So, I was hanging a new stand today. Its a staging area going into a bean field. It looks over two heavy trails that split from the main trail coming from the bedding area, one at 15 yrds and the other at 40. I would rather the deer pass by at 15 yrds, so at the the split I used some brush to encourage the deer to take the closer trail. What's your thoughts? Also something to consider, I have no other options in stand placement.
Creating an obstruction to get deer to change their trail can work. Many a tree has fallen across a deer tail in my woods, and the deer walk around it. I saw Mark Keyser using fencing material (chicken wire w/ wooden slats) to block a trail.
It sounds good in theory, but they may go the other way too and make their own new trail? Let us know how it works this fall! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I reroute trails on a regular basis. I got the idea from blazing a trail through the tag alder swamp to a "island" about 25 years ago. After I made a trail to get in/out the deer starting using it & still do. Deadfalls, piled popples and wood snow fence has worked for me.
Deer are not unlike humans in that they will take the path of least resistance. Mowed trails (as someone already mentioned) usually turn into deer highways. Hope it works out for you
I always "encourage" deer travel. Best results occur when you enhance or do just as I said encourage travel in a way that is still desirable to them.
I'd rather go to the deer trails than bring the deer to a trail that I created. I will however clean up their existing trail if I notice a major obstruction.
