By April C. Doughty
For someone who has never hunted deer before, the cost of getting started can seem almost as intimidating as the hunt itself.
There are guns, bows and crossbows to consider, along with ammunition, camouflage, stands, blinds, calls, bait, attractants and all the other equipment that seems to come with deer hunting. Add the cost of hunting land and processing a deer, and a beginner might reasonably wonder whether hunting is even possible without spending a small fortune.
It is. The good news is that you probably only need a fraction of the things you think you need to get started.
According to Brad Doughty, who has hunted public lands for over 40 years, hunting public land is one of the easiest ways to cut your hunting expenses. “It’s free and baiting isn’t allowed, so two of the biggest expenses, land and baiting, are automatically eliminated,” he said.
Although Lincoln Parish doesn’t contain any public lands open to hunting, it is uniquely positioned within an hour drive of multiple Wildlife Management Areas, National Wildlife Refuges, and National Forests. For hunters willing to learn how to recognize deer sign and do some of the work themselves, deer hunting on these lands can be approached on a budget. Fortunately, when hunting public lands, preparation can often be more valuable than expensive equipment.
When gathering the equipment you need to get started, one of the easiest ways to overspend is to assume every piece of hunting equipment needs to be new. It doesn’t. Used camouflage can work just as well as expensive name-brand clothing. When it comes to camouflage, Doughty said movement is more important than color. A hunter using a ground blind, even a makeshift one, can wear a dark-colored black, green, or brown shirt, while the lower portion of the body remains concealed. Covering exposed hands and the face can also help minimize movement that might alert a deer.
A beginner’s first firearm also does not have to be an expensive rifle. Hunters can look at pawn shops for used firearms, bows and crossbows. In the thick Louisiana woods, Doughty recommends considering a shotgun and buckshot as an economical option. A shotgun has less range than a rifle, but hunting in thick cover often means getting closer to deer anyway. For someone interested in bowhunting, an inexpensive crossbow can also be an option.
Whether you’re planning to use a gun, crossbow or bow, Doughty emphasized the importance of properly sighting in the equipment. There’s nothing more disappointing than getting a shot on a nice deer and missing. You can sight in your gun at a shooting range locally or at TP Outdoors in West Monroe. Doughty said they have an indoor range. For archery, consider using the archery range in Lincoln Parish Park.
Another important factor in making your shot count is your ammunition. Doughty cautions against cutting costs on this component. Saving money on equipment should not mean sacrificing reliability in the component responsible for making the shot. “The one thing they don’t need to compromise on is ammunition,” Doughty said. “You wouldn’t want to get a cheap, off-name brand bullet that you’re not familiar with, and the same is true for bolts or arrows.” He also recommends quality broadheads and lighted nocks for archery equipment.
Because public land eliminates the need to immediately invest in a permanent stand, hunters can create a simple ground setup using equipment they may already have. Doughty recommends finding a small chair that’s easy to carry, buying inexpensive camouflage or blind material and using natural brush to create a makeshift ground blind. The goal is not to build an elaborate structure but to blend into the surroundings and position yourself where deer are likely to travel.
Knowing where deer travel starts with learning to scout, but before you scout, Doughty recommends learning the property and the applicable regulations. Every public property has its own regulations governing where and when hunters can go, checking in and out, whether stands or blinds can be used, use of blaze orange, vehicle access and other restrictions. Beginners should read the regulations for the specific property they plan to hunt before heading into the woods.
Hunters should also learn how to navigate the property safely. A phone can be used to mark the parking area, but hunters should not rely solely on technology. Learning to use a compass and carrying a map are valuable skills, particularly when hunting unfamiliar woods before daylight or heading out after dark. A flashlight or headlamp is also essential for navigating in and out before and after hunting. On public land, a light can serve another purpose: letting other hunters know someone is already in the area.
Doughty also recommends using a map and marking the route as you go with reflective pins or other permitted markers to help identify the way back, but always be aware of the specific regulations for the property when it comes to using markers. You may be expected to collect them on your way out.
Before spending money on cameras or other technology, beginners can learn a lot simply by walking through the woods. Ideally this should be done before season starts, but it can be done after as well. If the season has started, Doughty recommends being considerate of other hunters by scouting midday. He recommends moving slowly and looking for signs of deer, including tracks, droppings, scrapes, and hookings.
