If you’re serious about deer hunting, you know the preparation doesn’t begin in the fall; it starts now. April might feel early to be thinking about deer season, but the work you put in during the spring lays the groundwork for success when the time comes. Even when my attention is wrapped up in spring turkey hunting, there’s always that little voice in my head reminding me, “Shoot your bow!” because the season will be here before we know it. Sometimes, while I’m easing toward a gobbling tom or trying to strike one up, I catch myself scanning the woods for shed antlers, worn trails, or the remnants of old scrapes and rubs from last fall. We might be in full turkey mode, but the deer hunter in us never fully clocks out. Whether it’s spring scouting, maintaining gear, or working on habitat improvements, there’s always a list of things you can do right now to set yourself up for your best deer season.
1. Scout Smart and Start Early
While bucks aren’t sporting their full antlers yet, April is a prime time to scout your hunting areas. The woods are just beginning to green, so last season’s signs, such as rubs, scrapes, and trails, are still clearly visible.
On a recent shed antler hunt with my wife and son, we explored areas near my past hunting sites. I dislike walking around during the hunting season because it spreads human scent and disturbs natural movement. On our early April hike, while searching for sheds, I passed by my sites, looking for patterns in deer movement, bedding areas, and feeding spots I might not have discovered during the hunting season. I marked trails, crossings, and new rubs and scrapes on my GPS/Hunting app when I identified promising areas. Later in the summer, I can revisit my findings, set up trail cameras in those areas, and fine-tune my hunting sites for early-season bowhunting or good rut hunting sites for November. Remember, April scouting should be low-pressure. Even though it is several months before the season, avoid bumping deer if possible. It’s all about gathering information without altering their behavior.
2. Check and Maintain Gear
Spring is also the perfect time to go through all your hunting gear and tackle any problems before they become major issues during the season.
When there is nothing to do, and you find yourself bored at home, use that extra time to inspect bows, guns, and optics.Look for rust, worn strings, or scope alignment issues. Make repairs or schedule professional servicing if needed. A visit to the local archery pro shop isn’t a bad idea and can allow a professional to thoroughly check your bow and all the accessories. This is also an excellent opportunity to add any new bow accessories you may have purchased during the off-season. Completing everything in April allows for more time to practice throughout the summer.
Another spring chore is organizing hunting clothing and accessories.Many hunters do not consider washing their hunting clothes in scent-free detergent during the spring, yet this helps prevent mildew and unwanted odors from building up during the off-season. Clean them as you would before hunting, then store them in sealed containers or a ScentLok bag.
One of my spring cleaning favorites involves inventorying all my hunting supplies in the garage. After organizing everything and putting it in place, I note which scent control products I need to restock over the summer. Next, I check calls, batteries, tags, safety harnesses, and other accessories to see if any upgrades are needed.
Last on my gear list is checking trail cameras. Spring is the time to prepare your cameras by replacing old SD cards, checking for firmware updates, and stocking up on batteries. New antlers will grow in just a couple of months, and the cameras need to be up and ready to gather as much intel as possible before the fall hunting season begins.
3. Habitat and Land Management
If you have access to private land, April is an ideal time to improve the habitat for deer.
- Plant food plots: April is an excellent month to seed cool-season food plots like clover or chicory. These provide valuable nutrition during the spring and summer antler-growing months.
- Hinge cutting: Create new bedding areas by hinge-cutting select trees to provide cover at deer level.
- Improve stand sites: Trim shooting lanes, clear access trails, and get areas ready to hang new stands or blinds later in the summer in preparation for the fall.
Even if you are a turkey hunter, many of these projects can be done before or after the season if areas needing attention are located in different places from where you primarily turkey hunt. Middays or afternoons can be an excellent time to work a few hours before returning to the evening turkey hunt.
4. Shed Hunting
April remains an excellent time to find shed antlers. From my own experience, I have discovered numerous shed antlers while turkey hunting, mushroom hunting, or scouting in the spring. Locating shed antlers helps you assess buck survival in your area.If you’re finding antlers, it’s a good indication that those bucks made it through the winter, allowing them to be prioritized on next year’s hit list. These discoveries can also indicate where deer spend most of their time during late winter, providing valuable insights for planning hunts in the next season. Additionally, shed hunting is an excellent exercise and a fun way to stay connected to the outdoors.
5. Physical Conditioning
Shed hunting can provide excellent exercise, but developing an exercise plan to help you prepare for the next season is always wise. Deer hunting can be physically demanding, especially if you engage in hang-and-hunt setups, pack a buck, or hike into remote public land. Start a fitness routine now to get your body ready for the fall. I have included cardio activities like running, hiking, and biking for the past few years to build stamina and enhance my overall health. However, don’t forget to incorporate some strength training into your fitness regimen as well.Focus on your legs, core, and back, and you will be amazed at the difference it makes when shooting your bow, climbing in a tree saddle, or walking to and from your hunting spots. When you feel better, you can be more focused on the hunt.
6. Plan Your Season
April is a great time to lay out your goals and plans for the upcoming season.
- Apply for tags: Many states have application deadlines in the spring. Don’t miss your chance at special hunts.
- Research new areas: Study maps, talk to biologists, and network with other hunters to find new public lands or better private leases.
- Set goals: Whether it’s harvesting your first buck, targeting a mature whitetail, or mentoring a new hunter, setting clear goals now will help you stay focused in the fall.
7. Practice Shooting
Good shooting doesn’t happen overnight. Start practicing now, and you’ll be a much more confident and ethical hunter by opening day. Spring and summer are my favorite time of the year to spend as much time as possible improving my accuracy as an archery hunter. My favorite times to shoot my bow are early mornings after running and late evenings when it is a bit cooler. Work on form, consistency, and shooting from different angles and elevations during practice sessions. This could also go for rifle hunters as well. Spring is a great time to practice at different distances and positions under realistic hunting scenarios. Go to the range, in your backyard, or wherever a safe place to shoot can be found and practice.
The hunters who put in the effort in April are the ones who punch tags in November. Whether enhancing your land, tuning your gear, or sharpening your shooting skills, preparation now translates to confidence later. So get outside, get organized, and start stacking the odds in your favor for deer season 2025.
