Whitetail Deer Hunting For Women

Deer rifles come in a dizzying array of manufacturers, types and calibers. Types include single shot, bolt-action, lever-action and semi-automatics. Calibers include: 25.06, .243, .270, .280, .30-.30, .35, .308, .30-06, 7mm, 7mm magnum%u2026anyway, you get the idea.

My personal favorite is a Savage Model 110 bolt-action chambered in .270 Winchester. Luckily, the 110 comes in a left-handed model as I shoot left-handed.

If you are a total novice with firearms in general, I would recommend getting a .22 caliber rifle, what some people call a plinker. The recoil is minimal and so is the noise. They are inexpensive and the ammunition for them is cheap so you can practice a lot.

Try your hand at target shooting first and work your way up to squirrels or other small game. Check in your area for a shooting organization or shooting range. The people at these kinds of places love to help new shooters/hunters get started and can provide a wealth of advice and information.

If you have done some shooting and hunting of small game and are ready to move up to whitetail deer, I would suggest going to a reputable gun dealer.

A deer rifle is just like a set of golf clubs or other sporting equipment, it has to fit you. A good gun shop has knowledgeable people to assist you in finding the perfect deer rifle that fits your body. They will take the time to talk to you about where you hunt how far away most of the shots you take will be, discuss several options in type and caliber of rifle and then make sure that the rifle fits your body.

I would recommend that you stay away from the larger caliber rifles as rifle recoil can be pretty significant. Recoil being the amount of force applied to your shoulder when the rifle fires. A bad experience with too much recoil can make a shooter "flinch". Flinching is when the shooter anticipates the shot and cringes as he/she pulls the trigger. Flinching will cause the shooter to pull the rifle and result in missing the target.

For the beginning woman deer hunter, I would only seriously look at three types of rifles. The first is the most popular deer rifle of all time, the lever-action .30-.30, the second is the bolt-action in .243 Winchester calibers, and the third is the bolt-action in .270 Winchester calibers. The popularity of these rifles means that there is always a good variety and supply of ammunition for them available at Wal-Mart and many sporting goods stores.

The proper hunting clothing can make the difference between a great hunt and a miserable one. Dress in layers. Plan your hunting outfit from the skin out.

Start with polypropylene long underwear; light, medium or heavyweight depending on the weather. Polypropylene wicks moisture away from your skin allowing it to evaporate keeping you warm and dry.

Buy hunting socks with a high wool content. Wool keeps you warm even when wet.

Comfortable hunting shirt and pants in camouflage or blaze orange depending on the hunting regulations for the area. I have several different types of hunting shirts for different seasons and temperatures. I also have several camo hooded sweatshirts that I use for layering.

Get the best quality waterproof hunting boots that you can buy. If your feet are wet or cold, your hunt won't last very long.

You'll need a good hunting jacket with lots of pockets; a lighter weight one for moderate temperatures and an insulated one for cold weather. If the weather is really cold, add a pair of insulated hunting bib overalls.

If the weather is really, really cold, I wear my hunting suit, as I call it. It is blaze orange camo with a Scentlok lining and consists of a heavy hooded jacket and warm bib overalls.

Top off your hunting outfit with a hat; I prefer one with a brim to keep the sun and rain/snow off my face. If the weather is cold I use a knitted hat that we Yoopers call a Chuke --- French-Canadian knitted hat with or without a tassel. (I definitely prefer "without a tassel).

Add a pair of good hunting gloves and you are dressed for the hunt.

Where do you shoot the deer to accomplish a quick and humane kill?

The easiest shot is when the deer is standing broadside to you. Aim just behind the front shoulder about half-way between the top of the back and the bottom of the tummy. Even if your shot goes a bit high you will hit both lungs and insure a quick kill. If you shoot a bit low, you'll hit the heart.

The second best shot is the "quartering-away" shot. The deer is facing away from you but at a slight angle.

Other possible shots include "quartering-toward", "head-on", and the "neck shot". I personally don't feel skilled enough to attempt any of these three and would pass on these shots.

A basic knowledge of whitetail deer anatomy is really helpful and you should spend a little time doing some research on the subject before taking to the field.

And finally, there are three important questions you should ask yourself before you even shoot:

1. Is the shot safe? Do you know your target and what lies behind it?
2. Is the deer within your effective range of your gun or bow?
3. Is the deer turned in a way that offers an effective shot?