I'm really trying to change things each year based off observations that I feel were mistakes on my part. One of those things is how I approach these last two weeks of our PA season. I've come to the realization that this time of year is my best shot at a good buck on the particular property I hunt (really no true core are). I have a few Doe groups identified and relatively well pegged. One group in particular I have the bedding are narrowed to a small20 acre lot. Last Saturday I saw a good 8 cruise through here with one of the Doe. He was then spotted again on Sunday am. I hunted the edge of this bedding area this past saturday am and the deer movement confirmed my thoughts (although I didn't see a buck). This AM, my dad said another 6 point moved through the same general area (he can see parts if this area from our porch). I know bucks have been and will begin to cruise now, but how aggresive should one get in sitting in stands in this general location? My thought is time is not on my side, and if I sit a good spot this time of year long enough, I should get some action. Any reason I shouldn't hit this area hard over the next two weeks rather than spending some time on other parts of the 90 acres?
I personally think that the doe bedding areas are the place to be right now. The local bucks check them on a regular basis just like a teenage boy trying to get a peek into the girls locker room. Blessings.......Pastorjim
my opinion, for what its worth, is that you're thinking about it too hard =) It's called Bow Hunting...not "Shooting Deer with a Bow" Sometimes you fill your tags early, other times it takes all season long. But my advice is follow your instincts. If your TRUE instinct is telling you that this is a good place, then tell your brain to shut up and stick it out...and vice versa if you feel like this place is ****e and you need something better.
Man, Im just like you! Basically, Im going through the same thing this year as well. Made a post looking for some advice besides November is awesome and things really happen in November, but its been pretty quiet... http://forums.bowhunting.com/showthread.php?27158-Confidence...severely-lacking! I have this stand along the property line fencerow, the "Outlook" stand. In my mind, Im thinking its a garbage spot because theres no deer sign anywhere near it, but as a bowhunter, I know buck are going to cruise fencerows and scent-check during the rut. Most of us have the knowledge to put all the pieces together, and even though I dont have any "good" bucks that Ive ever shot, knowing what to be doing and when to be doing it is really the biggest piece of the puzzle. After that, its all up to the deer.
I have two stands on my property and I hunt one or the other depending on mood and what I am seeing on my trail cams. If I see the deer in other areas I move the stands. Sometimes I am in the right stand and sometimes I'm not. You make your best guess and see what happens. Last weekend I chose one stand and didnt see anything. When I checked the trail cam at the other stand there was a nice shooter 10 pt right in my shooting lane at the same time. I was bummed but it happens. Go with your best guess and adapt when needed. Good Luck!
I'm all but decided. Problem is the wind. It looks like a S/SE wind which puts me upwind of the bedding area. Not ideal.
Why not get in there and setup on the right side with a climber/hang on? Right now is go time IMHO. Get out there and figure out where the does are.......and focus on the pinch points between them.
Well, I can't get in from the NW, but after you posted this, and I got to thinking, there may be one spot that might work well I could take my LW into this evening. I won't me DIRECTLY downwind of it, but I will be NE of the bedding area on a strip of woods that ties into the bedding area from the noth between the food plot and the pasture. We'll see. I think I will give it a go tonight.
