This year’s 2023-2034 deer season has already begun for some hunters! This tradition of hunting deer can be traced back to about 350,000 years ago, which is before modern civilization. This tradition has carried on to today and will most likely continue for a couple more thousands of years. The hunters today have upped their techniques and equipment to make these hunting trips easier and safer. The hunters using archery equipment can get started as early as September 2nd, but the crossbow hunters have to wait until September 16th to begin hunting. While those hunters get to start as early as September the other hunters using muzzleloaders or modern guns have to wait til October to begin.
All these different choices of equipment for hunting come with many rules to follow. For example, you must have a license to carry your firearm and also a license to hunt. With those licenses come laws for the hunting itself. One must only harvest up to four deer that season, and only one out of those four can be a deer with antlers. Once you have harvested your deer it must be telecheck on the phone or through an app within 24 hours. There are many things a hunter has to do after they hunt but there are also lots of steps to do before.

Some of the students here at Greenwood High School are preparing for this season. Most of these kids have been hunting with their families since they were kids. They go to their farm or even out in their backyard to set up and prepare for the upcoming deer season. Many people like Peyton Cottrell and MaKayla Eleson, both freshmen at Greenwood High School, say they put out their corn a couple of days earlier to start attracting the deer. Eleson explains that when she puts out her corn, she adds a substance to the corn to ensure she attracts those deers this season. Cottrell also says that when she is putting her corn out her dad likes to put vanilla in it to get the deer more interested in their area.
There are many ways people like to prepare for the season like putting up corn, setting up stands, and buying more supplies. For instance, Bryce Mangold, a freshman at Greenwood, says, “Putting out corn and buying things…like trail cameras and ammo,” helps him prepare. Also, Cottrell shares, “ I have been practicing my shooting and my aim. Getting more camo and setting up the deer stands and putting corn out.” Getting the corn out and setting up trail cams are good ways to attract and watch the deer before you go out to hunt so that you know if you have any prey. Buying camo and ammo are two things you need to bring with you when you set out to hunt. As well as wearing camo when hunting so you are less easily seen, it is a law that you must wear unbroken hunter orange to protect yourself from other hunters. These preparations help the hunters warm up and improve all their skills so they are fully prepared for the hunt. As they get their supplies and set off to their stands they make sure to have all of these things done beforehand so it’s all ready when they arrive to hunt.