Any of yall just wing it?
 

I was curious if any of you bow hunters simply wing it when heading out to hunt. The land I get to hunt already has stands put up, so I simply go to one and hunt. I'm not doing the homework like yall do, and I cant wait to own my own land to scout it, but right now, being in college and working tons, I dont seem to have the time. So I simply wing it.

I did just get permission to hunt two new peices of property, but am leaving for school in a week, so am not going to get much time to scout, so when I head out there to hunt, I will probably be winging it there as well.

RE: Any of yall just wing it?
 

No, i never just "wing it"

Yeah, you might get lucky one time, but odds are your going tocause yourself alot more trouble then you will good. Take the time, whether its in the field or at home to do some scouting to figure the property out. Use Topos and Aerials to find spots where you can hunt the wind and natural funnels. Even if you can never make it to a property before season you can learn a whole lot without ever leaving your house

RE: Any of yall just wing it?
 

If you can afford it, get a cheap digital trail cam to aid in scouting. Or ask for one for Christmas or your birthday or something. Would help make your outings more productive. You can move the camera around every couple of weeks and look for hotspots. Wouldn't require much time.

As for me, I have to make the most of my time in the field and so am hoping to see some deer on every outing. I don't need to shoot one all the time. I just enjoy seeing something rather than nothint while on stand or in the blind. So my trail cams and limited scouting help in terms of making my one or two outings a week a fun and relaxing experience for me. Not only do they tell me what deer are coming through but when the most productive hunting times might be.

I realize all of our time is valuable. I just can't get out as much as I could in the past few seasons as I want to be there for my kids, a 3 year old and 3 month old, right now. But I'm looking forward to a couple of year from now when I can start taking my son with me to sit in the blind. I'm even making plans for a nice tower stand that will accomodate me and both the kids. I'll start on this in a few years and will have bow hunting window slot on each side of course!

RE: Any of yall just wing it?
 

As for me, there is no possible way for me to get on the ground to scout. It is restricted property and is only opens the first day. You get caught trespassing there and your locked up in the federal pen. Not risking that.

RE: Any of yall just wing it?
 

I reap the beneifts, now.....of a year in the field "winging it". When I started hunting whitetails.....I had no idea of where to set up. Luckily....I did set up on the fringes....and I've been able to observe them from a distance......to know where to set up, now.

My hunting property isn't big.....so I have o reason to go scouting. I know where they'll be.....especially when the acorns start falling.

If you have to "wing it".....I'd suggest not going in too deep.....and watching a bit. That might be the only "scouting" you need.

Good luck.

RE: Any of yall just wing it?
 

Occasionally I "wing" it... but even then I still draw on past experiences and use the terrain to judge where to go... not just random.

RE: Any of yall just wing it?
 

Winging it is how I started...... I didn't have anyone to teach me scouting .... that's how we did it .....

Winging it was a GREAT teacher, however. It was from there that I learned whitetail behavior, and now I can walk into a strange woods and get myself setup on deer ...... so to answer your question .... I started winging it, but now I no longer need to .....

RE: Any of yall just wing it?
 

I will sometimes head to my cabin where there is thousands of acres of public land and I will grab my climber and sit in new places. I however get a lot of time to hunt.

RE: Any of yall just wing it?
 

I hunt 100% public land so "winging it" is the only real option. I can go out and scout all pre season and find out what the deer are doing but once the masses arrive opening day it all goes out the window. I do as much virtual scouting as possible, I learn the land, look for the funnels and bedding areas on topos and aerials. Once the season starts I will have a general idea of where the deer are going to be from years of experience but I have to adjust and move every day based on the pressure and what the deer are doing.

RE: Any of yall just wing it?
 

i will, but i hate to do it. the only time i wing it is when a friend askes me to go to his ranch or deer lease. if i am going to wing it then it probably wont be with a bow. id rather use a gun to wing it

RE: Any of yall just wing it?
 

Define "winging it". There is a HUGE difference between walking in the woods and say I am going to sit here for good reason, or walking into the woods looking for specific keys & conditions to good stand placement.

You obviously know the land a little in order to get to the stand locations. Have you given any thought to why the stands are where they are? Pick stands based on how the wind is blowing that day, and consider the conditions. If a stand is by an acorn flat and they are dropping, that might be a good one to try.

you can also hunt while you scout. Instead of picking a stand blindly, sneak around using the wind and see what's going on. Go slow and pay attention, you could get close for a shot.

A lot can be gained from just a little time in the woods if you think it out and look for specific items.

RE: Any of yall just wing it?
 

In my first year of hunting I just put up 3 stands on different trails and paid no attention to the wind. I did get lucky a couple of times though. I think to be a successful hunter you have to be conscious of the wind at all times and do a little scouting IMO.

RE: Any of yall just wing it?
 

I may be winging it more this year. Rehab-ing an injury may force my hand. Being strong willed my mind thinks I'll be fine by season opening. I have a couple ladder stands that I can use and I honestly believe I'll be able to get into them. A climber which is my favorite method, may be iffy. There's no way of knowing at this point.

If I have to go the route of a ground blind, which I've never used, may be a learning process, can I even get to where I'd want to go??

I've had success off the ground (without a blind) Killed my first bow buck off the ground at 18 yards. Andin 2004while on the ground I messed up an opportunity at a book buck (estimate 150+ class)when he got to less than8 yards from me, walking the ONLY way he could, without me seeing him until he was literally point blank! An encounter that still makes me pause and reflect with utter awww.

So yeah I'll be winging it, in many ways. I put a new muzzy 0 effect rest on my bow and haven't shot arrow 1 yet with it on. I just can't do what I need to do to prepare.

I'm not boo-hooing over it, the cards are dealt, most of us got into this for more of a challenge. It's just the unknowing that makes the run up to this season, mentally tough. I know one, thing I'll be extra hungry next year and I think if you have the same mind-set you will be too! Good luck!