What would you do in this situation?
 

Allright fellas, My opening weekend spot is a pretty busy spot. It is a nice oak ridge in northern WI, so its basically in the middle of a large forest. At this time of the year the deer are in there hot and heavy 24/7 eating the acorns. That makes it really hard to get in there. Pretty much every time I sneak in or out, I hear or see deer running away. They never snort, they just run away. It usually doesn't take too long before some start to show up again. In the morning I usually head in 45-30 min. before first light, and I hear them run away then allready. I never see any nice bucks there, although I don't get to put alot of time in up there. I get worried that the bigger bucks are the ones I hear running away, and then they are smart enough to not come back.

What is the correct approach to hunting this spot? I can't hunt trails leading to it, because the deer wander around everywhere, there aren't any specific hot trails. I need to hunt where I am if I want a chance.
Should I try going in an hour and a half before light or something like that? Or maybe I should try it just after it gets light out, to see if I can sneak in there during a little lull in the action when the deer go to bed down for a while. What do you think??

RE: What would you do in this situation?
 

HALO drop.[8D]

RE: What would you do in this situation?
 

The most important thing I can tell you is to make sure when you head in there is to have the wind in your face.I would definately head in there earlier then a hour before sunrise.I bet if you set up on the trails coming in you would see plenty of action also.I would set up where some trails intersect between the acorns and the fields.They will be heading in from the fields just after sunrise.If you can set up a stand there I am sure you would see plenty of action.One thing you have to remember is that 80% of a deer's diet in Oct is acorns.They will be there more then anywhere.You might also want to save that for a evening spot.Coming in during the middle of the day when they are still bedded down.

RE: What would you do in this situation?
 

sounds to me like they are feeding a lot at night and some during the day. I would go in the early afternoon (1 or 2pm) and see if they start funneling in better.

RE: What would you do in this situation?
 

Truth be told I would scout and set up your stand prior to this time of year and then leave the area alone until you plan to hunt it. In hunting it I would try to find the direction least likely to spook deer based on terrain, wind direction, etc...

RE: What would you do in this situation?
 

Wait until Mid morning and ease in there very slowly, scanning for any deer.... Setup and hunt until dark..........

RE: What would you do in this situation?
 

Hey Illinois,

Thanks for the reply, it all sounds good, if I were hunting down south around farms. Unfortunately, up here thereis no such thing as fields. It is miles and miles of woods and swamp. I can't really hunt any trails, because they come from every direction, just kind of wandering around taking whatever path they would like. This is where they come together, so its the best spot to try to hunt them.
They are in there pretty heavy in the middle of the day too. When I try to hunt it in the afternoon, I spook them on the way in. I almost have to just keep my ass in there all day because they just come and go as they please, throughout the day.

RE: What would you do in this situation?
 

Yeah, that's like my farm. I've got a narrow 30 acres all uphill and everytime I go in before dark I jump deer. If I jump them I don't see them that afternoon. I've tried going in earlier and also starting down the road, climbing up to the ridgetop and descending into my area and still run off deer. I've found it better to hunt somewhere else in the morning or wait until light and stalk in REAL slow.

RE: What would you do in this situation?
 

You won't like my reply unless you have some good back-up land to hunt. But if it was me, and there were deer in there like you say. I'd save that area for rut time. you say you don't see big bucks there during this time of year so why mess it up.If it holds that many does, the big boys will be cruising it come Lovin time. I'd save it for then. Why give them a chance to get you patterened.

RE: What would you do in this situation?
 

Badatta, The deer are only there right now because of the acorns. After the acorns are gone, the deer activity really drops. This is my best early season spot. I have a great rut area, so Im not concerned about hunting this spot right now.

RE: What would you do in this situation?
 

You think they come from any direction. If we can work the puzzle correctly we'll find "Favored" routes they use. Yes, they may be 50 yards away tomorrow, but they have their favorites just like you and I do. It's often something as simple as just a slight change in vegetation density. For example, we have this one little hill in our woods. On one side of the top there isan increase in the underbrush, not a big increase, but just enough that they go out of their way crossing that hill from ANY direction to pass through that 75 yard square area. Just standing there looking at the whole woods you don't notice it until you put in some time there. It can be a slight grade vs. a steep one, an edge where trees change, a slight gully, saddle, any number of things. You have to work the puzzle. Even in the BIG Woods the deer have a pattern. They just don't frequentit as often. They move with the food. They can and will bed anywhere until pressed, and then they're seeking thickets. I'd back off hunting the acorns in the AMif you're running deer out. I'd make it an afternoon stand and see what that brings. The pattern is there, you just haven't found it. AND when you do, they'll change with the food. You have to pay attention all the time and be looking for signs of a change. Overhunting will change it QUICK, but afternoons will help you.

RE: What would you do in this situation?
 

Thats a afternoon stand, hands down!!

Hatchet Jack

RE: What would you do in this situation?
 

PAhuntr and davidmil hit the nail on the head. You aren't seeing any good bucks there simply because they know you are there. You said it yourself, you run deer off everytime in. Believe me, there is a preferred way in. Maybe you need to set up closer to the bedding area, and catch them before they spread out, or maybe you just need to find a direction 60% of the deer are using, or maybe you need to set up a distance from there and just watch. Perhaps you will find a certain deer you want to hunt. Watch him, and move in. But be ever so mindful of the wind.

RE: What would you do in this situation?
 

what makes it so hard is that i usually only get to hunt this spot a couple days a year. I hunt it 2 days opening weekend, and 2 days the next time up, and then the acorns are gone and I move on to the other spots in October. Im not able to put the time in to pattern these deer.
I will play it by year. Im going to try going in really early Sat. morning, and seeing what happens. If the day goes well I will hunt there on Sunday, but if I spook deer I will maybe head over to another good oak ridge that I found on Sat. afternoon or Sunday.

RE: What would you do in this situation?
 

the only thing i can say is do some SCOUTING! look where the deer are headed exactly what routes/trails there taking and get your stand in that area..scouting is the key to success in this sport..:D

RE: What would you do in this situation?
 

Supa----do you have any turkeys in your area?
If so and you are dead set on hunting this spot,go into your stand an hour-2 hours early very quietly,and make a few gobbles on the call.Stop and listen,walksomemore and make some more noise on the call.But dont over-do itBut most importantly play the wind.Keep it in your face.
This might ease the deer a bit.
Like others have stated,scout out the area and see if there are any other possibilities.

RE: What would you do in this situation?
 

Why don't you go in just at daylight and still hunt your way to your stand? That way you can possibly get a shot at something on your way in. Just move really slow stopping every so often to look around and try to keep something in between you and the deer you are trying to sneak up onto? It does work!!