The private property we have to hunt is 21 acres and extremely narrow. We have always thought the deer bed right where we walk into the woods, which is the problem. There is no other way to walk into the woods. It is bordered by 3 other properties, and the narrowness screws us over. If we are correct, and that is where the deer are bedding, our trail runs right along up the whole thing. Over the summer I was averaging about 700-1000 pics a week of deer. Ever since hunting season started, I've only seen 4 deer (40 hours in stand), yet still get around the same number of deer on camera when we are not there. So my assumption is that we are totally jumping them out on the way into the property. Last time we hunted, we jumped out 2(+?) deer in the morning going in. I'm starting to wonder if hunting the mornings here is just pointless and destructive. There is one other trail that we can take in, but its extremely thick and still really close to the bedding area, and I'm not sure if its worth it. So my question is what should I do? Just stop hunting mornings here all together? Try the other way in? Thanks for any help guys, my dad and I are still kind of newbies at bowhunting (third year) so I wanted to try to get some other opinions. Here is the property: Red= Property lines Yellow= Current Trail we take into the woods Light Blue= Stand Location Green= Camera Location Grey= Possible Bedding Area Blue= Other Possible Trail
If it really is a bedding area you are probably bumping the deer. Try to hunt afternoons and only use the blue trail. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
I have a situation very similar to yours. It makes the property very difficult to hunt. If the deer are returning from surrounding fields in the morning as you're walking in, that could be the reason why you are spooking deer. That is the problem I was facing the past few hunts. Deer would be walking past my stand about the same time I was looking to climb up the tree. I have completely stopped hunting the mornings on that stand. So In both cases, the deer are bedding in these woods. It still makes it difficult to get in for an afternoon hunt without alerting deer as you are making your way into the stand. I would review your trail cam photos and see what time the deer are moving and get a general idea where they are coming from. You're stand site may be too deep in the woods, bringing it back closer to the bedding area may be your best bet if you want to intercept them.
I would try evenings only and see if that makes any difference, or try and get permission to access from the north side.
Could you possibly just ask one of the neighbors if you could just walk through their woods to your stand? If you asked me that, and knew my neighbors name that you're using his property, I wouldn't have a problem with it.
If deer are bedding along the route into your stand you need to rethink your stand location for morning hunts. Assuming your map is oriented North to the top, I'd setup on the south edge of the bedding area in the morning and get in early. As for afternoons, the entrance has to be out of sight of bedding deer and your scent cannot blow into the bedding area. If this cannot be accomplished itwould be best to not hunt that day. If its your property I'd think of doing some habitat manipulation to promote bedding on the North side of the property during the off season..
Thanks fellas. And purebowhunting, it's my uncles property so we are not sure what we can do to it yet, this upcoming off season we are thinking about clearing out some trees and making a small food plot in the middle of some timber, so we will do some habitat manipulation then. And MichiHunter, my uncle doesn't have very good relations with his neighbors, one of them actually stole the head of a buck I killed, so that really isn't much of an option.
It surprises me they are bedded already as you are going in. I would think an afternoon hunt would be worse. I have a couple stands that I hunt, that I have to be in earlier than most. I would first try going in earlier. Your proposed route does look better.
I found walking in during the afternoon hunt, I would "PUTT" on a turkey call ( we have alot of turkerys ) and found that the deer did not spook near as easy.. They heard the noise, and with the "PUTT PUTT", they assumed it was another animal.. Morning hunts, I would agree, get in there way way way early......
I would never quit hunting mornings, just be more selective on those morning spots and have them closer with easier access. Those stands should also have the clearest paths so you can sneak in fast and quietly. Also changing the trail is a better idea, for next year. Put it along the border where the prevailing winds won't carry your scent into the bedding area when you sneak past for that evening hunt. Having it in the middle like looks like it will cause the deer to split off the property rather than maybe get spooked to one side.
If your prevailing wind is like where I hunt it comes from the west so every time you walk past the bedding area your scent is carried to the deer. I realize it is much closer to the bedding but maybe try using the east side of the property for entry and exit. They may not like hearing you walk past but will tolerate it it much more than smelling you.
Like others have said, I would definitely use the blue trail. And get a stand set up on that bedding area! Why not bust em coming right into/ out of their beds?
Maybe u should try and comeing in from the back of the property, find out were there going to an from and try an take a diffrent path in
I would skip mornings and not hunt any west winds (NW, W, SW). In the afternoons I would give myself a lot of time to sneak past the bedding area quietly, stopping for a few minutes everytime I made even the slightest noise.
I would check out some of those houses on the east side there. Knock on doors and ask them if they mind you cutting across their property. They can't do anymore than say no. Blessings..........Pastorjim
Thanks again guys. I'm going to do some research and finds out who owns that little strip of field on the north edge of the property.
That's what I would do. Walk along the treeline/field from the north and then cut down to the south to your stand. If the wind is blowing as it normally does and you do a good job of scent control, you shouldn't kick them up anymore.