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Marshall Thompson
November 1, 2014
UWRT 1103-037
Whitetail Deer Hunting: A Pastime of Generations

It was a crisp, late November morning, the sun not yet peeking over the tree line. All was
still as if there was no life in the woods. The birds didnt chirp, the squirrels didnt scurry. The
only noticeable movement was a hunter settling into his tree stand and loading his rifle. The hunt
was soon to be on, and he didnt want to miss a moment of it after shooting light fell upon him.
Quickly but quietly, he sorted through and organized his calls one by one- the bleat call, his
grunt tube, and some rattling sticks. The bleat call mimicked the light sound of a doe or fawn, the
grunt tube made a deep, throaty bellow of a huge buck, and the rattling sticks sounded as if two
bucks were butting their heads and interlocking antlers while fighting. After getting comfortable
and sorting through all of his equipment, the sun was just now rising in the distance. With what
little light he had, the hunter took a quick survey of his surroundings to get his bearings. As soon
as the wildlife began moving, the hunter would engage in the hunt.
From the earliest times of civilization, man has been fascinated with beast and forever
sought to stalk, capture, and conquer animals of the wild. Through the different advancements in
technology and weaponry development, the sport of whitetail deer hunting has greatly evolved.
Today, techniques and methods required for success force hunters to act outside of the hunting
season, making it a yearlong pursuit of the game. From scouting, to looking at topographic maps
to understand the land, to using feeders and baiting blocks, to utilizing trail cameras to observe
the traffic patterns of deer in a given area, there is much work involved with hunting whitetail

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deer. This work put in early on makes having a successful season all the more rewarding to
hunters that are serious about the sport in which they take part. They have an observable process
that they took from beginning to end, and are now experiencing the benefits of it all.
Hunting whitetail deer is a pastime Ive enjoyed over the past couple hunting seasons.
From early on in my life, I remember many men in my family hunting for the pleasure of it, but
to also provide food for their families. As times have changed and providing food isnt my main
objective for hunting, I have developed a passion for being outdoors and experiencing Gods
creation. Whether I shoot anything or not, just sitting and looking around, and marveling at the
complexity of my surroundings knowing my creator made it, makes each trip worth it. As a
result, I am definitely a proponent to the sport and encouraging to anyone who wants to pick it
up. Consequently, any biases in my research and writing of this paper stem from a passion for
the sport and a desire to show many how interesting and enjoyable hunting whitetail deer can be.
Hunting whitetail deer is a sport that spans across many generations and can be enjoyed by the
whole family.
The first resource obtained was a survey that was mailed to over 9600 registered hunters
in North Carolina through the NC Wildlife Organization. After the survey was distributed, each
hunter was put into a lottery to determine which responses would be held as the sample to tally
and analyze data and findings. The survey addressed the views of hunters on different hot topics
like hunting techniques, illegal behavior when hunting, deer harvest reporting, and season
timings and lengths. It was a good indicator of the opinions of hunters in North Carolina in
general, and gave the wildlife management good feedback on how to improve how the sport is
conducted state-wide. In recognizing and acknowledging these opinions, the sport can be
improved for future hunters in the state. Part of enjoying the hunt involves being responsible in

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the field, being educated, and hunting in a way that the animals are respected and treated
humanely. There are a few ways to go about this. First of all, hunters should not shoot in light
conditions that are too dark to clearly see the intended target. This may cause the hunter to
guess about where to shoot based on what they can see and land a bad shot. Similarly, a hunter
should not shoot if they do not have a clear picture of the deer in their sights or scope. If the deer
is partially standing behind a tree or some brush, the hunters view is obscured, and again, there
is more room for error in shot placement. Both of these situations could end up in really hurting
the deer and not ethically taking it. Shot placement is a huge piece when it comes to hunting
responsibly. To make these good and humane shots, the anatomy of a deer and the location of
vital areas must be understood.
Peter Fiduccias Whitetail Tactics: Cutting-Edge Strategies That Work goes into great
detail on the autonomy of a whitetail deer. It discusses the areas where vital shots can be taken
and where to aim depending on the deers relation to the shooter (broadside, quartering to or
away, etc.) Typically, the main shooting area is in line with the deers leading shoulder behind
the joint by four or six inches. The reason for this is because the heart and lungs are found close
together in this spot. If one of the two is just barely missed, the other organ will more than likely
be hit, still delivering a clean kill shot. Aiming here increases the chances of going home with a
deer after the hunt. In addition to explaining these vital areas, the book also discusses the
different glands within the body that cause deer to behave as they do. The deers patterns of
characteristic practices are broken down and explained. This is beneficial to hunters as they can
better understand the processes behind observances they encounter within the animal they are
pursuing. Specific techniques are then explicitly spelled out to help give hunters that edge they
need to be successful. (Fiduccia 2013)

