Where To Start

New to deer hunting, or planning a hunt somewhere new? Start here. These steps follow the order a deer hunt comes together.

The deer hunter's year: summer scouting, early archery in September, pre-rut in October, peak rut in November across most of the north, and later rut dates in the South
The deer hunter’s year

Seven steps to a deer hunt

  1. Pick your deer. Whitetails, mule deer or Coues deer each mean different country and different tactics. See Whitetail and Mule Deer.
  2. Choose a state and season. Check whether tags are sold over the counter or by draw. See Where to Hunt Deer.
  3. Time the rut. See Deer Seasons and the Rut.
  4. Scout. Find food, bedding cover and the trails between them, or the glassing points in open country.
  5. Pick a method. See Deer Hunting Tactics.
  6. Build the kit. See the Deer Hunting Gear Guide.
  7. Plan for after the shot. Know the tagging rules and any chronic wasting disease carcass rules before the hunt.
Hunter standing on a ridge above desert mountains with a dog beside him
Hunting the high desert

Keep learning

Regulations change every year. Hunt4 Deer.com is written by hunters, not lawyers, so always check the current rules with the state wildlife agency.