Looking back at my childhood when I started still hunting, I prob made every mistake in the book. Never thought about the wind at all, and always went by the store in the mornings. Nobody in my family still hunted, just stalk hunted and mainly dog hunted. We kinda had to learn the secrets of still hunting on our own. My grandfather would measure every step taking me to and from our deer stands before a drive so I learned early on to walk slower than slow and watch where you step. We killed a lot of deer walking to and from stands. My brother started me bow hunting when I was 15 and we were some of the first to "push" greenfield on our property around here. That was the first time i can remember ever taking wind into account. Anyway, the most important thing I tell my boys and any new hunter (the biggest mistake I use to make), is to stay as late as possible. I can't tell you how many times as a kid I would lower my bow to the ground just as I heard deer coming through the woods to the greenfield. I use to HATE walking out at dark!!! Talk about being scared, I wanted to be back at the truck or house before dark. It's really not that important to me (although I do) to be in the woods before daylight, but I can't count how many times I've shot or seen deer RIGHT AT dark. I tell my boys, if you leave right before dark your missing the best time, prime time. If you can make out a stick on the ground then you can see to shoot a deer. That would be my golden rule or my top one anyway.

The biggest mistake i see new and young hunters make, is relying on gadget's to kill deer, instead of being a good woodsman. People stink the woods up, going to and from baiting sites and checking game camera's. Feb., is the best time to scout and to use game camera's, to determine what deer made it thru the season. Do all major work in the spring and summer. Stay out of your hunting area's until its time to hunt.

I've had 3 or 4 times already just this year when the deer came in so dark I couldn't see them through my peep.

Pull that peep off and run a kisser button only.

This^^^^^. Rippin' and roarin' on ATV's, checkin' cameras every week all Summer and Fall, "scouting" a lot in season. Older bucks must feel comfortable, and unpressured to walk around in daylight. Some folks are hell bent on making them uncomfortable as possible.

Mistakes I made when I first started hunting.

1. not hunting the wind.
2. Try and be as scent free as possible.
3. Was not aware that Remington 270 ammo whether 130 or 150 gr would pattern different or Remington and Winchester bullets for same rifle same weight would pattern differently.
4. You should take a few does annually.

Mistake? Use of unnecessary stuff, and overthinking things - like "If I get a dip of Copenhagen and spit, will a deer smell me?" or wondering if your socks will cause a buck to never return because they weren't washed in Uber-StankyGone ScentWash SprayKiller Goo.

Get in the woods, sit, listen, watch, learn, make mistakes, ask questions from other knowledgeable hunters, improve your woodsmanship, don't fret over screwups, enjoy but learn from successes and make it fun.

Hunting a WMA one morning I sat in my stand until my feet were numb. Then sat until my butt fell asleep. Got down to stretch & decided to stalk down to a slough. Eased through the woods, actually spending more time still than moving. Got to the slough & saw a few doe on the other side. Watched them ease back.

I took one more step & the briar patch across the water exploded. The biggest buck I had ever seen erupted out of that patch of cover. He was moving but I took careful aim & squeezed off a round. Buck just ran faster! Bolted another round & pulled the trigger. Nothing happened as I had short shucked the round. Rebolted & sent a hail Mary completely missing.

What were my newby mistakes? #1 I was focused on the rack. Thinking about it later, my crosshairs were right between his brow tines. The shock wave may have parted his hair but I didn't hurt him. Nowadays I look at the rack until I decide the buck is a shooter. After that, all my focus is right behind his front shoulder. #2 Be familiar with your weapon. I had no idea that I needed to fully retract the bolt in order to cock the firing pin. Have heard other horror stories with unfamiliar safeties, different grain bullets & not compensating for bullet drop at long range. If you are familiar with your gun and it's capabilities then this stuff doesn't happen.

I made & continue to make mistakes but those mistakes that day still haunt me.

Almost all newer hunters hunt them as soon as they find them, and stay after them. I will leave a good one alone all season till the time is right. Then, if I don't get him in 2-3 hunts, I give the place a rest, sometimes till next season.

Let me get back to you, I'm still in the middle of making them.

Biggest mistake new hunters and seasoned hunters make Is over thinking it. They are animals. They eat, Sleep, And breed. Figure out were all 3 of those are and you have your pattern. Leave the gadgets.

My best spots would be in the highest traffic areas. Why because hunters would not go in there. Farmers working all day smoking, talking, loud, Slamming doors the deer got use to this. Same situation can be in WMA's some times or any other hunting area. Don't over think it and just go hunt and figure out the best thing that suits your style of hunting.

I grew up dog hunting but I always wanted to still hunt. I rode to our club where there was a fresh cutover with wind rows. I did everything perfect getting to where I wanted to sit. I got into a plied up wind row so I could see about 200 yards. After bout an hour I see a line of deer coming across a hillside. They were at a rather fast pace. Then about 40 yards behind was a really big buck. as soon as he hit an opening I let the 25-06 rip. He kept running and circled to within 50 yards of my setup. Well the rookie that I was had tried to unbolt my spent shell and shift another one in too fast. I had a jammed rifle with the buck standing there starring at me.

We all are! That's why it's hunting, not killing.

Not bringing toilet paper

Over hunting an area

Having unrealistic expectations

Falling in love with scrapes and rubs

Hunting with a rifle caliber that you cannot shoot effectively and makes you flinch

Here's one I learned many, many years ago. On cool/cold days, when you see a deer ya wanta shoot and he's slow playing you, don't pick your head up and watch him while you have your gun shouldered. When you drop down to take a shot your scope will be fogged, cause you've been heavy breathing on it. Don't sound like a biggie........ till it happens!

This. However, I am loving the journey so far. This is my very first season, and I have no one showing me the ropes except for you people on here! It has been great getting in the woods alone and learning and teaching myself. I make mistakes. I learn from them. I already have seen improvement (I actually am starting to see deer), so maybe I'll get one this season

Reading too much and hunting too little.

Not starting hunting with a mentor.

no , your first mistake was not being ready when you took that first step after you stopped and paused . bucks will let you walk by them some times but if you stop close to them they wonder where you are and get jumpy . when you make that next step , they'll bolt .

not being a sa , just adding that for the new hunters .

Hope ya don't mind, we don't wanta leave off the Outdoor Channel . A good mentor is wonderful, he's made most of the mistakes already.

Getting too caught up in the hype of what constitutes a trophy when starting. Learn to hunt, learn to make good shots, enjoy the journey!! It's just a pine goat. It's easy to let someone else's goals and standards ruin the happiness that should be part of killing those first deer