Okay, so this post is going to be focused on what I found while scouting some public land, I would like some help on interpreting the things I have found. So first things first deer population: I am used to traveling around looking for deer signs, mostly tracks, and I have never seen so many different trails in my life! I found the main trails or the "Arteries" as I call them, and various solitary trails going here there and everywhere. Oh and I have seen a total of 10 deer in my 2 days of scouting (a group of three and a group of four on day 1. and a group of three on day 2) so I am pretty excited. I was scouting during the evenings and bumped all ten of these deer as they were coming down this large hill/small mountain that I will be hunting on. I was following one set of tracks in particular, the hoofprints were really rounded and the length between each track was about 1ft8inches (yes I actually measured) or so, I don't know exactly what that means, but I know roughly the longer the stride the bigger the deer, and about a ft and a half is a larger deer (I didn't find a shed, for all I know I am following some doe) . "longstrider" as I took to naming him, led me straight up the hill/mountain, which leads me to the next aspect, Terrain. Terrain: It is pretty rocky, There are hiking trails that are easy to follow, and most of the deer tracks were along these paths. But once you leave the paths it gets fairly rough. the vegitation is one big forest with few evergreens, and the undergrowth varies from pretty thick to moderately open, there are no open fields within the game lands. there are lots of rock formations that extend 15-20 ft and form they form a bunch of little valleys and ravines, and ridges. There are lots of little hills as well, but it is all one really big hill (its called Cary mountain, but its more of a large hill). At the top of the hill, there is a 10-20ft drop and a small creek/river below, I followed some tracks to this point, and roughly 75% of the way up "I lost track of "longstrider" because all the paths started merging again at this point. and there are only a two ways to get from the hilltop to the creek without going around the hilltop, and the deer were using these two paths up, making a nice chokepoint. all along the creek are deer paths going here and there. and the vegetation opens up really nicely, the natural chokepoints mixed with the elevation and openness is making me think that it would be a great rifle hunting spot. I am guessing that beyond this creek is where the majority of the bedding area/sanctuary is, after all not to many hunters around here want to risk climbing down those rocks, so I am assuming that area is comparatively unpressured. I also found quite a few trees with orange tape tied to the branches, but that was more at the base of the hill along the "arteries" So guys, that's a lot to read, but how would advise me to hunt this land? should I set up nearer to the top of the hill, where the deer congregate at the "chokepoints"? I jumped a few deer near the top in the evening so I assume they were leaving their beds to feed. I read somewhere that bucks like to sit near the top of these kinds of hills so as to see/hear/smell predators coming. And if the deer bed all around the peak, I don't see how I am going to get to the very top undetected. And what should I look for on my next scouting trip? + How many times should I scout the area, how much is too much? If you need more detailed info, just ask, I probably have it and forgot to put it in here. Thanks for reading/answering
Topo and or aerial photos would be helpful. Pretty hard to go off of a description alone for me. Sounds like there's some good sign though.
Here, is a topographic map this is the PGC(Pennsylvania game commission) Mapping center PGC Mapping Center In order to find my land, once you have entered the link, click on the binoculars icon in the gray bar at the top, type in 307 and state game lands #307 will show up, click on it and it will zoom in on my public land, it will also tint the land red, its annoying so if you don't want that then just exit out of the binocular feature once it has located #307 for you To switch the map from topographic to imagery, in the right hand corner you will see an icon just below the help button with four little squares, use that to switch the map to whatever you want, (topographic, imagery, terrain etc etc) Its just a tiny piece of public land, but I am hoping to make it work
Help a lazy guy out and go to google maps and screen shot it then post that. You'll get more replies.
If you have the money, I would go to this site and buy the "How to read topo graphic maps and aerial photos". Its designed around picking spots to scout/ hunt because of the lay of the land. Sean's Outdoor Adventures store I purchased this dvd and had great luck with it last year. And i will use the skills from it this year as well. If i were you, i wouldn't hunt where everyone else is going to hunt. I would climb the mountain/hill. More work but most likely will hold a bigger buck. Good luck brother
The dvd isn't expensive either, but he is very detailed on how he looks at topo maps for hunting public lands in PA
It sounds like you already know where they are bedding, the second thing you need to know is what is their food destination? Remember it's going to change as new food sources become available. You are correct about the bucks bedding high with the thermals in the hills it is the most likely spot. For a morning hunt you have to intercept them as high as possible as he goes back to bed. Afternoon hunting this property can be done but you will have to play the wind and keep out of sight of the deer you are hunting. By the looks of the topo map there are some benches in this area. I would scout that, from my experience you don't always have to be at the top of the hill for bedding these flat spots on the side of the hill work just as well. Remember you are going to be hunting a specific food source in the fall if there are Oak trees on this piece or other mast producing trees look for them. and find a tree you could set up in to intercept them coming from their beds. Use the trail system to your advantage to get in and out, I don't know how much traffic this gets but if there are people using the trails the deer get used to it. Scout it a couple more times try to mark a couple of spots that have easy access to set up and observe from a distance during the hunting season see where the deer come out and how they move then you can set up to kill. Also if you find a spot that has a lot of buck sign keep an eye on that. If the buck is still in the area he might still be using it.
