The phone call came just as my wife and I had finished a delicious meal featuring whitetail backstraps, fried potatoes, sliced home-grown tomatoes and a fresh fruit salad, complimented by a wee glass of red wine. Frankly I thought about not answering the call and pouring myself another glass. It had been a long day and I was anxious to outline questions for an upcoming interview for my weekly “DSC’s Untamed Heritage”. I did not recognize the phone number nor the area code but I decided to answer.

“Mister Weishuhn, my dad suggested I call you, he said you could probably help give me some advice. You see, I have never been deer hunting. I met your daughter, Beth, when we stopped by her Dirty Bohemian store in Round Top, Texas. She showed me some of the mounts you have on display there, and she told my dad and me about some of your hunts. I got your number from her.” I listened intently.

“When this Covid thing started, I finally broke down and bought a 308 Winchester hunting rifle, a bolt action. I wanted it because I felt I might need a gun to protect my family, but also because I thought it was time I started hunting to provide my wife and three daughters with meat, should bad things happen and we can no longer buy it at the grocery store. Plus, from what I’ve heard venison is not only really tasty, it’s much healthier. Can you help?”

How could I refuse? I started with saying how proud I was of him, then immediately moved toward some basics regarding matching bullet to game. I suggested Hornady’s Precision Hunter 178gr ELD-X bullets, which are accurate in most all 308s and deadly in terms of terminal performance.

I asked about what scope he had mounted on the rifle. “It doesn’t have any sights, so I guess I need a scope. What would you suggest?” I suggested he procure a Trijicon Huron 2.5–10x40, explaining it was a variable scope with magnification from 2.5 to 10 power, with a front objective size of 40mm for good light transmission, early and late. Thus, it was ideal for hunting close cover when set at 2.5 power and long range when set at 10 power, covering all distances. We visited about scope mounting, including proper eye-relief, how to sight-in, and knowing ballistics out to 300 yards, although I highly suggested for starters, he try to keep his shots within 100 yards or less. With that too, we talked about using a range finder and learning how to estimate ranges, by guessing first and then ranging objects at distances close and far and how to estimate range using his scope and simply common sense.

I continued by talking about shooting from the bench to learn his capabilities with the rifle and keeping his shots within a three-inch circle. And once he knew his rifle’s capabilities and his with it, to start shooting from “in the field rests” such as off of limbs, using tree trunks and from shooting sticks as a solid rest.

Throughout I stressed gun safety of never pointing a gun at anything you did not intend to shoot, but always keeping it pointed in a safe direction and other basic gun safety.

From there we drifted to learning deer anatomy and where a deer’s vitals (meaning heart and lungs) were located, regardless of how the deer was standing or facing. We also talked about hunting licenses, hunting public land and gaining access to hunting private property and in-the-field etiquette. Then I added information about looking for tracks, and learning to read deer signs, such as rubs and scrapes, explaining the difference between the two. Rubs were on trees and bushes where bucks rubbed their antlers to strengthen their neck muscles preparing for fighting during the breeding season. And scrapes, a means of marking territory, like a dog peeing on vehicle tires, and scrapes were found under an overhanging limb, made by bucks scraping their front feet along the ground, and then peeing on their hind legs, letting the urine trickle down to the ground below. Both, too were definite signs of bucks in the immediate area.

As we visited I got to thinking, “We’ve talked about the basics. Perhaps that information was the first tip. Learn what you can about your firearm, optics, ammo, gun safety, shot placement and range estimation, as well as hunting public and private property, and understanding “buck signs.” I added, “We have not talked about caring for game once you have taken and tagged it. But that’s something we can cover a bit later; how to gut, butcher, preserve and then cook venison.”

I continued, “Second tip… When I was a youngster my dad would drop me at a deer stand and tell me to “Stay awake”! He knew I was not about to go to sleep. It was his way of telling me to pay attention, to continually look and see. To pay attention to birds, squirrels and anything else that would keep me vigil of my surroundings or give away approaching deer, and not to be thinking of things not related to the hunt. So, when a deer did appear, I would see it. Later I learned the importance of using deer scents and lures, as well as paying attention to wind direction. These days I use Texas Raised Hunting Products’ Scent Guardian, which essentially does away with human odors. I also use the various deer lures and scents produced by Texas Raised Hunting Products (TRHP); they work fabulously in terms of the biological side of things. TRHP products attract bucks and does! But also, when using TRHP lures and scents, it helps me “stay awake” as my dad used to tell me. I expect things to happen. When a deer appears, I see it! So, the TRHP works both biologically and psychologically!

“A third tip is “Go hunt!” Never look for excuses not to go hunting, excuses like “It’s too hot!” “It’s too cold!” “It’s raining, snowing or sleeting!” “The moon is full!” “The wind is wrong!” And a thousand other excuses. Hunt all day long whenever possible. One of the things I’ve learned over 60 years of hunting whitetails, is deer are individuals, just like you and me. Quite often bucks tend to move during midday when they have learned most hunters are in camp. Shoot what makes you happy and what will make your family happy. Once you’ve been hunting for a while and taken a fair number of deer, then you can be selective in what deer you take.”

“Next time you call, we can talk about how to butcher and cook venison…”