Well guys, theres nothing that drives me more than chasing mature bucks around every year. This past year I landed permission to hunt a piece of property that is a whole 29 acres. This place is only 225 yards wide, so you can picture how long this property is. I will be the first to admit, I have not jumped on small acre parcels when given the chance. This all changed this past fall. I was willing to give anything a try to have that chance at that big mature buck we all love to chase. When I started to talk to the land owner about his property, I started to get more excited after every sentence he was saying. He had not hunted this property in over three years, but still took care of it as if he was a huge whitetail fanatic, which he still is. Food plots looked great, bedding areas where there, and the extreme low pressure had paid off. I only hunted this property three times this past season and let me tell you, I have never seen so many mature bucks in one area. The land owner knows of four bucks that have lived on the property for years. I know this property is the way it is because of the low pressure and the way it lays. I will be hunting this property next season and hopefully many more. For me the biggest thing is, I do NOT want to over hunt this property. For you guys that hunt small parcels, I would like to hear what your thoughts are on them? Thanks.
I hunt a couple of small parcels within 10 minutes of city limits in Minneapolis. 20 acres or less! It definitely can be frustrating, but if you need any proof that it can work take a look at Richie Music and Justin Zarr! They both killed big bucks on small properties - it can happen. As far as how to hunt, on my spots I take the approach of when I can get out I do. It's so much in a "metro" area that people, dogs, cars, four wheelers, all kinds of stuff come through. My theory - hunt as much as you can! The spot could be developed next year - so... I go crazy. This probably is different then what you hunt, but I figure you can't kill them if you are sitting at work.
The best piece of advise I think you can get when hunting small properties is not to over pressure them. Its very easy to push deer off the property, or alter their movement patterns to after dark only. I've seen it in action first hand on our 80 acre lease over the past two seasons. After just 2-3 weekend trips in October/early November the deer movement noticably decreases - espcially buck movement. If you can, STAY OUT until the time and the conditions are perfect. Your best chance to kill is going to be your first time in. You may not want to blow that on opening morning.
In my rut hunting spots, I definitely learned to stay out until the time is right. This year - we are hunting our metro spots in september/october and saving the best areas for november rut! The hard part will be come September 20... first cold front...
To me, the biggest key to small properties is.........what's it next to? My 2 most memorable bucks were taken out of a 6 ac. woodlot, 50yds apart......in less than 12mos. time. The key to this spot is, it's on a natural breakline (scrub pines - to hardwoods) and it's adjacent to a man-made breakline that is a county parks system (close to 200ac). Anybody who's ever hunted there with me will tell you it's a dandy little spot. I have an 80ac. parcel I would give up in a minute, if I were forced to choose between the two.
Congrats on your new piece, bro !! I can't wait to see the harvest photos you post on here next season !! I'm by no means a mature buck expert, however, I've done my research and have mentors that are far more advanced in their hunting 'careers'. What I have learned is that a buck does not NEED a large parcel. What he wants, is seclusion, which CAN be found on a small property, if all of the pieces come together, food and water. I'm like you; I really didn't care to hunt property that was under 200 acres, and, where I live, it's very populated, large parcels are a thing of the past. With that said, there are still a fair amount of farms in the upper-hundred acre range. I have/had properties that are/were well over 500 acres. Did they hold nice deer ? You bet. However, I recently acquired a 150acre piece of property. I really didnt think much of it, and, told my brother that this would be a good "doe spot" for him. I threw up a few trail cameras, and, when I checked them, I was absolutely floored; I quickly changed this properties status from "Brothers doe spot" to NOT MY BROTHERS DOE SPOT .. There is a solid amount of food on this property. Not much water, but, there are 3 large areas that are a complete sanctuary. No one is trespassing and no one else is hunting it, which is completely unheard of in my area. There are a few hunting clubs on the bordering properties, and, this property lay in the middle of them. There are 4 nice bucks living here, three 3.5yo, which is a mature deer in my area, and, as the season went on, more travelers came in. I attribute this to the property offering a sanctuary. Most people in my State say how they dont see the big boys until just before last light; here, I'm seeing these bucks on their feet and feeding in the early afternoon hours. I was already tagged out on a buck when I started to put a lot of time in here, but, I did take a doe, here. I spent as much time in an observation stand and glassing as i could, to learn this land for the 2011 season. I know the single biggest thing I can do, is to limit pressure, because, that's why these deer are here. I also hunt a piece thats only 52acres. If I showed you where it was, you would laugh, and, probably dismiss the entire property. With that said, there is a nice block of timber that's near this property, and, through food plots, feeders and leaving certain areas to the deer only, we've pulled in and held some decent bucks. My friend shot a nice pope and young there, this year... What it boils down to, in my opinion, is that you can have all of the food you want, but, if you dont have cover and a sanctuary, you're not going to see the true potential of a piece of land, for whitetail hunting.
