Not for deer.... for humanoids. There's an area of the land I hunt that I REALLY need to get to. Problem is... getting to it. It's about a ten acre chunk of swail bedding area. Easy way of getting to it is walking through the hay field from the road behind landowners house. Problem being is fido the dog goes beserk and spots me the nano second I step into open field on my way to or from stand. I don't want to irritate landowner so a few years ago I reluctantly moved stand to other side of creek and accessed it from other side of land and got as close as I could to the heaven of big bucks. I've sat there a few times and have seen a slob of a 10 pointer each time I sat there. All three times he walked 10- 15 yards from my old tree. Had him coming into a grunt the other day and about to take the leap across the creek when he spotted a scrub buck and dedided to run him around instead of visiting me. He's roaming during daylight hours now, but just wont come my way. I really think it would be game, set, match if I could get over there. How does one get across the other side? The creek is pretty wide and deep. Chest waders might make it. Thought about canoe or building a raft. Other problem is I'm nesteld right between two bedding areas and have to tread carefully. Worried about the noise getting to and from. Should I even risk it or wait it out and hope he comes cruising one of these days? Or take an aggressive approach and get after him?
Maybe you could ask the home owners if they could bring the dog in at night for a week while you try to kill that buck? If not, tell them you'll have to look for a different spot to hunt if they don't. lol
I'd take the "make the dog bark" route before I'd try crossing the creek. How wide is the creek? Is it so wide that the buck would have to swim instead of jumping? If they can jump it, they will, if enticed to do so. A decoy would be one way to do this. Personally I'd just take the field route. Did the land owner tell you to take a different route because of fido? If not, they probably understand that dogs bark.
And inflatable raft & rope like Justin & Mike used (the S.S. Booner) a couple years back I think this is the right video... http://www.bowhunting.com/videos/Bo...nting-success-in-illinois--the-creek-buck_637
Is it so wide you can't drop a couple logs across it? Or if it wouldn't be stolen I'd leave a canoe there.
I think you should be aggresive and go after him because when the does are ready chances are pretty good you won't see him in his area for a long time or ever again ... just my experience on trying to be patient.
A buddy of mine has a spot like this, he bought the cheapest pair of chest waders he could find, and leaves them out there where he wants to cross the creek in a camo bag at the base of a tree (to try and prevent people from seeing/stealing them). Works perfect and no extra weight to pack in. Only problem is later in the season if you hunt the stand one afternoon and come back the next morning, the wet waders are frozen solid wadded up and can be somewhat difficult (though not impossible) to get on. Otherwise you are looking at packing in a raft/canoe or leaving one there (which is much more expensive/noticeable than a pair of waders.
What ever you do... don't take advice from me or Germ on crossing water to hunt bucks !!!! We tend to get wet in our adventures when it involves water and hunting bucks. Just sayin !!!!! Good luck with whatever you decide on !! Tim
The creek is at least 20 feet wide and not sure if too deep for chest waders (although would be a good way to go if not too deep). Cant build any type of bridge, it's a pretty nasty flash flood creek. Goes up and gets rippin quick with a significant rain, but goes down quick. Not sure how fido ever used to pick me out when I had it on the other side. i walk in and out in darkness along the woodline. The house is a good distance away. As soon as I take about 3 steps into the hayfield he's going nuts lol. I might check out the chest waders see if I can find a place shallow enough. Thanks for the replies.
