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Deer hunting is the activity or sport of pursuing deer which began as early as 7,000 BC. There are numerous types of deer throughout the world that are hunted with the white-tailed deer being the most common in America. Deer hunting has become essential in North America due to the dense population of deer in the eastern United States. Deer cause around 1.5 million vehicle accidents, 130 vehicle related deaths, and over $1 billion in insurance claims.

There are numerous types of deer throughout the world, but the deer most sought after in North America, east of the American cordillera, is the White-tailed Deer. West of the cordillera, the Mule Deer is the dominant deer species. The most notable differences between the two, other than the region of North America they reside in, are the Mule Deer's which resemble that of a mule, Mule Deer have a black tipped tail, and Whitetail bucks are usually smaller than Mule Deer bucks.

The most common methods are stalking, which consist of following signs and trails of deer through out the woods, and then there is just sitting and waiting. Some signs that are looked for are scrapes, places where bucks scratch the ground and urinate below low hanging branches on the edge of a field; these are used to attract female deer. There are deer tracks, which may tell you the size and age of any deer, these are usually the most reliable tracks to follow, or use since you may generally tell how old they are. Then there are rubs, which is where bucks have rubbed the velvet off their antlers by scrapping them on saplings, which takes the bark off where they rubbed. Another purpose for this action is that they mark their territory with a visual signpost. Sometimes, when the hunter has a net, they use the stalking method and throw the net on the deer. During this time, the hunter jumps on the deer and beats it into submission. Another method of deer hunting, although illegal in most states, is dog driving. A dog is let loose and used to drive deer out of their bedding area to where the hunter may get a shot. The next five paragraphs are Terry Jones’ accounts of “dog driving”(www.louisianafolklife.com).

Traditionally the deer dog was a long-legged walker, a blue tick, or a redbone. Today this breed of big dog has been mainly replaced by the beagle or the short-eared black and tan. These dogs are smaller and cheaper to maintain. They do not eat as much and they will stay in a smaller pen. These dogs are slower, too. They will not run as far and they are easier to catch at the end of the hunt.

The driver, the one who owns the hounds, picks a place to hunt and assigns everyone a location. A stander is a hunter with no dogs. This hunter is put in a designated deer-crossing, a place where the deer are known to cross. Deer crossings may be dirt roads, old logging roads or just a spot in open woods. The driver walks the dogs through the woods to jump a deer and run it to a stander. The deer will lie in the woods, and unless the dogs stumble across it, the driver could walk right on top of the deer and never know it was there. The odds are mainly in favor of the deer. Only a few of its exit routes may be covered by the standers This opens up many windows of escape for the deer.

The old belief that a deer is always ran down and caught by the dogs is not true. The deer have no trouble staying in front of the dogs, and since no two deer run alike, the drivers have to be ready for anything. The deer runs as far out in front of the dogs as he wants to unless he is hurt or injured severely. Even then, the dogs bay the deer and keep it surrounded until the hunter gets to them. They do not attack the wounded animal.

The deer eludes the drivers many of the times. They run way out in front of the dogs to listen and smell for danger. After they get out of the designated hunt spot most of the drivers spend good quantity of time looking for the hounds. Some hounds will return to the location they are cast from. However, some hounds may run forty miles or so before getting caught. If the hound is wearing an identification collar, the person who catches the dog may notify the owner.

The kill of the deer is only a minor part of the thrill the hunter gets from dog-driving. Most dog hunters enjoy the race of the dogs they have trained and raised more than killing the deer. Some hunters save their vacation time for the season and those who own their own businesses will sometimes shut it down. Cutting the shirt tail of someone who has missed a deer is an old tradition of dog hunting that has almost been forgotten. The tradition of smearing blood on the face of a hunter who just took his first deer has also almost been forgotten.

— Terry Jones, Dog Driving, [www.louisianafolklife.com]

There are also numerous factors that play a role in deer movement, but the one thing that may usually be counted on is the movement of deer 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset when the deer are going to or leaving their feeding ground. The main factors in deer movement are precipitation, wind, hunting pressure, rut, and lunar movement. Deer will stay in their bedding area during times of heavy rain or snow, and when the storm stops, the deer usually start moving. Trees and brush are usually dripping with rain or snow, which causes noise, makes the deer nervous and causes them to move after a storm; they will also start moving if the storm lasted through their feeding period. Wind blowing in the woods may become very noisy, making the deer nervous and causing them to start moving. The rut, which is a month long period when bucks mate with does, causes deer to be more active and do things that they would not normally do. The last factor in deer movement is the position of the moon. Whenever the moon is directly overhead, or below foot, deer seem to be more active in general.

Many different weapons are permitted during certain times of deer season. These include bows, crossbows, rifles, shotguns, pistols, and muzzle loaders. Bows usually are allowed throughout deer season, since there is less of a chance to get a kill with a bow. Crossbows only get a few weeks of use, and are probably the least popular weapon. Rifles, shotguns, and pistols are all in for about three weeks. These are used by the majority of hunters due to their accuracy and knock down power. Muzzleloaders have the power and accuracy of rifles, shotguns, and pistols, but are limited to a single shot.

A few things every hunter needs are camouflage, deer stand/blind, weapon, nets, waterproof boots, knife, tags, orange clothing, and a permit. Camouflage has been used for ages and while it is very important, it is not essential. There are two different types of deer stands, ladder stands, and climbers. Ladder stands are ladders with a platform on top of them chained to a tree. Climber stands are platforms with a seat that may be carried on your back and then placed usually about 4-8 feet off the ground on a tree. No hunter may take down a deer easily or legally without using certain weapons when they are permitted. Waterproof boots are not essential but they come in very handy, especially since deer do not always fall down where you shoot them and may run for a few miles into unfamiliar woods. Knives are essential to field dress and skin the deer. Tags and permits are required to hunt deer legally; they may be purchased from local sporting good stores.

• Bailey, Ronald

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