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The techniques of deer hunting are important pieces of the puzzle to limiting room for
error in the field. Part of this begins with much practice. Practicing allows the fundamentals to be
mastered. This leads to experiencing many years of successful deer hunting. Bill Vaznis 500
Deer Hunting Tips: Strategies, Techniques & Methods reiterates how one must put in the leg
work by scouting, studying topographic maps, and using trail cameras. Doing so will allow
hunters to hone in on the behavior of the deer living in the area that they hunt so that an ambush
site can be set up. This work in preparation for the season will eliminate many of the variables
that may mean the difference between a good season and a bad season. The work in preparation
differs slightly for each season of hunting (bow, black powder/muzzleloader, and gun season). A
muzzleloader is a weapon used for hunting that is closely-related to the primitive muskets used
in the late 1700s on through to the 1800s. These weapons are loaded by placing a charge of black
powder and a projectile down the barrel of the gun (the muzzle) and seating them down in the
breech of the weapon with a ram rod. A percussion cap is used to generate a spark to ignite the
powder and thus shoot the weapon. (Vaznis 2008)
Saxton Popes Hunting with the Bow and Arrow goes into the history of the bow, and
how it has developed over many years and many cultures of people. With more and more
widespread use, the bow and arrow was applied to the sport of hunting. Different techniques
were implemented to promote success in the hunt and limit the likelihood of the game being
spooked from the movement of drawing the bow and thus ruining the hunt. The minimal
movement made when drawing a bow is what makes the sport of bow hunting such a challenge.
This challenge is taken by many hunters that say bow hunting is more enjoyable. Bow hunting is
not just used in the sport of whitetail deer hunting. There are many other species of deer that are
hunted. (Pope 2004)

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Leonard Rue, IIIs The Deer of North America describes what sets the whitetail deer
apart from other species that can also be found in North America. From skeletal and muscular
structure differences to differences in the appearance of tracks, whitetail deer are not exactly the
same as their closely-related blacktailed and even mule deer counterparts. When the word deer
is thought of, the mind typically runs to the appearance of the whitetail. It is of the most common
in North America. Very seldom do people picture mule deer or blacktails that are also found
here. When hunting blacktails, shots are normally taken over much longer distances in the rolling
hills and mountains of the Midwest. Hunts are normally spot and stalk where the hunter
follows the game waiting for the perfect shot. This is different from whitetail hunting where
hunters (normally, but not always) sit still in a stand and call the game to them. Though they are
different in name, appearance, and species, the other deer still attract the interest of hunters. How
the hunters maintain such populations is the key though. (Rue 2003)
Quality deer management promotes healthy animals, a good habitat, and good hunting.
It is the responsibility of hunters to promote this underlying need for quality management of
wildlife. This is significant to the future generations of hunters because failing to do so may
deplete resources and healthy game for the hunters to come. It is each generations duty to the
next to preserve and protect responsible hunting techniques. There have been time periods in
history where populations were over-hunted and they dropped to all-time low numbers.
Consequently, in the years following, this lower number of deer (a source of food and other
utilities) had a negative impact on dependent groupings of people. Thankfully the deer
population is not still low, but to the contrary it is booming and steadily increasing at an
exponential rate. (Marchinton 2007)

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Thomas Rawinskis Impacts of White-Tailed Deer Overabundance in Forest

