By: Joseph Gigliotti

As the weather gets colder and the leaves begin to fall, hunters make their way into the woods for the start of the season. During the fall season, rifle hunting is prohibited until late November, forcing hunters to use bows and keep their shots under 60 yards. During this season, many hunters struggle to harvest deer due to adrenaline, distances, and mechanics, which all rely on the bow you hunt with, causing them to miss their target.

Read more: Hunting Falls into Season

With many factors disrupting hunting, we first must mention scent and stealth. Deer have a great sense of smell, especially in archery season. It’s difficult since they must be within 60 yards for a good shot. One thing most hunters do is buy a good scent killer, which you can find at most of your local retail stores. A fairly priced scent killer that has always stood out to me is called “Scent Killer Gold.” Although, if you want to stay away from the spray, you also have the option to buy the “Wildlife Research Scent Killer” soap bar. According to bowhunter.com, scent killers aren’t like traditional scent masks, they instead attack odors at the molecular level which, in testing, is proven to remove 99% of replicated human odor.

     Additionally, stealth, excluding scent, is by far the most important factor when hunting in any season, but archery hunting is a whole other level. As you know, archery hunting is limited by distance, so remaining calm and quiet is a must. This skill allows you to approach or pull-in the prey while maintaining a steady hold to deliver a precise shot.

Another key component of a stealthy hunter is camouflage. It blends you in with surroundings to make you seem invisible to your target. Once again, you can find good camo at local retailers for good prices. However, if you want to take a step above that you can look at a pricier option, “Sitka.”

     The Squire chatted with fellow hunter and Eisenhower student, Mason Britt, and asked him some questions regarding hunting. Mason was brought into hunting by his dad and grandpa when he was nine. When asked about preparation for the upcoming season, he said, “I like to make sure all my tree stands are all ready to go, my compound bow is in top shape, sighted in, and get all my hunting clothes treated and laid out.”

Additionally, Mason also shared basic safety rules and regulations, “keeping the weapon pointed away from anyone, always treating it like it’s loaded, and not having a round in the chamber until you have arrived at your designated location.”

There are several different locations you can hunt, whether it’s a food plot, tree stand, blind, or free range. Mason likes to hunt out of tree stands due to the maintenance he puts into it in the offseason. He shared that he does this because, “being higher up allows you to see more area and have the ‘higher ground’ on the prey.”

     The Squire wants to wish Mason the best of luck and thank him for his time and for educating hunters who look to be a part of the 2026 Fall hunting season. This year’s archery season will run from October 3 through November 20, late archery season is December 26 through January 24, and rifle season takes place from November 28 through December 13. Make sure you stay tuned and updated on the deer pictures located by the gymnasium.