After lookin at the map....

There is no "Bad Day" to hunt this, it's all gonna depend on the thermals. which can't be predicted. are ya sure ya cant get into the SW corner???

hunterjoe21 wrote:

After lookin at the map.... There is no "Bad Day" to hunt this, it's all gonna depend on the thermals. which can't be predicted. are ya sure ya cant get into the SW corner???

Yes I can, but I dont wanna get there and have Dave show up.

Donut Slayer wrote:

hunterjoe21 wrote: After lookin at the map.... There is no "Bad Day" to hunt this, it's all gonna depend on the thermals. which can't be predicted. are ya sure ya cant get into the SW corner??? Yes I can, but I dont wanna get there and have Dave show up.

Ok so North and East of Dave it is.....

Donut,

I struggle working with the map you provided....It's opposite of what we work with here...and right now i'm borderline stupid...

Can youfollow, the light finally went on,............in the 15 acre parcel outlined by the blue and yellow lines...

Donut: I think you under estimate the nose on your bucks. My experience is you will see does and very young bucks downwind on 40 acre parcels of land. The big boys will smell you so my suggestion is two ground blinds on the property and make a decision where to sit on current conditions. I use 5 ladderstands and each location i choose will have at least two stands to choose from, determined by the wind direction. Until you hunt the parcel I believe that it is just a crap shoot. My experience on new property is it will take about three years to fine tune your spot. I use a trail cam and even then your presence in the stand will change things. Another thing to think about is the sun in your eyes and the path you take to get into your stand. I never cross trails to get to my stand if I can help it. This is the part I like about hunting because it can stretch your season out all year long.

Rudy,
Does Dave get several deer per year with that setup?

I am seeing white sand at the high points and light brown that might be marsh grass in the wet season. That area to the E is wetlands and the S is wet in the rainy season. Just how dry are you now? If it is real dry, I would look at the SE corner for sure as it might be the best bet for a bit of rye or oats to get up before season starts. It also looks like the nearest place to thick cover.
Ed

Donut Slayer wrote:

Oh, I'll park on the dirt road just on the property. The surrounding area is hunting clubs. All trophy clubs that have antler restrictions of 10 or better. The clubs run 1800-2200 per year. Daves plots are NOT planted yet, he just broke his ankle and cant plow it yet. Deer used to be pressured heavy as it used to be a dog hunting area. Hasent in past 5 years. Again thanks for yalls help. Ok what about this: 20 ft ladder stand against big oak tree where the blue and yellow lines cross with a food plot where its located in the first pic, facing E ?? 220 yrd shot from Oak to foodplot so scent shouldnt matter?? Then when wind is right, hunt ground blind? Shot will be S and NW.

DS,

Sorry it took a while to get back, workin' is KILLIN me...


We know bucks are in the area...are they your target, or are you "fillin' the freezer"?

I'm still questioning "foodplots" here. Deer are browsers, not grazers. A foodplot in an area that was recently clearcut is like dumping a pile of corn in an acorn flat or an apple orchard. They MIGHT stop by, but prolly wont stay for long. I'm not sure of the deer's "preferred" natural forage on this property, but if you can locate it, you might want to concentrate your efforts there.

SwampFox wrote:

Rudy, Does Dave get several deer per year with that setup? I am seeing white sand at the high points and light brown that might be marsh grass in the wet season. That area to the E is wetlands and the S is wet in the rainy season. Just how dry are you now? If it is real dry, I would look at the SE corner for sure as it might be the best bet for a bit of rye or oats to get up before season starts. It also looks like the nearest place to thick cover. Ed

I think that Ed found some interesting spots. The extreme SE corner of the property being one, givin the known trails, and the proximity to heavy cover. An afternoon hunt with an approaching (overnight) cold front should pull some deer onto the property to feed. A GB along the eastern or even southern edge of the property should get at a deer approaching from this direction.

Bushmaster wrote:

Well Joey. He sure can't put his stand east of DS feed plot...According to Deer Slayer he's stuck on that parcel...If I owned that land I sure wouldn't put feed plots up wind of my stand...Some assumption mist be taken here that they have some sense...of the wind direction... Donut Slayer...Could you put up a wind sock for us???

So all your plots are downwind of your stand sites?

Sorry...Got my wind wrong. I'm used to having the wind in my face when I hunt...

Bushmaster wrote:

Sorry...Got my wind wrong. I'm used to having the wind in my face when I hunt...

Mr Bushmaster,

There is no need to aplogize to me. I only wish to avoid confusion when assisting someone with stand placement.

Yes I know, I appologize every once in a while just so everyone will think I'm a senitive man. Which I am not...

oldpops wrote:

Donut: I think you under estimate the nose on your bucks. I use 5 ladderstands and each location i choose will have at least two stands to choose from, determined by the wind direction.

I've seen it estimated that a deer can smell you from 1/2 mile! You should always have a plan "B" in case your primary stand site is neutralized by wind

oldpops wrote:

My experience on new property is it will take about three years to fine tune your spot

Three years is in the BEST conditions, It may take a LOT longer...

oldpops wrote:

Another thing to think about is the sun in your eyes and the path you take to get into your stand.

Having the sun at your back is as basic as having the wind "in-yer-face" when stalking...Stalking into a late afternoon east wind in other words....

hunterjoe, glad to see we agree on the wind thing. I have a stand that is perfect when the wind is from the north, but when the south wind is blowing forget it. I can see about 200 yards down the hill and even when I use all my scent blocking stuff the bucks will stick their head out of the brush and just watch until they see movement and then just dissapear. Those are the little ones. You never even see the big ones. Even the does that show up are on edge and any little movement, such as just moving your hand in your pocket, will get their attention. One problem we have out west is the swirling wind. During bow season every morning the wind starts with a down canyon draft, then the sun comes up and the wind generally starts from the SE and by 9:30 is blowing from the SW. To find a stand that faces the right direction in regards to the wind all morning is a real challenge. I put up a new stand this year in a spot which I have tail photos of 8 to 10 different bucks using this great pinch point. I sat in this stand about 10 of our 16 day season and only had one small buck come by. I came to the conclusion that the down canyon draft got me every morning. Next year I'm going to try getting to the spot after the down canyon draft stops, and maybe then my scent won't warn the big one that escaped this year. Attached is the buck I was chasing this year. I have about 25 photos of him in this spot at all times of the day. He did a dissapearing act. I hope he makes it threw the rifle season.

BTW, where is Donut Slayer? We need an update on his progress.

Pops

oldpops,

Nice lookin Buck, hope you get him yet!

Is the 16 day season archery only?

Do you hunt rifle season there? Maybe you still have a chance to take him this year! What about a Muzzleloader season?

I've been tweaking stand locations on the main hunting property I have for 5 years now. The property is only 70 acres, (about 40 acres tillable) but is used by several doe family groups throughout the year. The neighboring property to the south(120 acres) is off-limits for hunters, and has developed into a sanctuary for deer. The most obvious stand sites (leading to and from "sanctuary") seem to be the least productive.

Obviously, playing the wind is critical while bow hunting this area, but once the gun season starts (we have a 1 week shotgun-only season), and especially on opening day, all the rules go out-the-window! You never know where or when you might see a deer show up. That's what makes it fun!