While studying an aerial photo, I identified a “pinch point” that looked like a good travel route for deer. It was!

The other day, A slightly over-eager beginning hunter asked me, “What’s the key to taking big bucks year after year?” My first thought was, Heck, I don’t know. Ask someone who does it.

I’ve arrowed my share of good bucks, but being consistent on mature deer year in and year out with archery tackle is something few hunters achieve. After a long pause I said, “Information.”

Obviously puzzled by my answer, he replied, “What about scouting?”

“Yes, but that’s just part of the process,” I said. “Information is king.”

This exchange got me to thinking about all the information available to hunters today. In my view, successful hunting, whether for trophy bucks or strictly for venison, has three components: 1) information, 2) hunting skills, and 3) a little Lady Luck. Hunting skills are something you hone over time, and Lady Luck is unpredictable. Information, on the other hand, is something you can control and gather when you need it.

Whether you realize, the availability of information has revolutionized hunting. It takes a little know-how, but today any hunter can quickly gather important information that didn’t exist a decade ago. With just the click of a computer mouse, you can view aerial photographs, state big game harvest records, and data on deer populations, right down to the county.

Don’t misjudge me. I’m no technology nut. In fact, when it comes to hunting, I’m somewhat of a Luddite -- a person who is anti-technology. I appreciate good woodsmanship, relish the solitude of nature, and choose a simple wooden longbow as my hunting weapon. Furthermore, I truly believe there is no substitute for experience. However, whether you’re hunting in your backyard or thousands of miles away, knowing how and where to gather information underlies hunting success.

Maybe I can best illustrate this through a mock hunt: Let’s say your mother-in-law is having hip surgery and your wife must go take care of her -- and you have to go along to help. Your wife informs you that you will leave your home in Pike County, Illinois, to spend the first week of November with your recovering mother-in-law in Ithaca, New York. Oh, the cruelty of life!

Okay, can you squeeze some lemonade from this lemon of life? New York isn’t Illinois, of course, but it must have some whitetails, right? Your mind reels with questions: What are the season dates? Can you buy tags over the counter? What counties have the most deer? Where are the best areas for trophy bucks? Is there good public hunting? How will you make up for a lack of on-the-ground scouting?

Start With The Basics All state wildlife agencies have websites. Some are easy to use and full of information, while others simply give you the bare bones. If you don’t know the name of the agency in the state you plan to hunt, go to an Internet search engine and type in a search phrase like “wildlife in New York.” In most cases, the state wildlife agency’s website will be one of the first five links displayed.