Im going up to my property to hunt it for the first time on sunday.... Ive been scouting it over the year. I found 2 pretty awesome spots. One spot is a highly traveled area with apple trees in it. The only thing about this spot is that there are no good trees in the area to put my climber on. It is also pretty thick and there and I would be ground hunting with a bow.I put my camera in this area and thebatteries died within the first 2 hours because they were old. In these 2 hours thoughI capture 2 does.The next area I found is right before I field. Its following a ravine ridge and there are 2 or 3 good rubs. I havent had the chance to put my camera out in this area. And am not too sure about the deer in the area.But the good thing about the second area is that there are plany trees to choose from for my climber. What area do you think I should try out first? Im leaning towards the spot with the rubs because I do not really like to ground hunt, especially with a bow. If I go in the area with the rubs, should I rattle or use a doe bleat.... Or does it not really matter? Please feel free to share any tips. This is my third year out(im 14) and still have not been able to shoot a deer. I would really love to be able to take one this up coming weekend. I appreciate the help!
Mike
How about hunting the travel routes leading to the apple trees. Start out at the apple trees and start following the runs back until you find a tree you are able to get in with your climber. Good luck!
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yah... I have a quad trail right through the middle of this area (but doesnt bother the deer) and on the right side of the quad trail, which is the better, more traveled side is pretty thick but once it opens up its not my property any more[:@]. But then on the other side there are some trees past the thick stuff but Im not to sure if there are any good trails leading to them. Also it is a pretty darn far hike down to this area. I will be getting to the property sunday morning, work on the cabin for a few hours then head down. I will have to set up my stand before I actually hunt it but will actually be hunting it on sunday evening. I do not want to be to noise trying to find a good spot in this area... But maybe Ill give it a shot.
Thanks
I would appreciate more help if you have the time
You're a smart young hunter, you've made some verygood observations. You're right, ground hunting is very difficult unless you have a blind soI'd stick to your climber for this first hunt. I also wouldn't call too much at first, just watch the deer at first and see how they interact with one another. Does are far less receptive to calls than bucks and if you get on a trail, you probably won't have to make a peep, just letthe deerfilter past you and take the shot whenin range. If you see abuck you might try a grunt only if you think he's not coming by your stand. Don't make any noise or movement unless you have to is a good thumb rule when you first start out. Most people call too much, think like a deer and try to sound realistic when you do call.
For an apple tree, there are ways of getting in them. You can use tree steps and put your climber in the crotch of an apple tree,You alsocan make a crotch stand. Take a peice of 24" length of2" x 12" havean adultcut v's in each end andput it up in thethe crotch of an apple tree where two of the main strongbranches split, you can stand on it as a huntingplatform.Have adult supervision when you do this and don't go any higher than 8feet or so and wear a safety belt too. I use crotchstands all the time in swamps or other areas wherethere are only scrub trees. I've shot my three biggest bucks out of riverbottoms in crotch stands, they work and they provide a ton of cover so you don't have to be as high as a climber, they also allow you to get into areas that other hunters can't go like your apple orchard.
Remember to set up with the wind in your favor and sit still, deer pick up movement better than anything.
You're a smart young hunter, you've made some verygood observations. You're right, ground hunting is very difficult unless you have a blind soI'd stick to your climber for this first hunt. I also wouldn't call too much at first, just watch the deer at first and see how they interact with one another. Does are far less receptive to calls than bucks and if you get on a trail, you probably won't have to make a peep, just letthe deerfilter past you and take the shot whenin range. If you see abuck you might try a grunt only if you think he's not coming by your stand. Don't make any noise or movement unless you have to is a good thumb rule when you first start out. Most people call too much, think like a deer and try to sound realistic when you do call.
For an apple tree, there are ways of getting in them. You can use tree steps and put your climber in the crotch of an apple tree,You alsocan make a crotch stand. Take a peice of 24" length of2" x 12" havean adultcut v's in each end andput it up in thethe crotch of an apple tree where two of the main strongbranches split, you can stand on it as a huntingplatform.Have adult supervision when you do this and don't go any higher than 8feet or so and wear a safety belt too. I use crotchstands all the time in swamps or other areas wherethere are only scrub trees. I've shot my three biggest bucks out of riverbottoms in crotch stands, they work and they provide a ton of cover so you don't have to be as high as a climber, they also allow you to get into areas that other hunters can't go like your apple orchard.
Remember to set up with the wind in your favor and sit still, deer pick up movement better than anything.
Let us know how you do. Good luck Bigwhitetail!
thanks for the help doppler! I think I am going to stick with the area with the rubs right now and throw down some buck urine..... This is because I dont have the time to make a crotch stand.... Im going up Sunday morning, working on the cabin for a little while then going down with my stand mid-day/evening so I dont want to make too much noise puting up one of these stands if im going to hunt it that night.
i am not sure how much property that you are looking at. but if it was up to me i would get up in a tree. in my neck of the woods all the apples are gone anyways so that would not be very productive. as it was stated the wind is the most important. set up in a spot where you are as downwind as possible to where you 'expect' the deer to come from. as far as buck sing and hunting it. i think just because you have sing doesnt mean that you have a buck anymore. the rut is coming on full swing and the chase phase is in affect. so the visiting of the old stomping ground are becoming much. much less frequent. if you have more land it would not be a bad idea to look for fresh deer sign and put up your climber there. but if you do not have time and not a lot of land. then stick with what you have it sounds good and the deer are there.
as far as scent. depending on the deer herd and the ratio of does to buck using it might not be a good thing. i use code blue estrous if anything.. works like a dream. typically i hunt farm country and use it along fence rows they walk down it like they were on a rope.
good luck hunting. use this time to observe and learn what the deer are doing. only a soft grunt will do it the buck is moving past you or is a ways off.
bump.... im going up tommarow. Since im not sure if the bucks are still using the rubareaor not still... Im probably going to find a tree leading into and out of the apple tree area... What do you all think? I still have not been able to take a deer yet so I dont really care if its a buck or a doe.
please help out a newbie
