Whitetail deer hunting is one of the most exhilarating sports. It is challenging, requires a great deal of skill, and puts food on the table for you and your family. There are many things to remember when heading out into the forest to harvest your first whitetail deer. Part of the great sport of hunting is being a true sportsman and appreciating the great outdoors and all that mother nature has to offer. As a whitetail deer hunter, you will want to be as prepared as you possibly can. Here are just a few things to do before you tag your first whitetail.

​Be Completely Competent With Your Weapon

It does not matter if you are hunting with a rifle, bow, or muzzleloader, you need to be extremely confident in your abilities to one shot kill the whitetail deer. You do not want to put the animal through a painful shot and end up tracking the deer. For this purpose, make sure that you spend hours of time shooting your weapon. Be sure to not just shoot from a bench and straight in front of you. Practice all sorts of different positions and angles. The odds of having a deer exactly in front of you and completely broadside are low, so be sure you can efficiently use your weapon.

Know How to Field Dress Your Deer

Once you shoot your deer, the job of field dressing your deer begins. If you do not field dress your deer, there is a good chance that the meat will spoil, and you do not want to let that happen. For this reason, it is important to properly field dress the deer. Before you go on your hunt, attend classes and watch videos online on how to do this.

Know Where You Are Hunting

You first deer hunt should be a fantastic experience, and ending up with a hefty ticket because of an easily avoidable mistake is not the way you want to start. Make sure that you are hunting in the right area before you head out. Check and re-check your map to make sure that you are in your designated area and that you are not on private property. If you find that you do want to hunt on private property, be sure to ask permission and pay any fees associated with the trip. Several hunting areas provide grounds that are specially designed for hunters and are home to wild game and exotic animals.