Alrighty, I am doing a public land hunt up in the north east states this fall. I just recently drove the 16 hours up there to get boots on the ground. I have my spots that I like and other spots that I don't like. But it was all good information to know though. I have been reading topos for several years know but I am definitely not an expert. I know the basic function and some deer patterns for specific terrain areas but I still have a lot to learn. I was hoping to pick some of your brains so that you could either reassure what I was originally thinking or tell me that I have it all wrong. Also, if there was anything that I missed that in the topos that I should have looked at would be beneficial to me. The hunt will take place on September 14-16. So there won't be any rutting activity. Should be strictly food, water, and bedding. Map #1: Legend: White Stars: Possible stand locations that I picked out. Red Line: a visible deer trail that I followed. Yellow Boxes/circle: Think underbrush areas. Blue box: White oak trees. (a good concentration of 20 or so) Grey Boxes: I didnt get a good look at those saddles because It was about to start pouring rain. I forgot my ziplock baggie to put my camera in so I have to run through the area. Purple Box: Camp This was my first day of scouting. I wanted to hit all the saddles along the ridge tops. I have always loved hunting saddles. I found some deer sign but not what I was looking for. The brown circles are when I found definite sign. The bottom brown circle: i found 6-7 rubs in a semi-circle and deer scat was everywhere in there. There was also a last year scape not far for those rubs. That was in the middle of those thick areas which I thought would be buck bedding. But I did not see or find any visible bedding. The top brown circle: I found another last year scrape. As for the white oak trees, it was still relatively thick in there, but it wasn't as thick as the yellow boxes/circle. It looked like a good area for a food source. I honestly wasn't as excited as I thought I would be when I was looking at this area on the topos. I thought this would be the spot. It is the furthest point from any road. I was 1.5 miles back in. I did find a makeshift blind really close to the last saddle. It had like 20 empty water bottles and some hot hands. It looked like a gun spot though because it was over looking a large ravine. Map #2: Legend: White Stars: Possible stand locations that I picked out. Red Line: a visible deer trail that I followed. Yellow Boxes/circle: Think underbrush areas. Purple Circle: Old clear cut from several years ago. brush very thick in areas. I saw several deer trails in it. I traveled the edge of it and it was an obvious deer trail. Brown Box: it was a buck rub line. This was my second day scouting. I wanted to hit the saddles on the ridges again. I was disappoint when I got to the spot because on the ridge to the south there was a hunting road that was closed but would open in season. I didnt bother looking at those saddles because I didnt want to be set up on a road. The other ridge top had a hiking trail. I decided to at least walk down the hiking trail. When I got to the saddles there were extremely thick. I had to push my way through the area. I decided to branch off the main trail and go down a spur that wasn't steep. It was thick on both sides of the spur in the ravines. the top of the spur was manageable. I got to the bottom, and found a prominent deer crossing on the creek. That Is where the White star is located in the ravine. I also put my trail camera over the spot. I decided to walking up the creek to the long spur coming off the main ridge top to the left. As soon as I crossed the creek at the crossing, I saw some rubs. Then I starting looking and there were rubs everywhere. Old rubs, some several years old, and others from last year. I followed the trail up the creek, and the rubs never stopped. I stopped counting at 30 rubs. the trail came to the beginning of the spur. the trail branched off left and right into the ravines and one went straight up the spur. At this crosspoint there where also more rubs. I walking up the main spur. Picked out several trees but there were just extras. That way I would at least know there is a tree there that I could get in. I walking up all the way to the top. It came to the old clear cut. It was so thick that I didnt want to bush wack it to the road. The road was probably only 50-60 yards away. I walked along the edge of the brush following a deer trail. Whenever I noticed trails going into the thicket I found a tree slightly off of it in the old clear cut that I could get in and get high enough to see the trails. This spot I was super excited about. The creek crossing is what I think will produce a deer, either a doe or buck. I feel like that would be a good place to sit all day, because it having a creek with water. In september I thought I might catch one mid day needing a drink? Plus the thickets in the saddles and ravines could hold potential bedding. Map #3: Legend: White Stars: Possible stand locations that I picked out. Red Line: a visible deer trail that I followed. Yellow Boxes/circle: Think underbrush areas. Railroad Hollow: old road but no vehicle activity. It was grown up and chest high someplace. Blue box: White oak trees. These white oaks were everywhere. I would say 90% of the trees where white oaks in that saddle and on that ridge. Purple line: It was a rock wall. 10-15 feet high. It funneled the deer around it. At the base of the rock wall, there was a trail worn down to dirt. Brown Boxes: was deer sign, mainly scat. BUT BUT BUT BUT the brown box at the top near the thick area were definite deer beds, I saw the compressions in the grass that was growing there. This spot I feel like it has it al. I really want to hunt this area. I want to hunt the rock wall area. I am worried about swirling wind, Will that be a problem? The oak saddles looks amazing. It looked like they cruised right along that. The bed at the top looked great as well. But I felt like that was pushing too far into there bed. I thought staying 100-150 years away in the oak saddle would be better? maybe not? Can you guys help me get all of this into perspective? Thank you so much! I am sorry for the long read. I am traveling a long way for a total of 5 hunts. two and a half days. I would really like to be successful on this trip. even if that is a 2.5 old buck or a doe. I would definitely be happy with a doe. Thank you guys!
First off Aaron great job putting in the work. You will be rewarded. Awesome thread. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
I'd get aggressive in the afternoons by buzzing in low on the hillside then checking the food sources. If you see signs of feeding and deer poop I'd set up. Repeat over and over and keep stand sites fresh. As for the mornings those are more difficult. I'd set up tight to the deer beds if you are unable to cut them off from feed to bed. Go for broke from one deer bedding area to the next as you will be there a week. If they spook then so be it. Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
That was exactly what I was thinking. It definitely is an all or nothing gamble. I will have to really push the limits to hopefully connect on one. The only thing that sucks was that I only found one to two definite beds with only one bed sight. I don't know if I should hunt literally right over the beds or not? Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
Bump to the top! Anyone else get some ideas and advice for how I can hunt this?? Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
Have you thought of buying a couple trail cams to place when you are there? Maybe check them during mid day on day 3 and move in that afternoon if you get the right deer movement on cam? Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Why don't you stick a camera facing the trail as it leads from the lone beds to the nearest food source. Maybe like 100 to 150 yds away from the bed if you can get in quietly on day 1 to do it. Pick up some intel or move if you dont get any movement. Or just hunt tight (100 yds or as tight as you can get without bumping the deer) to that lone bed or two in the afternoon to see if you can cut that deer off as it proceeds to the food. Good video here... Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Definitely love dan! he has some great information. Unfortunately, i am not able to buy anything at all. I have my wedding coming up and my fiancé would kill me if I bought anything else hahaha That camera is a good idea though. I do have an extra one that I need to pull from my public land here in texas that I could use. The worst part is that I don't know if the beds are buck or doe beddings.
