Just because the hunt is over and you’re packing it up for the night, don’t think for a moment that scaring a few deer is no problem. It won’t help to show up two hours early if you’re going to push the deer past your stand on the way in.

Keep yourself from being silhouetted, heard or smelled.

And don’t be lazy. Just because there’s a logging road cut right to your stand doesn’t mean it’s best to use that lane for access.

Before you ever take a step, think about what the deer will be doing. They’ll likely be feeding in mornings and evenings, so use the back door to get in at dawn, then exit through the field. In the evening, enter through the field and exit through the back door.

When analyzing an area, it doesn’t hurt to be creative. Currently, I hunt a tight creek bed that funnels down between two hayfields. For years now, I’ve never been able to access the site in the morning without spooking deer in the hayfield.

Recently, I decided to pull on a pair of waders and walk all the way to my tree stand through the creek. I was able to step right off the creekbank into my stand. The water covered my approach and my scent, giving me literally zero impact during my entry.

QUIET ACCESS
Access to the hidden places where big bucks hide can be easier than you might expect. Long walks across water or steep ridges keep most hunters close to the road.

Many of the best places to hunt are along riverbeds, and I’ve found that using a canoe or boat can be a deadly trick. Usually the areas along the river feature overgrown brush, and good cover along the river bends.

During the rut, there’s no better place to sit than in a thick funnel bordered by water. In addition, putting a river between yourself and other hunters will situate you where few of them are willing to go.

Accessing waterways by canoe often means quiet, scent-free access. If you’re hunting close to the river, often you can step out of the canoe and into your tree stand.

Mountain bikes are very quiet and fast and can carry you farther off the road then many care to venture on foot. Last year, I strapped my bow on my back and biked to the backside of my hunting property. Even though I was hunting close to the road, my bike was easy to hide, keeping my presence secret from other hunters — and whitetails. My bike’s rubber tires left no scent, and it was easy to stow in some tall grass.

Because bikes do carry foreign odors, I hid mine about 100 yards away, on the downwind side of my stand in an area where I had no concern about other deer venturing.

When sneaking into a stand during the rut, wear your light clothing. Even a short walk, canoe or bike ride will cause you to sweat. For this reason, I keep my outerwear in my backpack. This helps minimize any odor caused by perspiration.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING
In deer hunting, it doesn’t matter how hard you hunt, how long you wait or how many tracks there are. If your timing isn’t right, you’ll have no luck. Hunting an empty acorn flat is a waste of time. So is hunting a morning stand during the evening, or waiting under a barren apple tree.