If you’ve decided to get into hunting whitetail deer and you’re overwhelmed with all the latest and greatest gadgets that are flooding the web, you’ve come to the right post. The flood of questions that can race through the mind of a beginning hunter can be unbelievable.
Do I need scent cover? Which scent cover actually works? Do I need doe urine? Should I use rattling antlers instead? Which camouflage print will hide me the best? And on and on.
I have been hunting whitetail deer for over 15 years and feel like I’m just now starting to figure this out a little. I want to share a list of items that I believe every whitetail deer hunter should own before pursuing that buck they’ve seen on the trail cam!
Some of the links in this post may be Amazon Affiliate links. This means I will receive a commission if a purchase is made using these links.
ESSENTIAL Deer hunting GEAR
#1 Climbing Deer Stand
In my opinion, a climbing-style deer stand is the current king. I know others have jumped on the “climbing sticks and sling” bandwagon, and I own one now, but I’m still convinced that the climber is king.
A climbing stand is a two-piece system that consists of a seat and a footrest that grip the tree. You can clamp one and move the other one up the tree in an alternating pattern and be 20 ft high in a couple of minutes.
These stands are so comfortable and so versatile. You can put a climber stand on your back like a pack and hike into your favorite spot and hunt quickly. No extensive setup is required for these. If activity is happening behind you, simply turn yourself around.
It does take some level of physical fitness, especially core strength, to climb a tree with a climber, but with a little exercise, it’s not hard to achieve.
It is possible to hunt deer from the ground and not purchase a stand at all. My 10-point buck this year was killed with a muzzleloader from the ground. But with that being said, good deer can be taken while using NONE of the items on this list. I want to give you suggestions that will allow you to skip the slow years of bad luck that I had in learning this game.
A stand will get you up higher where you will see more deer, your scent will be harder for deer to detect, and you’ll be in for a much more comfortable hunt. I would always advise using a safety harness when hunting out of any tree stand. Just figure this into the cost of the stand.
Check out the one I recommend. https://amzn.to/48vzoNE
#2 Grunt Tube
I believe the grunt tube is the king of all deer calls. When compared to a bleat call and rattling antlers, the grunt tube is much more likely to capture the attention of a buck and possibly encourage him to come your way.
A grunt tube, when used properly, is made to sound like a buck. When bucks in the woods hear other bucks, they typically often times become curious enough to come to take a quick look to see who is around. During the rut, the buck in earshot of your grunt tube may come to run you off or challenge you for does. He may think you have does with you.
Pro tip…….
When you blow the call watch the deer. If he raises his head up and looks in your direction, HE HEARD YOU! He will stand there for a long time looking in your direction trying to pinpoint the buck he thought he heard. DO NOT BLOW THE CALL WHILE HE IS LOOKING IN YOUR DIRECTION! Deer are very good at pinpointing exactly where noise is coming from. If he’s looking in your direction with those ears tipped up an alert, he will pinpoint your sound coming from high in the tree and he will not believe you and he will be sure to circle WAY around you. Only blow the grunt tube if he is feeding or looking in the other direction. I would wait 5-10 minutes between each grunt. If you overdo it he’s going the other way.
Purchase one here: https://amzn.to/3IfulpW
#3 Rattling Antlers- Deer can’t resist them
Rattling Antlers have been a recipe for success for me. They can create a flood of curiosity in a buck that will lead him straight into your crosshairs and ultimately into your freezer.
When a buck hears what he thinks is two bucks fighting, he automatically assumes they are fighting over a doe. The buck may think he can slip in and take the doe for himself while the other two are fighting. If you torch these off at the right time of year, it can work wonders. Antlers can be heard from a long way off, and I have seen bucks come all the way across a field to check things out.
Rattling antlers can be purchased in sporting goods stores which means they’re manmade. Or you can opt to use the real thing. Honestly, both methods work. The only thing I would caution you on is this. Don’t go too big. Use antlers that are medium-sized. Large antlers sound different than smaller antlers. When a buck hears this, he can tell the size of the bucks that are fighting. If he hears to heavy weights, he may just decide to find another doe!
Click to purchase. https://amzn.to/3IdFffL
#4 Wind Indicator- A deer hunter’s secret weapon
Wind may be the most important thing to understand. I hate to leave the house for a deer hunt without some way to see the wind direction. These products are usually in the form of a powder. You squeeze the bottle to release some powder and watch how the wind carries it. This immediately tells you where your scent is going. If your scent is heading right for where you think the deer will be, you need to move.
I don’t care how much scent cover you sprayed on, or how many times you washed in the shower with scent-eliminating soap, or how well you handled your laundry, you will not outsmart the deer when it comes to scent. Your body will eventually produce a human scent that will cause that white tail to flip toward the sky as your dream buck disappears into the brush.
I do use scent-eliminating soaps, detergents, and sprays, but I believe that they only give me a small edge. Maybe another second or two to get a shot off. I never put myself in a situation where deer will be downwind from me if I can help it. That’s why wind indicator products make the list.
Click to see what I use. https://amzn.to/42SzXQm
#5 On X Hunt App- A deer hunter’s best friend
This App is a game changer for all types of hunting. But I believe it is especially helpful for deer hunters. I could write an entire post on this subject alone, and I intend to do that soon, but for now, I will summarize the best I can.
On X is basically a GPS satellite app that looks a lot like Google Earth. But on the map you are able to
- Drop pins
- Mark stand locations
- Mark camera locations
- Mark bedding areas, scrapes, rubs, and BLOOD
- Measure distances
- Record your route in and out
- Look at topography maps
- See property lines and landowners’ names
- See all government-owned or public land
- And much more
- See the weather forecast and wind information
The list of things that can be done with the app goes far beyond what I have listed above. Most of these features are available on the free version of the app, but some are only available on the version for paying users. It is totally worth the money and I will never go without it.
Conclusion
You may be thinking of all the things I didn’t include in this list. Here are a few items that some would consider essential, but I would consider “helpful”.
- Trail Camera- https://amzn.to/3uKlCsJ
- Camouflage
- Doe Estrous (I never use it)
- Doe Urine (I never use it)
- Scent Cover- https://amzn.to/3Igwmly
- Range Finder- https://amzn.to/3uNd8Rz
- Hand Warmers- https://amzn.to/3STJ3HZ
Before you head out to the woods this fall to pursue that wall hanger, I would without question purchase the items on this list. With these tools in your arsenal and a little patience, there’s no doubt you will be chewing on a piece of jerky while you admire that beautiful taxidermy and tell the story to your buddies.
Click here to read my journaling article that will sharpen your hunting skills.
Good luck!
