Ok so over the years hunting and reading about hunting. I read a lot about entry and exit trails and playing the wind when going to and from your stand. Also a lot about not walking on the grounds u intend to hunt, meaning take the long way in or around your area. I was wondering if anyone else runs into this like I do. I'll go outta my way to go outta the way making and clearing trails to my stands... but about 95 percent of the time after I make a trail a couple days later deer are using it. Like what the f. They gotta be smelling me some what but doesn't seem to bother them? Anyone have any thoughts or comments on the subject?
Deer are smart, and lazy. If you make an easy trail, they will often follow it rather than blaze their own. I try not to walk into the clearings I plan on hunting. I try to make my entry/exit path pass near my stand but not go directly to it, preferably meeting into an already established deer path that dumps into my clearing. That way any deer that may end up following the path I created hopefully will end up where I want them, rather than standing under me while I am in the tree.
Every trail I've made has become a huge deer trail. They are lazy and if a path will take them in the direction they're headed, they'll take the path of least resistance.
Trails taken somewhat depend on the time of the year and the amount of pressure on the deer. Deer that are not hunted or pressured tend to take the path of least resistance. Deer that are pressured or hunted tend to take the path of most resistance. One exception I have noticed can be the age of the deer.
I like to make button hook entrance trails to my stand when possible, or use a water entry like a creek.. Unless it is the rut I don't see many bucks on my entrance trails.. they always seem to pop up on a obscure trail that looks like nothing.. Once the rut hits though they start running the super highways chasin does...
I agree with all the others, deer take the path of least resistance 9 out of 10 times. I cut trails in thickets to and from my stand locations almost in a web pattern, multiple ways in and out for both the deer and myself. This doesn't apply for all locations, but I do try to avoid where I think the deer will be entering and exiting from. Best option is to not limit yourself to just one way in or out. The times I do walk on deer trails I try to avoid touching branches or anything with my bare hands and use proper scent control. Should be good to go.
I quit trying to predict where they are coming from. I jsually have a general idea but ive found that scent control has been my best tactic. After being more concious anout scent cover/elimination ive noticed a huge improvement. Deer literally following me to my stand
i have about 10 stands on my 35 acres. every one has trails i burn down with roundup going to them. we rake them down to bare dirt and trim away EVERYTHING that hangs over the trail as not to have to brusch against them going in. very quite exit/entry and virtually scent free. does young bucks use them like highways. seldom do the big bucks though. they usually use smaller trails so make sure you have shooting lanes in all directions.
One time we set up trail cams in this evergreen area. We cut branches to get clear shots with the cams. when we went back to recover the pics we had 8 deer milling around the site 20 minutes after we left the woods. One deer even had a branch in its mouth that i had cut and handled with my bare hand.