Food is also one of the first things to look for. Oak trees producing acorns, persimmon trees and other plants deer browse can indicate areas worth investigating. Doughty also recommends looking for American beautyberry, sawbriar, young grasses and other vegetation deer may eat.
The next step is to find where deer are bedding, which tends to be in the thicker more grown up areas. But rather than setting up directly in a feeding area or bedding area, Doughty recommends looking for the transition between the two. Heavy trails leading from thick cover toward food sources can reveal the routes deer are using.
Water is another clue. Creeks, ponds, bayous and rivers can all provide important travel areas, particularly where deer have worn down crossings. Even a dry creek can provide useful information if it has a deeply worn path showing that animals regularly travel through it.
“It’s totally possible to scout for deer without technology or cameras,” Doughty said. “That’s where you just have to get out in the woods and try to find the food sources, deer droppings, and trails that have deer tracks in them because a lot of game will use the same trail.”
For hunters specifically looking for bucks, rubs can provide another clue. Trees that have been scraped by a buck’s antlers, particularly around ridges and the edges of thick cover, can indicate deer activity. The key is to look at the entire area and try to recognize patterns rather than focusing on one type of sign.
Doughty said hunters should pay attention to signs that other people regularly use an area, including flagging, worn paths and other human activity. That does not necessarily mean the area is bad for deer, but it can influence where and when a hunter chooses to set up. “Don’t let other hunters ruin the hunt,” he said. Hunting pressure is one of the realities of public land. During gun season, Doughty often looks for thicker areas where fewer hunters are likely to go.
“Most people don’t go in very far,” he said, “so the further back you go, the better chance you have to see deer and not encounter people.”
However, that does not mean a hunter should automatically assume deer are far from parking areas. Deer may move into those areas after hunters pass through, particularly when they are trying to avoid human activity deeper in the woods.
Timing can be just as important. Doughty said one mistake he sees new hunters make is leaving too early because they have not seen deer. On public land, deer movement can change as hunters enter and leave the woods.
“Most people leave out around 9 to 9:30, so it’s better to stay,” he said. “Stay till noon. It’ll give you a better chance.”
A hunter who watches someone walk through the area should not automatically assume the hunt is ruined. Once the other hunter moves on, deer may still return to the area.
Once a hunter successfully harvests a deer, they’ll need to get the deer to their vehicle, which can be challenging, especially without an ATV or when you’re hunting land where ATVs are not allowed. A deer cart can be a worthwhile investment when a harvested deer may have to be transported a considerable distance.
For hunters willing to build rather than buy this equipment, they can save a bit of money. Doughty said hunters can build deer carts using bicycle tires and, where regulations allow, they can even construct certain types of stands. As with most things, being will to do some of the work yourself can cut costs.
The same philosophy can be applied to processing your deer. Processing a deer at home can save considerable money over time. A beginner does not need an entire processing setup immediately. A meat grinder may be the first useful investment, particularly for hunters who plan to turn some of their venison into ground meat.
A sharp knife, including a filet or skinning knife, can get a beginner started. More specialized equipment can be purchased gradually as the hunter gains experience.
Even transportation does not have to be elaborate. Doughty has transported harvested game in a car using waterproof material to protect the interior.
The larger lesson is that deer hunting does not have to begin with the most expensive version of everything. Start by learning the woods. Learn where deer feed, bed, drink and travel. Learn the rules of the public land being hunted. Invest in reliable ammunition and equipment that directly affects safety and the shot, while saving money on items that can be improvised, purchased used or added later. There is no reason a beginner has to own everything on the first day of hunting season. Once the basics are covered, Doughty recommends gradually adding equipment such as a pop-up ground blind or climbing stand.
“Finding food sources and bedding areas, using calls, using a chair and a little makeshift ground blind or using brush to brush in areas, will help you get started without spending much money,” Doughty said. For a first-year hunter, that may be the most important piece of advice. You do not have to buy your way into becoming a deer hunter.
You don’t need much to get started, and most aspects of the process can be learned along the way. Finding a good mentor can be helpful, but the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries can also answer basic questions, and the biologists working the public lands you choose to hunt can also be helpful sources of information. Another great thing about hunting public land is that you’ll run into other hunters. For every hunter who wants to hoard their knowledge, there’s one like Doughty who’s willing to help.
