Hi I’m Adam Lewis and welcome to Deer IQ and our High IQ TOPICS series. This is different than our normal, curriculum podcast episodes, and are stand alone topics that go along with our High IQ videos on YouTube. They are shorter, and supplement our normal podcast in this way with direct tactics to help up your deer hunting game. In this episode we’re looking at 9 Springtime habits of the best whitetail hunters. These are things to do in the off-season when most hunters aren’t even thinking about deer, but that definitely makes success for the fall. So if you want to make improvements, this is the time and these are the ways. 

Before we get into the nitty gritty details of that, a couple things real quick, especially if you’re new here.

1. First, you’ll notice we have an IQ ranking system where beginner is 1-IQ, Intermediate is 5-IQ, and 10-IQ is our advanced content. This is true for our podcast, as well as our blogs and videos, so you can best get content to meet you where you're at. This is a 10 - IQ  episode which is pretty detailed.
2. Second, I invite you to follow this podcast, and check out all our other content -  videos at our YouTube Channel and our blog. We even have a FREE journal that goes along with our curriculum based podcast found at deeriq.com. If you take deer hunting seriously, and really want to fast track your growth, I invite you to check all that out. 

And, I have a few takeaways and challenges for you that you’ll really benefit from - you won’t want to miss that. Alright and now to the 9 springtime habits of great whitetail hunters.

Of course the whitetail season is half a year away right now (if you’re listening in the spring that is), but hunters that have consistent success each year on mature whitetail have one thing in common: they take no time off. No I’m not talking about poaching, but the idea that hunting whitetail is a yearlong pursuit to these dedicated few, and this means that winter and spring are just as important as the fall. You can’t expect to start thinking about whitetail in September and “luck” into good hunting on a yearly basis. As the axiom says, if you fail to prepare, you are indeed preparing to fail. 

After observing and talking to some great hunters around the country over the years, a few things stick out to me that make the difference for their hunting seasons, and that I think will for yours too. So here's a list of 8 completely legal ways you can be involved in hunting whitetail, right now.

1. GEAR PREP: Some people are obsessed with fads and trends in the hunting realm. The most successful hunters are not. They, however, are obsessed with finding the best gear that works for them, never settling for “good enough”, and making sure their chosen gear is ready to go months in advance. This is why the winter and spring is key for getting gear ready for the next hunting season. Take a look at what works, what didn’t, what needs to be tweaked, what needs to be replaced, and what gear needs to be dropped. The goal is not to see how much “new cool stuff” you can cram in your backpack, but find out the exact gear you need to efficiently reach your goal, and then perfect the use of that. So, now is a great time to take inventory of your gear, and make adjustments and the fixes necessary to be ready to go well in advance of October 1st.  

1. BUYING GEAR: Once you’ve done this, now you can objectively see if there are any gear needs. Don’t fall victim to the latest marketing ploy. What truly could have helped you out this past year that you didn’t have? What truly needs replaced so that you have a better chance when the leaves turn color and you hit the woods? The offseason is a great time to find deals on gear, and if items are on backorder, you aren’t pressed for time in getting them. There are months to test them, make minor adjustments, and get used to using them so you don’t feel awkward as a fish out of water when it really matters - during hunting season.  

1. SCOUTING: Although finding hot sign and hunting it when season is on is very important, finding how deer use an entire property is arguably more vital information and should be gathered now. During the season you don’t want to invade bedding cover or tromp up your best areas, but now you can safely do this and see exactly how deer used it last year (and most likely will this year). Old scrapes, rubs and rublines, and trails stick out like a sore thumb when the snow is off and leaves aren’t on yet. Seeing this sign and trends will help you tremendously in the fall. When coupled with fresh sign it will help you put the puzzle pieces together and make much more informed, and better hunting decisions. 
2. NEW PROPERTY: A recipe for disaster is putting all your eggs in one basket. In whitetail hunting this means only having one hunting spot or property. This feast or famine mentality does not lead to year after year success. Options are the name of the game, and having a large number of potential locations spread across a wide range is your best bet. Be willing to drive to find these. Each year you should make a goal to find new public, and private land hunting locations and get to know these areas thoroughly (see #3 scouting). I’ve found success knocking on doors and cold calling on the phone to access new private property. Realize though, that most of the time you get a “no” response. Don’t take it personal, it’s just a numbers game and the more contacts you make the more chances you’ll get a “yes.” Higher odds locations are ones where you have a referral, so work your network of friends, coworkers, and family to help out.     

Public ground is as easy as printing maps from the DNR website, or looking on a hunting app. Then it’s merely setting aside a day here and there throughout the winter and spring to do your deep dive scouting. Keep a notebook (or your app notes) of what you find to reference in the fall. The more information you have, the better you can make decisions when it comes time to get on stand, so don’t cut corners here. Prep these spots, determine the time of day and year to best hunt them (i.e. morning vs. evening, and prerut, rut, etc.) and then find the best entry and exit routes so the next time you come you are ready to hunt.

