I have two smaller farms that I can hunt that is my family's land. I'm very familiar with the one piece of land because that is where I have always hunted. I've got some good pictures of bucks in this area. I understand the deer's patterns in this area. The second area is very small, but has become a great place for deer. I've been watching it very closely the last two years since moving back to NE Iowa. I'd been gone for 11 years in Des Moines. About 15 years ago we planted some oak and walnut trees through a state program. This area has a creek that flows through it and had beans and corn around it. I walked it earlier this fall and deer sign everywhere, but I haven't figured out how to hunt it without busting the deer. It is very thick. No trees big enough to hang tree stand. I think I would have to buy a ground blind. I've included map of the area below. My dilemna is that the farmer that took out the corn on the second area just saw a huge buck there yesterday. It was in the corn when they started picking and jumped it out of there. I asked him about the deer. (I had seen a bruiser in this area the beginning of July and hadn't seen him since. In July his browtines were 6-8 inches and he was very wide. Looked like good mass, but I'm easily fooled with mass in the summer.) I asked about his browtines and he said around 12 inches and very wide. Now this farmer is a younger kid that just started hunting a few years ago. He only hunts shotgun so I wasn't sure if he knew what browtines were. I couldn't really ask him if he knew what they were without insulting him so I just took his word. So hard to know if it is true. With all this in mind. Do I change my hunting area to the new area and go after this deer? I know from my eyes that earlier in the year he was around and he is big. I do have some big deer at other farm and feel more confident hunting over at the other spot because I'm more familiar. Also, trying to factor in my mind if this buck is about ready to start traveling. Doesn't seem to be yet. Either way is going to be a good choice. Just want some input. Especially on how to hunt the second area that I've included map of. I can hunt from Communia cemetary over to the next set of buildings. The bottom was corn and was just picked yesterday. Any idea of where to try to set up? I'm not sure where he saw the big buck. From the creek south to the Timber is a hill and very brushy. The timber up above is the neighbors and I will probably be asking for permission to bowhunt it next year. I'm thinking best way to try to hunt would be setting up ground blind somewhere near the edge of the corn with some cover. One other question to ask? Any advice on hunting around farmers picking corn? Is it good/bad? I'm guessing bad, but don't know. I'm hoping they are out of the area by tomorrow when I can hunt. Thanks for everyone's help. Sorry for rambling so long. Would love any suggestions or ideas. I did include a picture I got last year in June of a nice buck in the area I'm asking about hunting. It could be this buck that the farmer saw. http://g.co/maps/jjgq4
I'd knock down some does on the 1st property you mentioned, to fill the freezer then go all out on that nice buck. Good luck.
We have gotten 2 does on the first property already with bows. It gets hunted pretty hard on shotgun season too. The second property gets touched once a year by a neighbor during shotgun season. 3 years ago a neighbor bowhunted the property after buying my parents old house and he shot a 160 plus deer with bow the first day of season. Maybe I should be asking him too. He had watched it all summer. The bottom had beans that year so you could watch deer. With corn in the bottom it is almost impossible to see the deer without actually going in there. Next year we are going to create a path for us to enter with a mower so we don't have this problem.
Out of the combine Just playing. Good luck with the big one hope you get a shot at him. Only you can make the decision if you should change areas.
I've already decided that I'm going to go buy a ground blind tonight at Cabelas. Going to try to set up early in the morning near the creek. Probably going to spend the night practicing setting it up. I'm thinking about bringing a deer decoy to put on the edge of the field to try to get the buck close enough. I'm guessing he is bedded on the hill or in the woods at the top of the hill. Otherwise he is gone and I'll find out soon enough. This day is going by terribly slow. Still interested in other people's thoughts.
IMO, if he was bedded in the standing corn and that corn is cut now, its hard telling where he is bedding now. He could still be in the general area or could have moved farther away. Only way to know is to do some sitting out there, and with the rut coming on you can bet he will hit up the does in that area pretty soon.
I agree, I'm from Iowa too, and I think if they just took the corn out, he is out looking for somewhere else to bed. I would stay at the farm you are familiar with, and do some more scouting/research on the other farm without busting it up and ruining it. Might be hard to research it too much without busting/ruining it.
Lots of spots for him to bed in that immediate area. I agree though, he could be anywhere after getting pushed out of corn. I'm going to try tomorrow and see what happens. I don't feel real confident, but I'll give it a try. Probably hunting other area the rest of the weekend depending on what happens tomorrow. Thoughts on using a decoy? Never done this before. I'll be hunting at the bottom of a hill. Hoping he comes from bigger timber on top of hill. That is my best bet after him moving from corn. Although they hang all around the creek and above with bedding areas too. I'm thinking if I made some calls tomorrow the buck would easily see nothing and not be enticed to come check out the call. That is if he is even around there still to hear calls. I know for a fact that I'm overthinking all of this.
My 60 acres was logged out at leat 15 to 20 years ago. Some places there isn't a tree to hang a stand in as well, but the deer love bedding in them. I am considering buying a tripode stand this summer and placing it near the exits. If you choose to do this too I strongly recommend putting it up in June or July to allow time for the deer to adjust to it being there. A scarecrow sitting in it would also be a great idea. this way the deer get used to you sitting in it. I am only guessing with this tatic, but I feel it should work.
The tripod idea will be happening next year. We have already talked about it and I know that is the best way to go. Although, we started talking about it too late this year to put one up. I'm not even sure if a ground blind will work. Worried about having shooting lanes. Oh well, I'm getting one tonight. It can always be used for spring turkey hunting too.
