In this episode, we’ll discuss the Top 5 Mistakes Beginner Hunters Make! The crisp morning air brushes against your skin as you step out of your truck. The world is still shrouded in darkness, with only the faint beam of your flashlight cutting through the trees. The silence is broken only by the crunch of dry leaves underfoot and the occasional rustle as a squirrel moves through the underbrush. You’re ready. Ready for the hunt that could define your season—or perhaps your entire hunting journey
But you’re not alone. From the shadows, a familiar figure emerges—your hunting mentor, a seasoned expert whose every step is full of confidence, whose every move speaks of years in the field. They glance at you with a raised eyebrow and a knowing grin.
“Ready?” they ask, already anticipating your answer. You nod, but deep inside, there’s a feeling—a familiar unease, the same sensation you had before your first hunt.
And then, like a sudden gust of cold wind, reality hits: You’re about to make mistakes. Mistakes that every hunter before you has made. Some will be small, others might cost you the buck you’ve been dreaming of all season.
What are these mistakes? What should you be aware of? Let’s go through them together.
The first mistake almost every beginner makes is rushing. You’re eager to be out there, eager to find the perfect spot, feel the thrill of the chase, and make that first successful kill. But hunting isn’t just about shooting—it’s about patience and stillness.
As you walk along a narrow trail with your rifle in hand, the trees above stretch their skeletal limbs towards the sky. Every sound seems to make your heart race—was that a snap of a twig? A deer? Or just nerves playing tricks?
And then it happens again. You’re sure you’ve found the perfect spot, but in your haste, you didn’t take time to assess the entire landscape. You didn’t pause to check the wind direction, to evaluate your surroundings, or ask yourself the most critical question: “Is this the right spot, or am I rushing into a mistake?”
You set up too quickly, and before you know it, the wind shifts. You hear hooves in the distance, but when you turn around, it’s too late. The deer is gone.
Disappointment settles in, but there’s no time for regret. A seasoned hunter’s voice echoes in your mind: “Always wait. Patience is key.” It may sound cliché, but it’s the essence of hunting.
So, what did you learn? The next time, slow down. Don’t rush into the first spot you see. Stop. Breathe. Evaluate. Take in the landscape, understand the wind, and be patient. The deer aren’t going anywhere—they’ll come when the time is right.
As you sit in your tree stand during another hunt, a new mistake creeps into your mind: neglecting your gear.
You thought you had everything—your rifle, ammo, camo, knife—all checked off. But then, as you shift ever so slightly, the sound of your clothing scraping against the tree stand breaks the silence. Your heart skips a beat. You freeze.
What happened? Did the deer hear that? Did they see you move? You glance at your camo. You’re hidden, but then it hits you: the noise.
Your gear is too loud. The straps on your backpack, the zipper on your jacket, the slight rattle of your binoculars—these seemingly small noises are like a neon sign to a deer’s keen ears.
The mistake? Failing to invest in quiet, effective gear. Your clothing and equipment are part of your strategy, not just tools. Gear that makes noise can ruin your chances, while gear designed to blend in visually and audibly will make all the difference.
But the mistakes don’t stop there. You’ve got the patience and the right gear, but now comes the third pitfall: losing control of your mind.
You’ve set up, the wind is perfect, and everything is silent. But then, your mind starts to wander. You think about the shot, the deer, the story you’ll tell when you bag that buck. Suddenly, you’re second-guessing every sound, every movement.
This is the problem: you’re letting your mind race. Hunting requires focus, control, and staying calm. If you let your thoughts run wild, you’ll miss your shot—and worse, you’ll lose the essence of why you hunt.
You take a deep breath, clear your mind, and focus on the present. Nothing else matters. It’s just you, the stand, the wind, and the deer. You’ve learned that the most important thing you can control is your focus. Keep your mind steady, or risk missing your shot.
Next, we come to a simple but critical mistake: not knowing how to shoot under pressure.
You’ve practiced—target shooting in your backyard, taking aim at the range, breathing steadily. But when the moment arrives, with that buck in your sights, it’s different. Your hands tremble, your breath becomes shallow, and adrenaline pulses through your veins. The shot is no longer just a shot—it’s a test of everything you’ve learned.
But you’re not ready. Your body tightens, your finger twitches, and you pull the trigger too soon. The deer runs off.
You curse under your breath, but there’s a lesson here: you didn’t practice under real conditions. You didn’t prepare for the nerves, the adrenaline. Next time, you’ll practice at dawn, with the weight of your rifle on your shoulder and the pressure of the moment. When the deer steps into view, you won’t freeze. You’ll be ready.
The final mistake, perhaps the most important, isn’t about equipment or technique—it’s about attitude.
When you’re having a bad season, when the deer aren’t where you expect, when the weather’s against you, it’s easy to feel frustrated. Every time something goes wrong, you start questioning your abilities. Maybe you’re not cut out for this.
But here’s the truth: every hunter has felt this way. The real test isn’t how many deer you bag, but how you handle failure. Every missed shot, every empty day in the woods, is part of the journey.
Don’t take it personally. Don’t let the woods defeat you. The hunt is bigger than you. It’s ancient, humbling, and the more you embrace that, the more successful you’ll become.
You sit back in the dark, hands resting on your rifle. The quiet of the woods envelops you, and you breathe in the cool night air. The hunt isn’t over, but you’re wiser now. You know your mistakes—and next time, you’ll be ready.