new hunting situation - need help
 

Hello all,

First of all I want to thankeveryone for all the information they share on this site. I have been logging on as a guest for some time now and have learned a ton.

I will be seriously hunting with my bow for the first time this year. One of the main areas I will be hunting is a bow only public area that is different than anything I have ever hunted. I went scouting all day last Thursday and am looking forward to a real challenge.

Here's the situation - it is mainly gently rolling hills with waist high grass, briars, etc. and many young trees scattered over the area which are approx. 10-15 ft. tall. The trees were obviously planted by the wildlife department due to the uniform spacing of about 15 ft. between them. There are short strips of mature hardwoods in a few places, but not many.

I really don't have any idea how the animals will use this type of terrain or where to even start in stand site selection. The three mature deer I jumped while scouting were within 200 yds of the management area headquarters in a couple of the thicker hardwood strips.

Thanks for any suggestions!
Murphy

RE: new hunting situation - need help
 

If it was me just get somewhere where there is alot of cover leading out into some open stuff.

RE: new hunting situation - need help
 

Set up in one of those strips of hardwoods and have it. Take advantage of the only trees around. They will be there. Find out what they are eating. Persimmons are coming in, if you can find some of them, you're spot on.

RE: new hunting situation - need help
 

That's kinda where i was trying to get at..Thanks!!

RE: new hunting situation - need help
 

Thanks for the suggestions. I was considering going from one group of hardwoods to another to see which ones have the most sign/trails. A buddy of mine used to hunt a somewhat similar area to this and he said there were two mature trees surrounded by this type of terrain and it seemed every trail in the area came by those two trees for some reason. When I go back to scout again, would you guys think the most likely hot spots would be the strips of hardwoods on the hilltops or the valleys?

Also, if I find some good trail intersections/sign on the hillsides, what do you think about setting up a tripod next to or over one of the nearby small trees?

RE: new hunting situation - need help
 

That would be a good way to see which stand of wood they are using. Set up an "observation" blind in an area you can see as much as possible, and watch for deer using the cover. Then move in on them and let 'em have it!