Tips & Tactics

Uncle Gary’s Wisdom

Uncle Gary’s Wisdom

By Mark Kay

Photo: Some hunters consistently bring home more venison than others. Seek out these people, pay close attention to what they do and learn from their wisdom — this week’s tip included!

My Uncle Gary was the best hunter, fisherman and outdoorsman I’ve ever known.

When I was a youngster, I noticed he was highly successful and routinely took nice deer while other members of our hunting party went home empty handed.

It didn’t take long to realize Gary was someone with a special knack for knowing where to find deer and someone I should pay close attention to.  I asked his advice whenever I had questions about hunting.

Often I helped Gary drag his deer out of the woods, just so I could see where he hunted and, hopefully, learn something.

I began to notice his setups did not look at all like a place I would hunt. They were usually very thick, difficult to get to and had poor visibility.

One day, while helping Uncle Gary drag out yet another nice buck, I finally asked him about his setups.

“I hunt what looks good to a deer, not what looks good to you,” he replied.

Those words really have stuck with me, and I’ve found this tip to be one of the most useful of my hunting career.

It makes sense, too. Most hunters want to set up where they can see a long way — where shots are long, open and easy. But those places aren’t necessarily inviting to smart old bucks.

Now, I seek areas where a buck might think it can move undetected, even if it’s thick. Then, I setup downwind and put myself in a position to at least encounter the old boys. It works!

Uncle Gary passed away in 1995, but his words still ring true. “Hunt what looks good to a deer, not what looks good to you.”

This philosophy has put a lot of venison on my table. Hopefully, it will help you, too.

– Photo Courtesy Tim H. Martin

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