On the flip side, think of it this way. DropTine commented above about what a big buck needs. Seclusion, food and water. Well, what if you hunt an area so large that those items are not difficult to find? In my situation on our property, we have 600acres surrounded by several thousand acres of off limits hunting ground. Talk about looking for a needle in a haystack. They can roam almost anywhere and feel secure. If you find a good buck on a small piece of property, chances are, he's there for a reason and won't go far. Like Justin stated, tippy toe around when you hunt it and ONLY hunt when its perfect to do so.
Thanks for all the input guys. This piece of property is surrounded by row crops. The cover on this property is extremely thick, there is a small pond on it, and the neighbors are only gun hunting the fields on opening day. I can access this property from the north, south and east sides of it, that is a huge advantage for me I believe. It has all the makings for a good piece.
My experience is a lot different - I hunt two small parcels, 20 & 35 acres. Way different scenario than most in that they are also are year round recreation properties for my family - Gator rides all summer with hollering kids in the back (not sure clearing these Gator trails was the best idea for hunting), cookouts, parties, fishing, etc. So for me - I know beyond all doubt that mature bucks do not call these 2 parcels home. I have 2 chances to kill large bucks - approx 2 week window of peak rut (we are loaded with does), or late season in which these bucks cross from the large timber out to neighboring fields. What keeps our places good still is that we adjoin large timber. But my trail cams have proven each year, Daylight pics of mature bucks only 1-2 weeks in mid-late Nov, and after Christmas. Rest of season it's b/t 10pm-2am. The plus side to this is that I don't feel we can really overhunt our spots - as we still are careful during season to sneak in/out and watch the wind. So if my only interest in life was chasing mature bucks - I'd prefer large tracts with little pressure year round...but, play the cards your dealt and small tracts can produce. Good Luck!
I'd hunt small parcels (20 acre woods) any day over bigger parcels. Much easier In pin pointing a buck.
What Justin and Schultzy said! Two of my best spots are small parcels, one only about 10 acres behind the landowner's house.
Small wood lots have their perks Just leased this 30 acre piece for the next 2 years, but really only about 10 acres are huntable. I fully expect to kill a mature buck and two toms a year on this place. Location and what surrounds it are all that matters on small properties, and this one is a gold mine.
Good Stuff...thought that looked like the good 'ol Wal-mart garden center white canopy on the NW corner of building. At least if you need some last minute scent or something...open 24 hours!
That awesome, sounds like NJ..You could hang a tree stand from a parking lot light pole and kill a deer, here !!
My best property is only about 10 acres. It happens to be along a creek which creates a perfect funnel. There are larger tracts of woods on both sides. I've taken about 15 deer off there in 6 years with 2 P&Y bucks.
I hunt 15ac area...surounded by other land and 120ac area but also surrounded by other land...The 120ac area has an alfalfa field and 2 creeks running through it...great place to hunt...only hunted by me and my dad and anohter guy hunts there during shotgun season but we are usualy tagged out with 4 deer by then The 15 ac area has a small food plot with yet another creek running throught it and another allong side of it...a small pasture with lots and lots of thick cover These work well for us but i havnt hunted public land before and dont think i ever wll All of these spots are within walking distance of my house...i cross my driveway and enter the 120 ac and walk behind my house and enter the 15ac
I have to much pressure around the small parcels I have to hunt so my best chance is the early season. This includes trespassers and the its farmland I can go wherever I want attitude.
