Hey there! This isn't my first time hunting, but it is my first time bow hunting (I'm also new to the site, though I've been lurking and reading and soaking in everything I can for several months), or hunting with a tree stand (all of my previous hunting has been spot and stalk rifle hunting, or setting up on coyote stands and calling them in). I'd like some input where I might set my stand, and my approach to get there. I've read as much as I can read about where to set a tree stand and now it's time to make a plan. I've been squirrel hunting here once (to no avail) and I went about 10 days ago to do some scouting, but my 6 year old son didn't fare well in the heat and very thick scrubby field. I never even made it back to the timber stand on the south end. What looks like nice open field is actually overgrown brush and weeds. It was once a farm, but no longer. The first time I went to this spot, I parked in the parking lot on the west end, walked east hoping to get across the stream only to be foiled by the Dix river which was flooded up and unpassable. I didn't even see any squirrel, though I did spook a doe. When I went a couple weeks ago, I parked in the lot at the north end and crossed the stream where there is a path. Once across the stream, the field is thick (about unpassable) with the small exception of a handful of trails. Going along the river MIGHT be the best way (if the shallow branch is as shallow as it was a few days ago, the best route would be to follow around the east side), but it may not be possible either (especially carrying in a tree stand on my back). There is a trail that runs south-southwest from where I saw a some bed sites (at the intersection, actually), but I'm afraid that taking that route will do little more than push the deer out completely and blow my hunt before I even get started. Any suggestions as to the route that might be best? Looking at the map, and knowing very little about where to hang a stand, I've chosen the one landmark that sticks out to me: the bottleneck in the woods at the very south end which connects the woods on this public plot to those on private land. It's also a bottleneck in between the woods and water. The land is virtually flat (if you look you can see the contour lines on the pic - there is only 30' difference between the lowest and highest spot), so there aren't any other natural bottlenecks. The land is virtually surrounded by a stream. If anyone is interested, according to the state records (updated yesterday), 2 deer have been taken from this land this year, 1 buck and 1 doe.
Seemed to me you are going to be trampling a lot of ground trying to get in there! Choose a mediocre stand location over a prime location if you can't get in there without busting through a lot of cover. I know a lot of guys try to set a stand and kill their very first outing. . I think in general that's a mistake if you haven't put your time in and know where they congregate. My recommendation for you is to park on the north side, walk along the edge to the south west and place a tree stand on the corner where the property border cuts back sharp to the west-south west. Place a stand on the edge of the timber so that you have a good vantage point. Take your binoculars! Once you have a better idea you can re-postion where you need to be. Best to ease your way into a new area rather blow it out trying to get to where you think the best spot is! Nothing can replace boots on the ground!
Thanks! I was thinking what you mentioned (a lot of work for not REALLY knowing if there are deer back there - especially since you can't bring a buggy back in there), but I was thinking of going that far in because I want to try and go to spots where others won't. But I think your advice is far more sound than my initial plan. Just to be clear, you noted "My recommendation for you is to park on the north side, walk along the edge to the south west and place a tree stand on the corner where the property border cuts back sharp to the west-south west." Are you talking where the small fingers of trees almost converge at the corner? Or at the corner further south that intersects with the river? Thanks again for your input!
