Deer drives can be effective ways of seeing whitetail deer in certain parts of whitetail country, but they require careful planning and consideration of safety issues. A successful drive can allow hunters to spot more deer while possibly getting their chance at an impressive buck.
Deer drives typically involve one group of hunters acting as standers and another as drivers. Drivers walk into cover while standers wait patiently in cover to intercept game pushed out from behind the drivers’ cars.
What is a deer drive?
Deer drives are an age-old hunting strategy in which groups of hunters split into two separate teams: drivers (drivers) who position themselves within thick game cover and posters who stand near places that allow them to see them (posters). Drivers slowly walk through game cover while flushing game animals out toward posters while deer run through small openings in thick cover, providing fast shots opportunities for gun hunters; muzzleloaders may also prove helpful for drives.
Many hunters utilize a pump-action shotgun loaded with buckshot for deer driving. Buckshot provides plenty of lead for quick shots needed during driving and is more accurate than single muzzleloader shots. When conducting deer drives it’s important to remember they should only occur on private property where legal; conducting drives in areas already hunted is considered unfair and rude by other hunters.
Deer driving can be done legally in some states during firearms seasons; however, bowhunters have also found success using one. Though it might seem counterintuitive at first, driving deer with a bow can actually be extremely effective and may even provide bowmen an option in certain locations where rifle season has concluded.
Bowhunters can set themselves up for deer drives in various ways, with the most effective location being one that puts them above the deer they drive to them. Field fence rows that don’t contain trees tall enough for tree stands make excellent mini-drive locations; similarly, thick cover such as tangled ditches can provide great opportunities. Bowhunters may kneel down on one of these ditches on high sides and wait until deer enter through openings in their cover ahead of them.
How does a deer drive work?
Deer drives are an age-old hunting technique that exploit the animals’ fear to encourage them to move when other tactics fail. Deer drives typically involve large groups of hunters covering preselected tracts of land with some acting as blockers and others as drivers; beginning with an air horn or similar device signalling its start, drivers begin moving through the woods creating an unholy racket: shouting, shaking milk jugs filled with pebbles or coins and firing off firecrackers as part of a drive operation that may last hours or even days depending on circumstances.
Setting up for a successful deer drive requires having the appropriate setting: an ideal area would consist of a large tract of woods with distinct funnels, an adjacent river or lake, or steep bluffs to help direct bucks’ movements. You will also want to provide them with an escape route; they will use this path to flee from danger.
Another essential factor when hunting whitetail deer should be wind. Push through cover with the wind at your back or sides in order to reduce human scent from floating directly toward bedded deer beds and alarm them immediately; you don’t want them to detect your presence and flee back out of the woods in panic!
Push slowly and carefully for optimal results. This will enable the standers to remain calm, so they can focus their shots when the buck appears. Furthermore, drivers should always have their rifles handy should an unexpected movement emerge that needs immediate response.
If you’re planning a deer drive, make sure all of your hunting companions understand their roles and have all necessary gear. In addition, ensure everyone understands all possible escape routes on the property, wearing plenty of hunter orange. Safety must always come first! A successful drive depends upon all participants being safe during every stage.
What are the rules of a deer drive?
Organising and participating in a deer drive can be a complex endeavor, so there are a few key points to keep in mind. Make sure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities. An experienced team leader should help guide proceedings smoothly; this person should also be able to explain where deer are likely to hide using aerial maps or otherwise; also be attentive for natural funnels or pinch points where deer could get trapped and can easily be driven toward standers.
Once teams are assigned and in position, it’s time for the drive. Drivers should slowly move through game cover in search of animals that they should flush towards posters positioned around it; but should not shoot at deer while doing this. Speed of drive depends on terrain and location but typically about 50 yards can be covered before stopping to rest or change direction.
The drive should last until all hunters are prepared to resume their normal hunting positions. Communication among hunters during this process should take place via text messaging; additionally, having an extra poster at each position could provide added safety; in this instance, no designated post leader would need to mark his or her position with orange clothing or headgear.
Deer drives may not work in thick cover, but can still provide an enjoyable hunting experience on smaller tracts and even farmland. Deer drives provide a fantastic way of hunting that can prove quite fruitful when properly executed.
No matter your experience level or whether this is your first drive ever, planning ahead and remaining calm are keys to success. Anxiety during drives can quickly escalate and lead to costly errors; plan your route together with teammates prior to commencing, sticking to it throughout. Be sure that enough hunters are available should any get lost during the hunt, using text messages or handheld radios for communication during it all.
What are the advantages of a deer drive?
Deer drives provide hunters with an effective method for reaching inaccessible cover with tree stands. Deer drives are especially useful during the cold, snowy months when bucks retreat into thick cover to escape the elements. Deer drives may also be used to push deer into open areas where hunters can use shotguns loaded with buckshot to intercept deer before they cross an opening and run away from hunters.
An essential aspect of organizing an effective deer drive is communication among drivers and posters. Team captains should map out the area, providing details about its terrain and vegetation as well as where team members will stand. Furthermore, it’s advisable to discuss safety issues as well as plans for dealing with wounded deer (where applicable). Text messages are an ideal means of keeping everyone up-to-date during a deer drive.
Deer drives have the advantage of often being extremely noisy, including gunfire and any additional sounds such as air horns or sounds used to signal its beginning. This helps alert deer of human presence while providing an ideal opportunity to crack branches or shake milk jugs filled with pebbles for added fun!
However, some hunters prefer more discreet drives. By walking slowly through the woods in silence they can make just enough noise to scare deer out of hiding without becoming visible to others in the standers they’re driving toward. Utilizing wind direction they can also keep their scent from wafting back towards them when driving towards them.
Once a drive has come to a close, participants can meet and compare notes about how many deer were seen – and hopefully killed – along the route. It also presents an excellent opportunity to discuss any improvements for future drives.
As with any hunting technique, deer drives have their own set of drawbacks; safety being the foremost one. All participants should wear blaze orange at all times and always know the location of other posters and drivers as they drive through an area, to stay within safe shooting lanes without getting accidentally shot in the back. By following proper guidelines however, deer drives can become highly effective tools for hunters looking to bag big bucks under difficult conditions.