Hunting Clearcuts

[midwest hunter]

I own land in northern Minnesota. It consists of poplar, some birch, some maple, and some pine trees with plenty of aldar. I had an understanding that clearcuts draw deer to them. But from my experience I have only seen deer following the edges of the clearcut. My stand is about 20 yards from the clearcut and is on a natural edge where the poplar and aldar meet. Any tips or advice for hunting this type of terrain would be greatly appriciated.
[/align]I have a arial picture at http://community.webshots.com/user/midwesthunter
[/align]The yellow line shows the transition from poplar to aldar.
[/align]

[uncle matt]

Deer will gravitate to the path of not least, but lesser resisitence. Hence, traveling along clear cut edges.

But what really draws the deer to clear cuts is 2 things, both involving new clear cuts:
* when the clear cuts are fresh and the green leaves are down where the
deer can eat them.
* the clear cut is fresh and the plants under can spring up with the new found
sunlight where the deer can much on them.

[midwest hunter]

Greg Miller has a book about hunting clearcuts. He stated that they are very effective for holding deer from once it is cut until 10 or 15 years from when they cut it. It will provide some thick cover and also deer will eat the popplar buds and leaves.

[YooperMike]

I hunt a very similar situation in the UP of Michigan. the land that we own was clearcut 3 years ago and I hunted the edges and have taken nice bucks doing it. The edges of the cuts provide an easy path for the deer, plus ample food out in the cuttings. I think you are going well by sitting a little ways off the edge because there will be deer traveling those edges. That could be a good spot for a mock scrape in that corner. Good luck!

[bigyooper]

I too, have hunted my share of clear cuts in the UP.
I would sit on a ridge overlooking a large bowl, with a swamp on the edge.
this forces the deer to the bowl and out to feed on the tops of the cuttings.

Nick Bogdan
Pro Hunting Team/ Sales Associate
Optics4hunting.com
Binoculars.com
(800) 246-6285
Biggame@optics4hunting.com