So I have a question here. I have found A GREAT place to hunt about 15 mins from my house. Its a VERY wooded area with tons of Deer trails and bedding. The first day out we took a big Doe and saw lots of deer moving around 5pm. We came back out 4 days later and all we saw was a very nice 8 point buck but he was too far to the left off the trail to shoot. This was about 6:30am. Then that was all we saw all day. Now I guess I should back up a bit and tell you this hunting spot is about 10 acres and its in a residential area so the deer im sure are very use to sounds, smells, etc. We still cover up good and do everything we normally would do. So around 9am My buddy decides he wants to get another stand up. So we go to Gander and buy a stand. Got back in the woods at 1pm and had to put the stand together. Then he loads it up into his truck and starts to drive to the back of the land. Chopping, smashing, sawing...2 hrs later hes done setting the stand. When its all said and done we get to hunting around 3:30pm. NOTHING! saw not a thing. Now he says we should let the area "air out" a week before we go back out. He thinks we have been in there to much. Well I do believe that all his loud noise ran anything out that was in our area. I really want to go out Sat AM and spend the day there (with out my LOUD buddy). Anyone have any thoughts..? One more thing this is IL and I believe the rut should be kicking this weekend...No? Thanks!
I certainly wouldn't be surpised to not see any deer on 10 acres after you've been banging around and putting up a new stand. You probably don't need to wait a full week in a residential area where deer are used to human intrusion, but a few days certainly isn't going to hurt anything. Although these deer may be more accustomed to humans than others, they are by no means immune to it. Excessive scent left in a small area like that will most certainly diminish your daytime deer sightings in a hurry. Sometimes hunters make the mistake of thinking just b/c they are in a suburban setting that they don't need to worry about pressuring the deer.
Justin THANK YOU :D! My thoughts exactly. Going into a place and banging for 2 hrs and then sit and hunt isnt gonna get you anywhere. So Sat i head back out.
One of my honey holes is my 3 acre back yard. While It does border state park land, its open to hikers and has fly fisherman. We are allowed to bait, Ive found that if they get into habit of finding corn, they will put up with more noise. Last Saturday I shot an eight point in the back yard, while my neighbor was Grilling, I field dressed my buck to the sounds of Tom petty and the heartbreakers. an easy meal will allow you more intrusion!
