The landowner of the place I hunt has decided to have an oil well drilled on his property. They were supposed to start at the end of the year but they started today. Right now they are clearing out trees and cutting in a road. They are clearing out 120 feet in each direction of the well site. The land I hunt isn't huge, around 90 acres but it is my best place to hunt. Will this totally ruin my hunting area or should I just fine tune my stand placements. The well is being drilled in a flat pine woods in between two ridges. The land is just one big valley. My buddy primarily hunts the ridges while I usually hunt the creek bottom. i'm just afraid all the activity will ruin the hunting. Has anybody had any exprience with anything like this? If so I would really appreciate any advise. Soory so long thanks.

Actually, I had a very similar occurrance a couple years ago. This farm we hunted (250 acres) had been rezoned and just about the time archery season started, the crews came in and began clearing some of the land to install a water main and sewer system. I mean these lines went right through the middle of the farm and there were several crews working a variety of equipment every day except weekends. Fortunately there was enough land on either side of where they were working to still "get away" from the activity. I truly didn't notice that much of a disruption in the deers activity to be honest with you. Deer will always adjust as needed.

You probably need to hunt the land a little more carefully as you stated...maybe move some stands...but I think you'll be fine!

Boy I'm glad to hear that.

id say unless they are right in the middle of your hunting area you should be fine. The deer might actually become more use to human scent and that could work to your advantage. The deer mabey might think that the smell is just another worker.

Several years ago a company I worked for drilled a well on a place that has some good deer hunting. After the well was drilled, they moved in a completion rig and they worked around the clock to complete the well. They had a light plant and the whole area was lit up. The farmer had planted rye right next to where we were working and the deer would come out at night and graze on the rye where the light was shining. They were only a 100 yds or so from us, but they weren't scared atnight.

Thanks for all the advise. i 'm going to move a couple of stands up on the ridges Friday and hope for the best.

Use it to your advantage too. Hunt the thick stuff the deer will run to when spooked. Good luck.