General Tips for New and Aspiring Whitetail Deer Hunters
For this post I assume you have your license and have passed the required hunter-safety training in your area. If you'd like to know more about this process in Ontario (where I live), let me know!
Where can I hunt?
The type of hunting grounds you have access to will shape the best tools and tactics. The primary distinction you will hear from seasoned hunters is around Public vs. Private.
Access will determine the type of equipment best suited for the job.
Hunters with access to private land can consider more permanent / traditional ladder stands (which are typically prohibited on public land). The benefits to having private land to hunt include grooming access trails and shooting lanes, which can aid in harvesting a deer in known travel routes. Downside is that deer will learn your habits and wise up to human sign, so these fixed stand locations are easy to "burn out". In other words, the deer change their travel patterns in response to hunting pressure.
What about public land?
Living in Southern Ontario means what little public land we have access to hunt is typically crowded. Due to this heavy pressure, I decided to choose a mobile hunting strategy. Mobility was top of mind since I have limited access to private land to hunt, and this I need to go where hunters are not, and setup on a tree of choice at a whim.
Why use a tree saddle?
Some hunters have been using DIY tree saddles for long time. I believe John Eberhardt has been using this method for hunting whitetail since the mid 1980's.
Ten years later I finally gave saddles a try—only to realize I’d been missing out in a big way. I’ve used saddles extensively in the last few years and now see them as one of the most effective tools for hunting deer from an elevated position.
via [Mark Kenyon][https://www.themeateater.com/hunt/whitetail-deer/answering-the-3-most-common-questions-about-tree-saddle-hunting]
Recently (since ~2017-18), saddle hunting options have proliferated! Many companies now make a version of a tree saddle for mobile hunters. Climbing aids are now more diverse (steps, sticks, aiders, etc).
My choice was climbing sticks, since these are the most straight-forward to adopt as a beginner. Sticks stack together and when attached to the tree act like a ladder. For a good overview on climbing sticks, click here.
HOW DO YOU DRESS FOR WARMTH?
Southern Ontario is not as cold as the Prairies, but it sure can get frigid. If you have the money, buy top of the line gear! The technology these days is amazing. Merino base layers + outwear from a top tier gear maker (Kuiu, Sitka, First Lite, etc, see) and you are set!
Other folks will need to plan better and layer up! Some simple tricks to avoid getting cold follow.
Heat loss and heat retention: Sweating vs Insulation
For folks prone to moderate or heavy perspiration, invest in higher quality materials (wool) over lower costs synthetics. Getting wet is the easiest way get and stay cold.
Layering many low-cost synthetics as a base layer works well for me since I do not sweat readily. Will layer in cotton / fleece on top of the synthetics, then an outer shell for wind / water protection.
Exposed skin in a major component of heat loss, so cover your neck, face, and head! Balaclavas are great: versatile and can aid in stealth. A thin skull cap underneath a heavy-duty exterior hat will help retain heat. Exterior hat can be stored in backpack and swapped out for baseball hat which I always carry in the pack (very cold days are often sunny, hence baseball cap).
Accessories
Backpack is wonderful asset. Being prepared means having options and backups for your gear. Adding a baseball cap, wind-blocking shell, or, bag of snacks into your backpack makes hunts more enjoyable overall (despite the extra weight).
A fanny pack or muff pack (hand-warmer attached to a belt like you see in cold-weather football games) is worth the investment. The version I have is here.
Lastly, warming pouches for hands / feet / whatever (HotHands or other brand) are magical. Light weight, quick to warm, last for hours. Bring 2-4 out with in your fanny pack for each sit. I rotate them around (hands, feet, chest pockets, etc). So nice to apply a heat source when freezing cold.