Even though this isn’t necessarily a question, the best place to start is to take a hunter's safety course. Information in the course will give you the basics on safe use of firearms, tree stand safety tips, the benefits of wearing hunter orange and may also guide you into some basic tips and tricks for hunting. Every state should have their own site for hunting regulations and helpful information.

The following is for the state of Missouri.
https://www.hunter-ed.com/missouri/faq/

If you don’t have a friend or family member that owns land you can hunt on, one of the first questions is of course, where can I hunt? This is another great reason to take the course mentioned above. They should be able to give you the information you need on public hunting grounds & how to get permits to hunt there.

Another question new hunters tend to ask is when is it the best time to hunt.
The easy answer is the first and last thirty minutes of daylight. In the early season you will find with warmer weather, deer like to be in their bedding area before the sun comes up. Many times they will be in the transition of getting their winter coats, which helps retain heat during the winter months. During the late summer, early fall however, deer find this winter coat and the warm weather to suppress their movement and hold them to nighttime feeding patterns. Your best times in the early season is in the evenings however, as the cool weather inches its way in and the rut comes into play, deer can be on their feet anytime of the day. Of course there are many other factors to consider like the weather, wind and food source just to name a few. The best way to figure it out is to just get out there and see what time works best for your environment or ask a buddy that hunts in your area.

One of the other most asked questions is does scent control really matter?
Yes. You can still kill a deer even if you weren’t diligent with your scent control but the best course of action is to mask your scent at much as possible.

A deer's nose has 800 times more olfactory receptors than humans. They also have great memories which allows them to remember your smell. A deer will not forget which keeps them alive longer.

You can cover your scent by using no scent soaps, laundry detergent and doe urine. You can also find clothing that reduces your scent & don’t forget to stay downwind.

This may seem like an odd question but they also ask how do I know where to sit watch when I'm hunting?

For the most part, it comes with time and experience. However, it depends on the location, surroundings, time of the season, and more. There is no good answer to this question because there is never one answer directly capable of answering it.

To find deer, you have to put in the work and effort it requires to be successful. Many successful hunters will tell you that they spend three to five times more time on scouting, than they do actually hunting. The layout of the land, food sources and water sources are vital information to finding deer, but also it goes without saying, if there just aren't deer there, you won't see deer. So do your homework before deer season launches. Don’t forget to decide on whether you prefer to hunt from the ground or a tree stand. If you hunt from the ground you will still want to purchase a simple blind.

Final question is what do I do after I shoot the deer?

The hunt is only half of your mission, tracking and harvesting your animal is what separates lucky hunters from successful outdoorsmen.

Immediately following the shot, you should keep your eye on the animal until you can no longer see it. When you last visibly see the deer, make a mental note of where that was. Be sure to use any type of markers that the animal was near when you last saw him. Markers could be a large rock or an odd looking tree, or maybe an opening in the wood line. Maybe you last saw the deer go directly underneath a unique looking branch. Regardless, remember that location in your mind.

If the shot was a good shot and you believe you hit vitals, give the deer an hour or two to succumb to the shot. This will give you the best opportunity at finding the deer. If you aren't patient, you risk moving in on a deer that may not be dead yet, and if a deer has clotted up and takes off running, you may now have a deer that has no blood trail and your success rate at finding this deer just decreased tremendously. If you hit the gut or placed an otherwise bad shot on a deer, you will want to give the deer at least four to six hours to succumb. Many times if the temperatures are cool enough, you can choose to leave it overnight and search the next morning without risk of spoiling the venison.

When tracking the animal, take your time. Do not get ahead of yourself because you can risk the chance of stepping on blood or indications that would normally allow you see the direction in which the animal has gone. Many times deer will head downhill and away from the area in which they were shot. Sometimes, if you cannot find the animal, looking in nearby creeks, rivers, or any body of water could help you find your game. Many times injured deer will seek out these water sources when injured.
When a blood trail decreases, it's always best to have someone help you search. Always mark "last blood" and slowly make your way forward, looking for the next sign of blood.

Be sure to take your time and never give up, success comes with hard work. Of course it is always nice to have luck on your side but to give yourself and the animal the best benefit, educate yourself as much as possible, practice shooting your weapon and most importantly, enjoy your time you spend hunting.

Don’t forget to check your states Department of Conservation for information specific to your state.

https://mdc.mo.gov/contact-engage/mobile-apps/mo-hunting

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