Hill Country Whitetails (FTPO)
If there’s one type of whitetail environment that seems to give hunters more trouble than any other, it’s hill country. But as I wrote in my book, “Proven Whitetail Tactics”, just like any situation that initially appears impossible, there are solutions to the problems facing those who pursue trophy bucks in hill country.
One of the most important things that hill country deer hunters must realize is that, when it comes to deciding where they’re going to walk, whitetails are a bit like people. Just like us, deer prefer to access their ranges along routes that allow them to expend the least amount of energy. And whenever possible, whitetails also like to have a bit of cover to go along with this easy access.
With this in mind, it becomes easier to determine where the deer are going to establish their primary travel routes. For instance, except when faced with extreme pressure, deer will seldom cross over a ridge or hill at its highest point. In most cases, they’ll traverse hills through low points or “saddles” as most hunters call them. Again, it has to do with not wanting to expend any more energy than is absolutely necessary.
Another place you can expect to find deer activity in hill country is along the very bottoms of a series of hills. Such places are even more appealing to the deer if there’s cover present. I can tell you from past experiences that western whitetails are quite fond of traveling along brush-choked hill bottoms—especially during the rut!
Without doubt the thing we like most about hunting open hill country terrain, like that found in western states, has to do with the visibility factor. Because we’re sometimes able to see for miles, there’s hardly a time during the day when you’re not seeing deer somewhere. However, as we’ve quickly learned, if you can see them, they can also see you. A good rule of thumb for hunting this type of environment is to keep a low profile and USE YOUR OPTICS!!!!
Hey remember, hunt hard, but always hunt safe!
