no credit for it, other than to pass it on to fellow hunters who may not have heard of skinning your deer this way. Note: if this is a trophy deer and you want a mount done of your deer antlers with the hide on it; bring it to your taxidermist whose is familiar with doing trophy deer mounts and skinning deer. Let him do the skinning unless your familiar with how he wants the deer hide removed to ensure a great trophy deer antler mount.
Hunting Tip Equipment Needed :
1. A sharp hunting knife.
2. A block and tackle for hanging your deer (or some buddies with a rope).
3. A golf ball or rock about the same size.
4. A nylon rope (3/8 inch will do; or your dragging rope), about 10 feet long.
Hunting Tip Procedure
First off you need to have your trophy deer hanging by the neck or deer antlers just off the ground or floor. Next extend your field dressing hide cut up the neck at least mid-way towards the head.
Next, using your sharp hunting knife, cut the hide all the way around the neck. Next, make a similar cut around each leg just below the deer meat you will want to save, or just above the elbow joints. Now make a straight cut with your hunting knife, starting at that circular leg cut, on the inside, up and to your field dressing cut. Now go back to neck cut and skin the hide down about 8 to 12 inches or so. Roll the deer hide down to expose the flesh.
Place Golf Ball Between Skin & Flesh
Place your golf ball or rock there and fold the hide back up and over the golf ball. Make a double half hitch or slip knot (tie a stop knot on short end) with your rope and loop it over the hide that is over the golf ball. Tie Off Skin Over Golf Ball. Grab the hide with golf ball under it and pull the slip knot tight. An ATV Used To Pull Hide Off Connect the other end of the rope to your A.T.V. hitch, truck hitch, or bumper.
Removing Hide With your vehicle, slowly pull the hide down till it starts to bind a little around the shoulders. Now you may need work the hide free with your hunting knife, and then continue until it drops free of the carcass.
You have just skinned you trophy deer with little effort. After you use this hunting tip of skinning whitetail deer a couple times, it will go much smoother and you’ll never go back to the old way of removing your deer hides.
Deer Scent