Ok so Ive been hunting this bottle neck for the past couple years now. Over the time I've hunted there, I've noticed that the deer have a trail about 70 yards from where I am set up. It seems to take until the rut when they come closer but I'm thinking about putting a stand in now closer to the trail. I have permission from the landowner to do so. My concerns are that it's too late in the year to be moving around my hunting spot like this, since the tract of land is so small. I did kill 2 nice bucks at my current stand last year. The blue dot on the map is where I am set up now. The orange dot is the area where I would put a stand to get in on that trail. The red line is that big trail that runs through the bottle neck. So the question is: move now and risk disturbing the area/ educating this late in the year or stick it out until they come by me?
I would move it. I hunt on public land and carry my stand in and set it up every time. I see deer every outing, and usually have one in range. Usually they are nice bucks that I can't shoot cuz I only have a doe tag left.
I would move it as well, but in the middle of the day when some rain is forecast. That way scent gets washed away and the area goes back to normal very quickly. Just be quiet and scent conscious.
By all means move. This is pretty much how I have been hunting for years. Observe what going on and then make your move.
Here's how I look at it. Soon, very soon the rut will start up. At this time the bucks will abandon there ol' stomping grounds to begin with, so you have a very small window and getting to him now. No risk no glory. I've done this very thing but moved at 3 am and stayed till I saw the buck or shoot at him. Unfortunately I don't have any happy ending stories for you because he was always in a bad location. Bad thing about setting up at 3 AM I guess
I will add, that if you feel comfortable in the original spot for the rut, I would consider just hanging a second set closer to the trail. That way you have a couple options. One may be better for a certain condition or wind Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
This was going to be my response as well. That way you're not over hunting one set. Blessings.......Pastorjim
Multiple stands but definitely move. I adjust my stand sites throughout the season. As the crops change and as the rut kicks in I move accordingly. Just last night, I moved a ground blind from one apple tree, (where the apples are all gone) to another apple tree.
