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The opening day of the gun season is the most chaotic but exciting day of the year.
For most hunters, it is the day that kick starts their whitetail hunting season. I hear more gunshots on November 15th (opening day in Michigan) than any other day of the year. Are all those people successful? Probably.
I want to give you some tips and strategies to also be one of those gunshots on opening day. However, at the end of the day, you will always have to shoot straight to bring meat home to your family.
People today want things to happen instantly and if it isn’t fast enough, they just move on. I am all for fast and quick results if that is what you want as well. Here are some tips and strategies to capitalize on the opening day of gun season.
Why opening day is busy and what it means for whitetail deer
Deer hunters around the world start their hunting season on the opening day of gun season. Whether it is because of family tradition or trying to get a deer fast and quick to provide some great meals.
With all these hunters in the woods and fields, you will hear more gunshots on opening day than any other day of the year.
Deer will be running around everywhere and anywhere because of all the extra pressure from the extra hunters in the woods. They will not be running directionless though.
These deer will be running to any form of thick and safe cover they can find.
Be prepared ahead of time by finding where these safe spots are on your property. For my property, we have a ditch line that is extremely thick with small trees and bushes. This ditch line has been a safe space for deer for many years.
My father and I never go into that ditch line unless necessary. We do this because if you spook the deer out of their own safe spot on your property, they will no longer have a reason to feel safe and stay on your property.
How to capitalize using whitetail deer safe spots on opening day
The key is to find a spot that has space for you to get a clean shot off before the deer get into their safe place.
It could be anything from an open field, a pasture, or the edge of the woods. Do not worry too much about the deer’s usual spots of entry because with all this pressure they don’t care about where they enter at. They just want to be safe.
I have a ritual that I hunt the same spot every opening day since I was 9. I sit on the ground next to a post in the ground. I overlook a cut field that faces the ditch I mentioned earlier.
This spot is perfectly designed for hunting on the first day of rifle season because it overlooks the deer haven without being too close to it. I have had great success in this spot, and it is something that I hope you can find and succeed with as well.
How to hunt the entry of whitetail deer safe spots
The key to hunting the entry of a safe spot is identifying where the hunting pressure is coming from. If the hunting pressure is coming from the north of the safe spot, then you will want to hunt the north of the safe spot.
The wind direction will play a big part in what side of the safe place you hunt.
Make sure you can stay downwind of the safe spot. Since they are already spooked and scared, if they can smell you, they will not stay anywhere long enough for you to get a shot.
Hunting the exit of whitetail deer safe spots
Sometimes deer will just stop in a safe spot. If they are spooked, they may just keep running right through it.
The way to execute this is by setting up a spot that allows you to shoot on the backside of the safe spot. This will allow you to capitalize on the spooked deer that are just checking up on a place they know is safe normally. But at that moment, the deer feels no safety.
If there is hunting pressure in all directions, you are in the best of luck. You can hunt both the entries and the exits of the safe spot based on the wind direction.
Other ways to have a successful opening day of gun season
This may sound simple but wear plenty of hunter’s orange. Not because it is the law, but rather because it ensures your safety out there.
I wear a basic orange vest that fits right over my warmer clothes and an orange facemask that keeps me warm and safe.
Here is a link to a basic orange vest on Amazon.
This facemask by Hot Shot on Amazon is reversible with a camo side and an orange side. You can use it for both gun season and archery season.
I personally am devastated when I hear stories of people who get shot on opening day because of someone else making the mistake of taking a shot without knowing what they were shooting.
Another safety precaution that you should take is wearing a headlight with a red light. You should wear it both in and out of the woods to make sure to distinguish yourself between moving animals and moving humans. The red light is not detected by deer because they are color blind and only see grey not red. A basic headlamp that has a red light future will do the trick… nothing fancy. Here is a link to GearLight LED Headlamps (2 pack) on Amazon that will work perfectly because they are bright and have many modes (including a red light).
Enjoy the commotion
Opening day of rifle season is one of the best days of the year. It will be one of the most exciting and chaotic days of hunting every year. Deer will be running in every direction and if your opportunity has not yet arrived, do not feel upset.
Just enjoy the commotion and stay ready for when your opportunity presents itself.
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The Whitetail Teacher
