Bowhunting Steep Terrain

Hello, I joined this forum just to ask this particular question, because I'm simply too young to know and need some advice. I hunt on public land in WV, which is all hardwoods and extremely steep. I hunt it for the fact that I know large deer are there. It mainly consists of points that are slope off into hollers and bowls. I don't know where the deer are bedding or anything, I'm trying to find good spots come end of October and throughout November, I like to use mock scrapes as a tactic.(Just in case that will influence stand location) What do I do?

Thanks in advance!
-Caleb

 

Caleb, what public land do you hunt? Maybe some of us could look at some maps for you.......

 

Find your highest ground that is near a point. That's the general areas the bucks will be bedding.

 

I suppose he's talking hillcountry

 

Find the water in the low parts. They Gotta drink.

 

Okay sounds good, I appreciate all the advice!

 

I also hunt WV and know the terrain that you are talking about so here are my tips.
1) I have not found mock scrapes to be really effective as a hunting tool where I am at. Others may have had success but I have not.
2) Find the low gaps. Most often the deer will travel and cross from one hollow to another either to bed, eat or look for does and they will most generally cross in the low gaps between higher peaks on ridgelines. Look at google earth or other topographic mapping to find these areas then scout.
3) Hunt long points. The ridgelines will generally have long points that then dive off into the valleys and hollows. If you can find a natural bench which extends out to a long point and specifically one that has a good food source such as white oaks then my tactic has been too set up stands back next to where the natural bench is because that seems to me to be a travel corridor. Bucks love to bed on these points as they can look down the ridge and nothing can approach from behind without them knowing and they can escape quickly.
4) Generally, Food, water and cover. Water is not a problem where I am at due to prior mining activity which creates a great deal of water resources such as pond and sediment control structures which hold water, so I primarily look for food sources near good cover and look for activity such as clearly defined trails, scrapes and rubs that indicate the presence of deer.

Good luck and I hope this helps you. Hunting in these areas is very difficult and not at all like hunting the farm country in the Midwest, finding them is the biggest part of the equation then putting a plan together to fool them into getting close enough for a shot is the rest of it.