December 12, 2008 by Gildas Paradis

Whitetail Deer hunting is a many things to many people. All deer hunters try to understand deer behaviour to some degree. The most common instructional information and "How to" material will speak in general about mostly Agriculture Adapted Deer. The whitetail deer are a complicated creature but not a lot different than most warm blooded critters when it comes to adapting to an area for survival. In fact because of human progress the deer have adapted to live and thrive in most agricultural areas. It provides a food source that is carefully maintained to acheive optimum yeild. With some close attention to our habits they have learned to share what little cover is left, with us humans. And the wild predators are generally afraid of us and so we also provide a certain degree of protection. That becomes the reverse effect during hunting seasons when we become the predator.

Long story short, most of the stuff we are told by deer biologists, specialists and scientists does not apply to real wilderness deer.(I could now use some support from the people who know what i am talking about.) I have itemized the main points of difference below. It is a different breed of deer that inhabit the true massive forests and swamps of Canada. There aren't many places like that if you look at the Whitetail's most northernly range. The areas that are still as wild as they were hundreds of years ago are generally inhospitable to a person trying to carve out a living. There are easier places to live, so that largely reduces the human factor and presence. But, that is where the deer originated from. It is genitically built for the food sources and terrain of the wild bush. So a hunt in the real wilds here at Riverside Lodge will provide an incredible experiencre unlike many places. It enables you to become the predator and harvest a buck while he is at his weakest, the Rut.

7 Facts about Fair Chase Hunting Our Wilderness Deer.

1. Wilderness deer need to be on their feet to cover ground to find hot does. So they are moving a lot more giving us an opportunity all day long and each day. Each stand show different deer from day to day. (In Agriculture areas and/or baited areas, the deer don't need to travel much so they will bed down part of the day and not as many new deer will show everyday). Therefore 11;00- 3;00 can be the best time to be in the woods.

2. Food source dictates where does want to be, and bucks follow. In Agriculture areas areas that changes every year. In wilderness areas it doesn't, so natural/historical trails and routes produce every year. Old scrape/rub lines are there for a reason and are used every year. Habitual use of areas for cover, food and travel.

3. We can use weather as a tool more than a hindrance in the wilderness. Deer don't like thin ice, so youcan funnel them even more during the early part of the season before the ice thinkens. Cold weather will drive the does to feed more and be more active making the bucks need to travel a lot more. A worn out buck will start to take shortcuts, which can lead to his demise when dropping his guard and responding to calls and scents and recent doe activity. Warm weather is very poor during the Rut but it can also narrow down the funnels and crossings. It also can make sitting more comfortable for the hunter.

4. In AG areas the deer are used to humans, in fact they expect them. In wilderness areas the deer have sometimes never seen a human so they are not sure what to think and certainly are not watchful for us.

5. Wolves are the main danger for these deer, from the time they opened their eyes their mother taught them to survive by avoiding wolves, not humans.

6. In wilderness areas you will get the opportunity to see and hunt deer that behave naturally.

7.Deer travel with the wind?(this one gets me the most looks)
MOST Deer in the wilderness travel with the wind!!! Not into it. They want to know what is behind them not so much what is in front of them, they can see in front, but don't want to be ambushed from behind. They will sometimes, bust your scent but will not run blindly in any direction without knowing what is out there, so be ready for it to stop. Still practice scent control and noise control to try be invisible as possible! Scent control is always important, never cheap out on it. Just be prepared for deer coming in with the wind.