How To Plan Whitetail Deer Hunting Trips

How do you know how to plan whitetail deer hunting trips? You can plan a hunt in your own area, an area you know well, or an area you have never hunted in before. Many of the steps are similar, so we will concentrate upon planning a hunting trip in a new area. Many factors also depend upon if you have hunted whitetail deer before. 

Items which may be needed to plan your hunt:

• Hunting equipment
• Camping gear
• Credit cards or money
• Library
• Maps
• Topographical maps

The process of planning your hunt may go something like this.

1. Research your prey. The first order of business is to learn all you can about the whitetail deer. There are a lot of good books available in the library, and much information is available online. Learn everything you can about where they are found, what they eat and specific hunting strategies for their kind. The rest of your planning is determined by this.
2. Pick an area. Pick the state and area you plan to hunt. Research the hunting there. Contact the DNR there; they will have a lot of good information for you. Learn how the deer are hunted there. Learn what requirements there are for hunting them and if any special requirements like guides are needed.
3. Decide how you plan to live while hunting. How long are you staying? Will you need to make living arrangements? If so, do you plan on camping or staying in a motel? Determine the answers to those questions, including food arrangements.
4. Make any needed reservations. If you are staying in hotels or campgrounds, make reservations well in advance. You may have to put down payments on credit cards.
5. Study the specific area to hunt. Use topographical maps and study the area. Learn the lay of the land and where food sources and water sources are. If possible, make a recon trip ahead of time to see the area firsthand.
6. Make lists. Make lists of equipment you need. There are a lot of little items like clothing, food, hunting gear, shoes, boots and camping gear needed for the hunt. It is important to remember them; making lists help. You should include things like maintaining the vehicle you are driving, if you are driving, buying spare parts, learning how to use that new camp stove and tent. Make lists as you think of them and check off items as you do them.
7. Purchase supplies. Purchase supplies and gear in advance. Take time to learn how new gear works and make sure that that they do work. If you can transport food, it can often save you money. 
8. Make arrangements to purchase licenses. Find out where and when you can do this. 
9. Test gear. Test new and old gear to make sure it is working correctly. Your hunt depends upon it working correctly, so do not leave it to chance. Check everything beforehand or learn to laugh years later at your present misery.
10. Go over all lists before leaving. There is nothing worse than getting to your destination and finding out you left out some important item, like your firearm.

Obviously, this is just a general outline to help guide through the planning process. Each person will find steps to add or subtract which work well for them. Basically, the entire process boils down to giving the process a lot of methodical thought and documenting the steps.