Ecosystems: An Overview," seeks to answer why the population has grown to such high
numbers so rapidly, even with record harvest numbers in recent years. Questions such as this are
important to understand because it will help researchers better observe what is taking place
within the population and reveal to them ways to better manage the wildlife. Plans can be
developed and solutions worked towards to promote good hunting for generations to come.
(Rawinski 2008)
Whitetail deer hunting is a sport that has interested people for many generations and will
continue to interest them for years to come. Whether its purpose is to provide food for a family
or a way to enjoy the fall season of every year, all hunters are connected through their passion
for the sport. Traditions run deep and hunting in community with others allow tips and pointers
of how to hunt successfully to be passed down. There has been much literature published on how
to improve whitetail hunting from calling techniques to proper equipment use to all the work put
in before the hunting season begins.
A large portion of being successful on the hunt is the proper preparation before the
season comes in. This involves utilizing trail cameras, understanding the travel patterns and
tendencies of the animals, scouting hunting areas during the months leading up to the first hunt,
and installing game feeders when and where they are allowed. Different locations employ
different laws concerning game feeders and baiting stations, so those local laws should be
consulted and completely understood to ensure hunting is responsible and in agreement with
regulations.
Another piece to being prepared for the hunt is becoming educated on what hunting
safely looks like and how to do it with the interest of others around you in mind. Hunting

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accidents each year are a scare to onlookers of the sport who do not necessarily support it. They
try to make the argument of hunting being dangerous as a reason to justify stricter limitations
being placed on gun control and hunting practices. These accidents will never be completely
avoidable, but their occurrence can be greatly impacted in a positive direction if the hunter
education process is redesigned. This what I plan to contribute to the conversation.
Currently in North Carolina, there is a three-step approach to becoming a hunter. The
first step is to find a hunting mentor. This can be a relative or close friend that is more
experienced with the sport and can raise up a responsible hunter. The next phase of the threesteps is to get hunter education certified. Hunters that are sixteen years old or older are required
to pass the course. Once it is passed, it is good for life. It is not merely a firearms safety course,
but rather includes topics like ethics and wildlife management. Finally, the last step is to get out
in the field and start hunting. While this process is good and beneficial, there are some changes I
would suggest to be made.
I think it would be better to require that the hunter education course be renewed every
three years. This would prevent hunters from forgetting material and helping them stay safer in
the field. Another change I would make to obtain a hunting license is requiring hunters to take
the course at a younger age. Doing so will instill good hunting behaviors from early on.
It is clearly evident that many individuals have a passion for the sport of whitetail deer
hunting. This passion influences how they act, what they devote their time and money to, and
how they spend their fall season each year. The sport is one that attracts many and unites them
under a common interest. Though it is not for all people necessarily, it is encouraged that people
get out in the woods and gain experience with it before making up their minds. The sport has
been around for since even the earliest of generations as a way to harvest food and provide for a

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family, and will be around for many generations to come. This is the sport of whitetail deer
hunting.

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Works Cited
Fiduccia, Peter. Whitetail Tactics: Cutting-Edge Strategies That Work. Skyhorse Publishing, 2013.

Miller, Karl, and Larry Marchinton. Quality Whitetails. Stackpole Books, 2007.

Palmer, Dain. "A Survey of Deer Hunters in North Carolina." October 17, 2007. Accessed October 2,
2014. http://149.168.59.251/NCWRC_QA/Hunting/documents/DeerHunterExecSum.pdf.

Pope, Saxton. Hunting with the Bow and Arrow. Digireads.com Publishing, 2004.

Rawinski, Thomas. "Impacts of White-Tailed Deer Overabundance in Forest Ecosystems: An Overview."

June 1, 2008. Accessed October 2, 2014.

Rue, III, Leonard. The Deer of North America. Globe Pequot, 2004.

Thompson, Marshall. Assignment One. UWRT 1103, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2014.

Vaznis, Bill. 500 Deer Hunting Tips: Strategies, Techniques & Methods. Creative Publishing International,
2008.