Whitetail Summer School

Whitetail Summer School

By Ryan Graden

Our country in 2020 took a turn that we had never dealt with before. Covid-19 sent us into cover and, in many ways, hindered living in ways that we could never imagine. Our freedoms, to a certain degree, have been suspended by a “bug” that none of us could see with our naked eye. Cooped up, locked in, and forced to endure life with a certain amount of fear.

But, for us outdoorsmen and women, there is always freedom in the great outdoors. For my family and I, we turned to the timber! Taking walks, hikes, and spending time enjoying the creation that God had given us.
Sure, we couldn’t do certain activities that we have usually enjoyed. Going out to eat, going to movies, and visiting friends. But did we feel locked down? Certainly not!

Some of you readers might know that I am a proud father of four daughters. That’s right, my house is run by a “girl gang” with mama in the lead. And that’s okay. As long as they all still follow me into the timber. That’s exactly what we did this spring. Feeling freedom like we never had before. No sports, no practices, no gatherings. The Gradens were free to be outdoorsman and women!

Preparations
My girls are die-hard whitetail hunters. They will occasionally do some other hunting, but their passion is Iowa’s whitetail season. This spring, we were already talking about it. It started with talking about the bucks we still wanted to target next fall. The bucks that might finally be big enough to put on the hit-list and where we might look to find them.

That conversation led to all the things that we could accomplish in order to set ourselves up for success next fall when the season openers begin to arrive. Scouting for high traffic trails, moving stands, finding new and better stand placements, planting food plots, placing our game cameras, and summer scouting plans. The plans began to roll out and it was a good time for us to begin.

As summer begins, please know that it’s not too late to begin some of these tasks in preparation for fall hunts. Figure out what you can accomplish and make plans to do so. Hopefully, your work will pay off come fall seasons.

Hikes
Getting into the timber became a necessary need for us this spring. When the sun was out and the sixty degree days began to show up, we took advantage of the opportunities. We put on our boots, jackets, and rounded up the dogs to head out to the timber.
As we walked, we took some tough trails. Sometimes forging new trails to parts of the timber that we had never been before. These walks were dual purposed outings. First and foremost, spending time together was invaluable. We laughed, talked, goofed around, and looked for natural treasures. However, along with the walking, we were always keeping our eyes out for deer tracks, trails, and beds.

There were times when one of my daughters would sound off an “Oh, Dad!” Pointing at the ground showing me what they’ve found. The giant prints in the mud really caught their eye! Especially if the dew claws were imprinted along with the split hoof! “That’s a big guy there, Dad!” We’d then begin to guess which buck might have made that track. We’d look at it’s direction. Sometimes even follow it to see which deer trail it fell into.

On our walks, we’d note which trails were getting the most traffic. Which trails were heading back into the timber signaling that they might be morning hunt opportunities for deer heading back to bedding areas. They’d note which trails were leading to food sources suggesting these might be good trails for evening hunts as deer came from bedding areas to feeding sources.

If these trails were worn down to a muddy level of use, we also knew that they were being used as major travel sources. Indicating that many deer used them and that they used them often. Finding these “treasures” were going to be vital to successful hunts in the coming fall.

As we ventured through the timbers we were also finding beds. At this point in the season, most beds are full of hair. As the warmer temperatures came about, these whitetails began to loose their winter layer of hair. Frankly, when we did spot a deer, they looked almost sickly! Their coats all shaggy, dull in color, and patchy. Finding bedding areas were another key treasure to our outings.

School was in session and my daughters were pupils. Professor Ryan was passing down what he knew to the next generation of Graden hunters.

Food Plots
Any planted food sources are a great advantage to a hunter here in Iowa. If you have the ground, time, and funds to do it, make the effort! Your opportunities at mature deer will increase if you have a food plot to hunt over.

With that said, you don’t have to break the bank to do it. Trust me; I am able to do it for pennies on the dollar each year. All I have, mostly, is sweat equity into my plots. As a result, they have turned up some great trophies that now adorn my walls.

