Do these red circles look like "pinch points" to you? I'm trying to get better at reading sign like this, and these areas kind of peak my interest! The dots are all current stands. The entire field is in beans this year (both sides) and the field to the south is just grass. I marked the blue arrows because as you can see, there aren't any other crops around. I put a stand where that blue dot is hoping that any deer to the south would funnel up to that bean field being it's the closest crop around. I could be wrong, but I'm giving it a shot. What do you guys think? Am I way off-base or am I on track?
Slow weekend :D Everybody's probably out hunting or making preparations. There are much more experienced opinions on here, englum. But if it were me, I'd be hunting the blue dot if I had visual confirmation that this was an entrance/staging area, especially during the early season. There's no doubt it is a pinch point. If your correct about bedding in the southern area, then they'll definitely be moving through there later in the season, while cruising for does. In that case however, I'd be placing my stand somewhere between the blue dot and the circled dot. I'd do this for two reasons: A - I'd rather be off that field edge because the deer will prefer cover while moving in day light hours, and B - I don't know the dimensions of your land, but let's pretend that "lane" or funnel of trees is 50 yards in width. I'd rather be dead center, shooting 25 yards in either direction, covering the entire width, than on one edge while that monster buck is cruising the opposite edge, 40 - 50 yards away.
I also like the blue dot, but I have added a some others that I would check out. One of the thing's I like about the white square with the black dot in it is regardless of weather the buck decides to go left or right you still have a chance at him. The three Black squares are a little more subtle, but could be real good for a mature buck and/or deer that are not arriving at the fields until well after dark. It's hard to say what will be happening because of variables like cover types and hunting pressure on and around the property. Also relize that there are more sublte types of funnels like a strip of thick under brush with a narrow spot along it somewhere and/or another brush line intersecting with it. A ditch the deer can duck into to cross an open area unseen is another example. It's about 3:00am and I can barely keep my eyes open so I hope made sense. Time for bed. Later guy's.
Thanks man! I'm actually working on getting one last stand up in that spot- I've just recently got permission to hunt that property below, so I'm having to hang stands late, but atleast I can be there. If you look on the map you can see a little lane that goes north and south and heads towards the open pipeline... that lane is a creek bed that curls around to the East once it comes into the pipeline. The pipeline is nothing but weeds that are 7' tall and the woods to the south of that pipeline are absolutely LOADED with deer runs.
I appreciate the response man. The white dots by my yellow dot are spots that Im planning on having a stand up in by the end of the week, so that looks positive! The good thing about the entire area that I have highlighted, is that I'm (for the most part) the only bowhunter there this year. So that's going to be awesome!!
Englum.. let me tell you alittle secret about "pinch-points". 9 out of 10 times.. the very best ones are not the most obvious ones. As in.. they are exclusive to topography.. edges within the woods.. saddles in open fields.. where 2 creeks may parallel.. etc etc etc.
Well said! That's what I was trying to get at in my sleepy eyed state with my comments about the ditch and strips of under brush, but all I could think of was typing a bunch of individual examples that I knew I couldn't stay awake long enough post (considering my blazing henpecking typing technique).
Well, with Duke's comments I've been trying to learn how to "read topo maps for hunting situations". Some of it's starting to come together and I think I'm starting to see some things.
I was thinking the farm was flat land. If not then a topo could be helpfull. Also, have you been sitting out with a spotting scope or binoculars in order to scout from a distance to see where the deer coming out? I would also want to find out from the farmer (a great & often over looked source of info) not only where he typically sees deer, but what he is going to plant after the beans. Since he know's when the beans were planted and the time it takes for that variety of bean to mature it might help in planning your hunting efforts by asking when he expects the deer to back off the beans and then get back onto them. Of course it always helps to know as much as possible on what is happening on other farms around there in order to help you figure out why, where and what the deer are doing and may be doing at various points in the season. Both from a crop/harvesting stand point and a hunting pressure stand point.
The farm is typical Illinois land. The fields are flat but the woods are very hilly and tend to be very thick. I've hunted the northern portion (northern box) for a bout 9 years now, but just here recently got permission to hunt the southern end of the place. That's really where I'm trying to pin down some stand sites at (mostly along the pipeline that runs E-W between the two properties). Yes I've been sitting out quite a bit this summer at the front of the field in a folding chair up against the fencerow with a spotting scope. I've seen 4 bucks that would go anywhere between 150-170 and ALOT of small bucks.
No ****!!! I was real tempted to buy a Therma Cell but I never did. I didn't have a problem with Skeeters last season so I'm hoping I won't this season either... we'll see!
deff learn to read a topo and spend some time on the land... that will tell you about the winds and what your scent will do in them. like slayer said talk to the farmer for info, so that you dont end up wasting a hunt on the day hes cutting. learn phrases like saddles and turkey's foot and what to look for with water (how big a pond is and how long does it hold water after a rain/freeze out at what date, which way the river/creek flows and what side of the creekbed the sun sets) and you'll see deer your first time on a property if you have the topo. best of luck