BREAK: Ok Like this episode so far? If you do I invite you rate and leave a review and maybe share this with a buddy who may benefit - that really helps this channel and our podcast grow and is greatly appreciated. And do you know where you can find MORE content? Many people don't. Well, we have videos and a blog to read this type of content. Yes we have a YouTube Channel to watch this exact episode, and there is a blog version on our website at deeriq.com too. We also have a Facebook private group, and are on instagram where we can connect - and yes its me that will be interacting, but also our Private facebook group is designed to put things we learn on the podcast into practice and a lot of the expert guests are on there interacting - that is growing and will be a really good resource as it does. So check that out. And we do have 3 FREE things that will really help all hunters out, and one is kinda fun. They are the Public Land Guide, The Deer IQ Journal, and both of those you can download at the links below. The guide covers 8 approaches to public land success from experts as well as myself and my experience hunting a lot of public land with high success, and the Journal is designed to help you get the most out of our regular podcast and really dig in with the content of our expert guests. And, the fun one is the Deer IQ test - how deer smart are you? Take that, find out, and compare to how our guests have done on the podcast! 

AND last, we do have a patreon page where you can contribute financially if you like this content. It helps keep this going, and growing, which takes money to do. So thanks for considering that, and it also is linked in the description and on our webpage. There various contribution levels - something for everyone. 

Ok and now back to mistake springtime habit #5.

1. TURKEY HUNTING: This is one that may depart from some “top hunters,” but that I personally find helpful. The fact is that being in the woods more makes you more savvy to the ways of the woods. Honing your hunting skills on any animal helps with another, and in particular turkey are wary creatures that keep your skills sharp. No they cannot smell you, but their acute eyesight and ability to quickly become educated mimic whitetail. Matching wits against this quarry will teach you many lessons on stalking as well as how to increase stealth and disappear in the woods, which is a very transferable skill for whitetail.  

1. SHOOTING: Most people do not pick up their weapon until just before hunting season starts. With archery this is a big mistake, as this skill needs to be practiced consistently until it is pure muscle memory. If you’re not shooting year round in some sort of indoor league, then starting back up when you can in the spring is a good idea. At least shoot several times a week (minimum) and increase this as the season gets closer. Don’t go for quantity, but quality, as over shooting can lead to fatigue and bad habits. Try shooting at various distances and also from ground blinds, treestands, as well as under duress (like breathing heavily after a workout) which puts you in hunt-like situations and prepares your mind and body for the moment of truth. The best athletes know that you cannot show up on game day and expect to excel. Indeed, you play how you practice, so how you prep now will make all the difference when a big buck gives you a slight window of opportunity in November. 

There are many 3D archery shoots around the state that help you get out of the monotony of shooting in the backyard. These can put you in different and challenging situations, which is exactly when you need to hone your skills and mind. The Total Archery Challenge is one I’ve been doing for several years, and is a great way to start your summer shooting regimen. This is also the time to try new arrows and setups, and get everything shooting perfectly months in advance of when it matters. Doing so in September is just asking for trouble. 

1. TESTING NEW SETUPS: So you picked up some new gear on discount, or decided that new fad will actually help you shoot a big buck this year. Now is the time to test it out and work out the kinks. For example, if you’ve decided like many people to use a tree saddle this year, actually getting in a tree with it and discovering all the little surprises early on is absolutely necessary. Believe me, there will be surprises and things you didn’t even think about. In this scenario, you may also have a new climbing method. Practice every element as if you’re hunting, including hauling your bow and backpack up and down the tree, and in the dark. Things as little as the sequence in which you do things, how you place your steps, and how you pack your backpack are all things to find out and make note of. You don’t want to find these things out while fumbling in the dark at your best new hunting spot. 

1. PROPERTY PREP: Getting a property set for hunting can be a full time job, and obviously takes planning. One thing I’ve learned is that you cannot treat all properties the same, and need to be honest with what you can and cannot do with your acreage. Getting a long term plan with goals is critical to making your property the best it can be. Make a ten year plan and goals, then break this down into what you can be doing each year to get there. Some things are immediate, like a foodplot or annual cover screen planting. Others take much more time, like planting trees that will add cover years down the road.(READ my article detailing this out “Make your Land a Big Buck Factory HERE)

In my case I just cannot hold deer on my land since I have about 3 acres of deer habitat and it’s all within 150 yards of houses. I can, however, attract them. I’ve used the spring the last few years to focus on planting screening cover and enticing food offerings to draw in deer from neighboring parcels. My goal, to get deer comfortable using my property enough to draw in a cruising buck in the prerut or rut. Maybe on your property you can hold deer, everyone’s scenario is different, but get a plan and then work the plan to meet your goals. Hundreds of articles could be written on this nuanced topic, but the biggest things to focus on are deer bedding, security cover, better food than can be found nearby, and bulletproof ways to access your hunting stands or blinds depending on wind and deer bedding and feeding trends. 

1. HUNTING SHEDS: Ok, this one had to make the list, and many probably thought it was #1. In my book it is not, but can be of some benefit. To me this gets you doing #3 and #4 - scouting and potentially finding new property while you look for that white gold. It can also give you intel on a certain buck you’ve been chasing, but beware - where you find his sheds is his wintering location, not necessarily his fall haunt. But, in the end it can give you vital information to build a buck profile, find a chink in his armor, and seal the deal come fall. (READ about how to build a Killer Buck Profile HERE).

Whitetail hunting is a year long pursuit for the serious hunter, so get busy now and reap the rewards this fall.