I need help on what would be the best strategies of harvesting a deer off of this new private property that I've been given permission to hunt. I'm the only one on a 100 acre crop land/forest that is surrounded by farms. There is only about 20 acres of woodlands, which composes of various types of trees, some marshland, tall grass, etc. My questions to you are: - I went out and bought a trail cam and lockbox/etc... where would be the best place to put it? I've found trails and a very nice buck rub, not sure if placing it in the grassy field (where I have more vision) or in the woods on a trail that seems to get more travel. I am not sure where I'm going to put my stand, but even so, I'm quite limited on where I can put my stand b/c it's a climber and there are only a few options on this property. - Is it bad to walk through right now to see exactly the layout? I dont believe this land has been hunted so Im hesitant of leaving my scent every where. - I'm excited because of the amount of traffic I see around the woods and the fields. Being rainy/muddy, the tracks I saw varied in size to quite small to very large... and saw a nice rub on a pretty thick sapling. My question is, would it be ok to make a small ground blind using sticks/forage that I see near the tracks/etc? Or should I try to force my climber up a tree (even if I can only get 10 feet off the ground due to branches/etc)? Any advice you can give would be appreciated. Thanks. Went out and bought two $100 trail camera's ... any advice on direction/location/etc of where to place them would be great.
Get a ground blind, less than $100 and do a morning/evening scout. You can get a cheap hang-on for less than $40 and a climbing stick for about the same? Sounds like a better option than the climber? Would love to see a google map!
The mature deer are more likely going to be in cover during shooting light. If the field is a food source look to where they are entering/leaving it and set up your cam there. Maybe try to find a funnel or bottle neck that may influence travel. The rub may indicate a bucks travel route and if you find more(likely along a cover type edge or terrain feature) or hopefully n active scrape, then set yourself up downwind of that travel route. If you don't know the property then you need to learn it and sure you could hunt blind out there but one day of scouting a bit shouldn't drive the deer out. Good luck
Try not to point your camera across a trail, aim it where the deer are walking toward or away so they are on view longer. A scouting trip and an aerial view will really help. But since we're about into the rut the deer movement should be erratic and pretty fun to watch.
It is kinda late to be stomping around all over the place but during the middle of the day would help to scout a little or to set a few cams up. If anything pick you out a spot and then fine tune for next year. Try using some topographic maps to find you an area of the woods you would like to set up. Wear some scent blocker type clothing and try to spray yourself down with scent killer and rubber boots for sure. Another note is if you wait till spring that is the best to do more scouting cause you can still see deer sign from this time of year as well. Bottom line is just come up with a strategy and use your best judgement. Im not against ground blinds but I believe 90 percent of the time you are always better off in a treestand. Plus you will get to see more action and learn more about the deer in your area being elevated versus on the ground. With the rut going on the deer are a little less occupied with survival and more focused on breeding. Good luck and keep us informed. What county are you at by chance?
Find a intersection of trails that you can get to quietly. Set up with the wind in your favor. Put the cameras on the most well used trails you can find leading to/ from bedding. This time of year the bucks are searching for does. Find the does and you find the bucks.
