9 Mistakes to Avoid when Hunting Deer at Night

In recent years, more and more attention has been paid to the contentious issue of night hunting.

One of the main criticisms about night hunting is that it can cause animals to suffer too much. They can become disoriented by the bright lights, making them easy prey for hunters. In addition, a lot of animals are nocturnal and rely on the dark for protection and survival.

Night hunting is argued to be necessary for population control and crop protection against wildlife damage. They also say that night hunting can be done responsibly if proper regulations are in place, like limiting the number of animals hunted or requiring permits.

Overall, night hunting may have advantages, but it should be approached with caution and animal welfare in mind and below we will look at 9 mistakes you can and should avoid when you do hunt at night for deers.

1. Not Abiding with State Law

Example of Sanctioned Hunting Activities in Michigan

Hunting deer at night can be rewarding but also extremely risky. It is very dangerous for people who are hunting with you or in the area where you are hunting deer at night. Additionally, depending on the methods and equipment you use, hunting deer or other animals at night may not be ethical. 

As a result, not all states permit nighttime hunting. Before going deer hunting at night, the first thing you need to do is determine whether it is allowed in the state where you want to hunt.

2. Not Scouting the Area

Scouting the area is always a good idea before going night hunting. You can track the movement of deer by using hunting apps like HuntStand or onX or Google Earth to find food sources, potential travel routes, water sources, bedding areas, transition lines, funnels, and access points. You will learn more about the movement and behavior of deer at night because they are nocturnal.

Trail cameras can be set up to collect nighttime data on deer. Before the hunting season begins, learn about their movements and behaviors in the area and track them for a long time. Deer follow a set pattern throughout the day and night. 

If they are not interrupted, they will continue with those routines in that area. Find a way to set yourself up so that you can take advantage of their nighttime routines by learning about their habits. If you hunt from a tree stand, Top 10 Trees Stands of 2023 would be of great value to you where you can learn how to buy a tree stand and secondly on the best ones you can buy in 2023.

3. Not Doing Scent Control

Scent Killer Recommendations

Whether you hunt deer during the day or at night, controlling your human scent is an important consideration. Deer have excellent smell senses. Alongside their great vision, their feeling of smell likewise assists them with staying away from hunters and risk.

Deodorize all of the clothing you will be wearing a few days before you go hunting. Put them in a bag that blocks smells and spray them with a scent remover. Bathing soap that doesn’t have a scent should be used in the morning before you go hunting. Get dressed in sweatpants, socks, and a t-shirt that are free of scent using a towel that is free of scent.

When driving to the hunting area, do not wear your hunting boots. Instead, when you drive and take your gear out of the car, wear rubber clogs. Although these measures may appear excessive, they are effective.

4. Not Wearing Camo

Camo Clothing Recommendations

Even though the terms “camouflage clothing” and “hunting” have been used a lot, you are still required to don the appropriate attire. You should have a pretty good idea of the area from scouting it.

Put on the appropriate camouflage clothing to hide in that location. Wearing any safety color will help you stand out to other hunters who might be out hunting at night in that area, so safety should also be taken seriously.

5. Going Alone

When going deer hunting at night, it’s best to go with a friend. When hunting deer at night, it is safer to go with a friend for safety reasons.

Additionally, it is critical that you remain together when hunting at night and do not split up or go missing. Both other people and wild animals pose a threat. You could also look at 11 Best Hunting Sets to Buy in 2023 if you are looking for a hunting knife set to skin your deer.

6. Making Noise

Deer have a keen sense of hearing, and big bucks can detect high-frequency sounds from a great distance. When deer hunting at night, it’s critical that you keep your mouth shut at all times.

Make sure that the volume on your cell phone is off or that the phone is off. 

If deers hear noises close to where you are, it may be several hours before they approach that area. They won’t go back that way until they are certain that the danger has passed.

7. Wearing Light Clothing

You will need to dress warmly to keep your average body temperature the same during the cold weather.

Cotton is a poor choice for clothing because it retains moisture and makes it difficult to keep warm when it rains. Wear clothing made of wool or synthetic materials, which will keep you warm and prevent moisture from escaping. 

Layering your clothing will help you stay warm. Additionally, it must be reiterated that for the best hunting results, all of your clothing must be scent-free.

8. Not Setting Up a Bait Pile/Feeder

Feeder Recommendations

One way to hunt deer at night is to set up a bait pile and position yourself so that you can see it clearly. You can also lead the bait back to the bait pile by setting up bait a few yards away from it. Many hunters have successfully utilized this strategy, but many mature bucks are now wary of bait piles.

Before moving toward the bait pile, they typically remain far from it and search the area for weeks, if not months, for signs of human activity. Always check to see if setting up a bait pile to hunt deer at night is allowed.

9. Avoiding Predator Calls

Predator Call Recommendations

Although not widely used, predator calls can be used to hunt deer at night. Utilizing hunter summons will take the “no clamor” part of hunting in night. If the calls don’t come in frequently at night, some bucks might be wary of them.

Your scouting findings can be useful in this situation.  You could use predator calls to hunt deer at night if you scouted the area and remembered when you heard them. However, predator calls are not widely used.

Conclusion

As you have read, you essentially need to make sure that when you hunt for deer at night that you: abide by state law, scout the area, do scent control, wear proper camo clothing, make sure to go with a friend, don’t make much or any noise, set up a bait pile and also make sure to use predator calls.

These are some of the top tips that you can get from us and hope it serves you well.

Let us know in the comment section if you think we missed out on anything!