So I was looking at the topo map, again! LOL And I saw this area circled in yellow and to me it looks like a perfect funnel going into the swamp. The black line going down is the property line, which borders bow hunting only land, which receives quite a bit of pressure. The area covered in green is the crazy thick nasty Mountain laurel. This is in pretty deep, about a mile as the bird flies but topo Wise more like a mile and 3/4, two miles. I enter from the east, Following the redline which is the cart road. The yellow line give or take, is the military crest and a buck run. Proposed entry is the purple line Which follows a supposed trail to the other side of the swamp. I’ve never attempted to go through that thick stuff up there, but it looks like an awesome set up. Thoughts? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
That's a heck of a walk, but it definitely looks like a good spot to me. That climb is gonna be hard not to break one heck of a sweat! Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Yeah it's brutal going in AND out! I did it once last season in early november. Wore shorts and a tshirt going in, downhill the first 3/4 then a brutal climb to get up to the top of the ridge. going out is the long slow climb up the hill. getting one out will be an all day or night process! I'm only shooting at one over 120" I'd like to get out there and put some boots on the ground and see if the Moutain laurel clears out on the other side of the swamp.
Any chance you can quarter and pack out? I started doing that last year and I'm sold. I usually leave my pack in the truck and return for it if I kill since I'm always packing a stand as well. That's still far better than dragging, especially in terrain like that! Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
I was thinking of going back to the car drop my gear and grab my game cart. BUT, that's adding another 4 miles to the journey...LOL! I could just bury the game cart at the half way point. I have done that in years past.
I have to read up on how to quarter up a deer. This would be the mount..... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I actually think that looks awesome! It's pretty easy actually. I think keeping the Cape wouldn't add to much extra work to it, and I bet it would be in a lot better shape than if it was drug. I've never had much luck with deer carts in our kinda country Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
The guys on the hunting public did one during the public land challenge. Didn’t really show a how to but it looked like a perfect solution to the style of hunting you do. The big piece of public land I just bought a house in the middle of I’m thinking I’m going to have to look into it. Definitely would be way easier if you are by yourself then dragging. Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
1. Look for "diversity", areas of diversity generally hold a higher deer density. 2. Look for areas that are "isolated" in some way. Isolation comes in many forms and it may not even be where you can hunt, but borders where you can. Isolation creates security and stability. 3. "Mobility" is key. Staying mobile is a must. Don't be afraid to move and move often. I see guy's get a good buck on cam or see a good buck, then they passively tiptoe around so they don't pressure him. Get aggressive and get on that buck NOW before his pattern changes. 4. The "wind" is your friend, lol. Don't fall victim to the scent elimination industry's gimmicks. There will be spots you just can't hunt...but there will be many that you can. It will take a little more scouting, prepping and planning, but will add whole new dimension to your hunts. 5. "Scout" more than you hunt...maps, boots on the ground, trail cam's and history....(history is BIG). And don't be afraid to scout in season. Try not to overlook what your trail camera's are telling you. I had my buck patterned last year all of July and August, then when September rolled around he disappeared. I frantically moved 4 more cameras into the area trying to find him. Moved the cam's to a dozen different spots over a three week period with no luck. Then it hit me, the cameras had given me some vital pieces of information. I had gotten so caught up in trying to find where the buck WAS...that I completely missed what the cameras had been showing me all along...where he obviously WASN'T. I shot him two days later, lol.
Just the person I was looking for!!! If you have a free moment, could you take a look at my above post with topo? Thanks! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I looked at your topo... My read- so there is a small geographical saddle. You mentioned it was thick. Apart from security, ask yourself 'why would an animal pass through here?' If any of the following are true, I'd at least check it for sign: •There is a cooridor or edge to facilitate travel (to from bedding). Animals can be a bit lazy/habitual to conserve energy. (Check aerial photos) •It's on a path to food or water (that spot had water on either side) • a natural bottleneck (check aerials) If you can get there, I'd say check it out, but know your limits.
Appreciate the help!! Here is an aerial.. Not to helpful though. I might go out Saturday morning during the Nor’easter and see what it looks like in there. If I don’t see what I want to see, I’ll stick to hunting the military crest one or two Fay’s during the rut. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Joe, I just don't see any edges, trails or vegatative differentiation in your ariel. Try looking at the same aerials using GE over different dates you may see a group of evergreens in the deciduous...something. Below is an example of what I look for...edge of trees at swamp (top), different vegetation (from logging), trails, small clearings...
I've got a recent video up of my last couple hunts on public ground from a week ago. Where I was hunting the floods closed off about 800 acres of ground and I had a few run ins with people including a guy that came in and took a leak right next to me (had no idea I was there) then turned around and walked right back out. Waters should be down so I think I'll be back at it tonight or this weekend
I haven't field dressed or pack a whole deer out in over 15 years. I must be living ahead of the times, lol.
Well yesterday’s State Game Land evening hunt I didn’t see anything not even from a far but the saving Grace was when I got back to the lot myself and another guy struck up a conversation for over 1/2hr and he didn’t see anything either... funny thing is I had a blast being back out on Public Land even without seeing anything....was only the 2nd time I’ve ever hunted Public here in Pa... always did Public in Md.... with that being said this is going to sound pretty crazy but with the impact the Phone Company has seemly had on the deer (not seeing any the last 2times out) on my lease by bull dozing and replace poles right through the middle of the property I’m actually thinking about just not renewing the lease and just go Public both here in Pa & get my Md next season again after several years of not hunting down there...Lord knows will be a lot cheaper with that route over the Lease....
I know I've looked at this map a half dozen times over the last few years, lol. Say that yellow line is a buck run? Here's one I marked before. Let me look again a little farther to the west.
I like it...check out the red lines for runs....and even if there are no runs remember this, during the seek/chase/cruise of the rut, bucks need no reason to go from point A to B...they just do, lol. I have a river crossing that never gets used 11 months out of the year, but during the month of November, it gets used on a daily bases by multiple bucks.
