Hey guys I am new to the forum and this is my 3rd year of hunting. The public that im hunting is hard woods on a rub spot and a pretty well used path by deer. Im just confused on what i can do to get a deer during the morning hunt or evening. I know its about mid October and im in Wisconsin and the rut will be right around the corner but all the deer i see on my cameras are from about 3am - 4:30 am. Am i better off moving my stand farther down the path where they might be moving? Or am i better off waiting till the rut to see move movement? Might be some noob questions but im stumped.
You can try movin down tha trail a bit. But I'd try hangin a cam there first to see if they are makin it through in shootn light. Other wise is hang in where ur at. And wait for rut. Might try some early mornin rattling. Might draw one back I there.
If you are hunting WI public land you cannot leave your stand out overnight. You should easily be able to set up at a different spot the next day without too much trouble to try it out.
Yeah i know i cant, i should of worded that better sorry. Ment should I just move from where i have been setting up. But ill do the cameras and see what happens. Thanks guys,.
Not true. There are a lot of public lands that allow stands to be left up all season. National Forest and many county forest allow stands left all season. The stands must be removed at the end of season and not be permanent. You just need to call the County Forester to see if that County allows it. Most require name and address on the stand visible from the ground.
Call the County Forester at the County Courthouse. If you call the DNR talk to a Forester that works with the County or the area Conservation Officer.
John, not true. I worked for the National Forest for 33 years and had LE credentials as FPO. Stands can be left in place all season.
I was planning on putting my cameras in a different area that is farther in the woods from trails that i have seen other hunters on. Thing is this area is very hilly and has a couple low areas. i just dont know if deer rather run the bottom or the top?
Here are a couple pictures and a screenshot and labeling the best i can of the area im hunting. i have a cheep trail camera for now so pictures arent the best but the time is more important.
This is a screen shot of where i am hunting Pink line is the trail they are walking and where i caught them on camera. Orange lines are the top of hills and and what way they go down. Red arrows are the public paths Heart is where apple trees are. this whole area has random applet trees and the rest of the trees have acorns I just wonder where I should be setting up because this is public land and has some traffic with squirrel hunters during the weekends. With it being so small I think this is hard to hunt.
You should start to see rubs and scrapes. That will show travel for the bucks. Look for thick bedding cover. If they have a lot of acorns to eat they will be moving almost randomly but knowing bedding areas can make for a better decision on stands placement. Don't go into the bedding area but c;lose enough to catch them leaving or returning. And watch for scent dispersal, don't let your scent go into the bedding area. I can't see the topography ther but it might be a good funnel for when the rut picks up.
What's a funnel? The area I'm in is a small trench area. Same thing? The bedding area would be where the apples kinda are. Across the main walking path from where Ive been sitting.
A funnel is a pinch point, a narrows that forces deer movement. For instance where two bodies of water come close or two steep terrain features. Anything the forces them to be in a narrow place. Saddles are similar area of narrow down travel.
gotcha! thanks for the help. going to check a camera i have out there and going to put up another for this weekend.
here is a topographic map http://www.waukeshacounty.gov/uploadedFiles/Media/PDF/Parks_and_Land_Use/Parks_System/HuntingMap_2012%20Springbrook%2011x17.pdf
Scouted again today. Wasn't able to find any new sign or a path for. Buck with rubs. Just see one run and that's it.