Again, I am lucky to have private ground to hunt. And on that private ground, over the years, we’ve created a small number of ½ acre to 1 acre food plots along the edge of the timber.

Once the ground was cleared, we were able to work the soil by using retired farm equipment that we either found and were given, or purchased at auctions. We’ve used this for years to break up the ground and prepare it for planting.

When it comes to planting seed, I am fortunate to be friends with a few local farmers. I’ve always volunteered my time and help on their farms throughout the year. And, in return, I am given their leftover seed to plant with. Sometimes it’s older, and sometimes it fresh, leftover from their spring planting. Regardless, it’s free!

I might plant my soybean plots a few weeks later than the farmers as a result, but I still have a healthy food plot to hunt over come fall. All it cost me was my time.

Now, if you don’t have tractors, disking or cultivating equipment to prepare larger areas of land for planting, don’t despair. Again, with a little sweat, you can still have a plot to hunt over. There are some great “topical seeds” out there that only require you to rake up the ground in order to plant them. So, do the work! Head out with your rake and plant your plot.

If you have absolutely no opportunity to prepare food plots to hunt over, you are still okay here. My suggestion to you is this. First, find the food resources for where you hunt. Acorn trees, nearby crop fields, etc. Consider hunting near these areas or along the trails to these areas. You’ll still be in good shape!

Stands
If by now you’ve done your homework and you know the areas that you want to hunt, I would suggest you consider setting up your stand areas. Not necessarily putting up your stands, but picking the trees that you plan on using and trimming them out in preparation for the fall.

Taking the time to trim things out now leaves less of a change coming into the season. Deer will have the summer months to observe any changes in the landscape and get used to it. One suggestion though, don’t ever completely clear your stands of cover. If you do so, you are greatly increasing your chances of being seen.

Instead, trim yourself two or three good shooting lanes for each stand. Cover that you leave will actually allow your camouflage to be effective. Which will allow you to hide well and even cover your movement if you have to.

Summer Practice
There have been too many times that I regretted not putting in enough practice during the summer. Shots that I’ve missed because of poor form, inability to calm myself, and poor aiming practices. Be it gun or bow, you need to put in your practice during your preparation months.

If you are planning to participate in the archery season, I would suggest flinging some arrows as often as you can. Practice from different distances. Start at ten yards, and increase your distance out to forty as you gain some comfort. Practice from different angles. Practice from different elevations. Practice from sitting and standing positions. Do anything you can to prepare for any shot that you might take when the opportunity presents itself.

If you are using a gun, do the same. Get out and set up some targets. Different distances, different angles, different elevations. You must know the limits of your gun and how it is aiming. Practice time will allow you to gain a confidence during the season.

Summer Scouting
One of the favorite events of the Graden girls is summer scouting. I’m sure it’s because I let them stand on top of my truck, but if it adds some excitement, it’s worth it.

Come August, we pull out the binoculars and begin watching our herd from a distance. By August, bucks will have fully grown antlers, and the velvet will be shedding through the month. You will get a good look at what they will look like if you were to see them in the woods.
As we watch the deer come out in the evening, we are watching where they come from, and where they go to. Who they are with. And what are their favorite places to be. When you begin to see some consistency with these events, you can begin to put together some plans for your season.

We also begin to check our trail cameras more frequently. Checking them weekly rather that every two or three weeks. We begin to make note of who we are seeing and what time they are showing up on the camera. Putting all these puzzle pieces together will allow you an advantage especially in the early season before the rut changes things up a bit. Who wouldn’t want to harvest a trophy in warmer weather? I’d be all for that!

It’s Time
So, now that the turkey seasons are done, you might as well keep busy. Set yourself up for an advantage come this fall. Enjoy the outdoors while you’re doing it!

Gather your spouse, your kids, your buddies and put in a little effort over the summer. It’s never time wasted. If you do it right, the payback will be well worth it.

Have fun and we’ll talk to you again soon. Good luck!