Do you hunt all of your spots/properties the same way?
03-26-2008, 05:54 AM
#1
Dominant Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location:
Posts: 21,043
Do you hunt all of your spots/properties the same way?
Do you take the same approach when hunting all of your hunting spots/properties?
When we seek advice or hunting mtehods for the lands we hunt.....is it conceivable that there are few "cookie cutter" approaches that will work EVERY time.....in EVERY possible scenario?
Honest question......Do you feel like YOU are the best source of information regarding the lands you hunt?
I find the answers to these questions extremely importantwhen weighing information I read, get online and hear from other hunters. Isn't the application of information to suit your situation.....a vital part of becomingthe best hunter you can be on the ground you have access to?
When we seek advice or hunting mtehods for the lands we hunt.....is it conceivable that there are few "cookie cutter" approaches that will work EVERY time.....in EVERY possible scenario?
Honest question......Do you feel like YOU are the best source of information regarding the lands you hunt?
I find the answers to these questions extremely importantwhen weighing information I read, get online and hear from other hunters. Isn't the application of information to suit your situation.....a vital part of becomingthe best hunter you can be on the ground you have access to?
03-26-2008, 06:22 AM
#2
Typical Buck
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 899
RE: Do you hunt all of your spots/properties the same way?
Do you take the same approach when hunting all of your hunting spots/properties?
When we seek advice or hunting mtehods for the lands we hunt.....is it conceivable that there are few "cookie cutter" approaches that will work EVERY time.....in EVERY possible scenario?
Honest question......Do you feel like YOU are the best source of information regarding the lands you hunt?
I find the answers to these questions extremely important when weighing information I read, get online and hear from other hunters. Isn't the application of information to suit your situation.....a vital part of becoming the best hunter you can be on the ground you have access to?
When we seek advice or hunting mtehods for the lands we hunt.....is it conceivable that there are few "cookie cutter" approaches that will work EVERY time.....in EVERY possible scenario?
Honest question......Do you feel like YOU are the best source of information regarding the lands you hunt?
I find the answers to these questions extremely important when weighing information I read, get online and hear from other hunters. Isn't the application of information to suit your situation.....a vital part of becoming the best hunter you can be on the ground you have access to?
I DO believe that certain types of stands are always good choices, specifically funnels. Same approach as far as game plan? I think ALMOST always. Depends what I am "after". Sometimes, I hunt my lesser spots just to see and shoot does. Don't want to "shoot my wad" when I do not have to. I do believe that I am the best source of information regarding the lands I hunt, without question.
I try to perceive everything I see and hear on these boards as it would pertain to my property or hunting situation, I think I get the most out of it this way!\
Good post!
03-26-2008, 06:22 AM
#3
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: North Lima Ohio & Clarion Pa
Posts: 6,453
RE: Do you hunt all of your spots/properties the same way?
Only in the sense that I use treestands 95% of the time I hunt. But the set-ups certainly vary by location, time of year, crops be they mast or planted, and many other variables including wind no just direction but speed etc etc.
Am I the best source for information on the land I hunt? Well I certainly talk to anyone who frequents the land be it hunters, owners, neighbors etc, to garnish any info I can. But when It comes down to it. Yes, and thats not to say I'm the know-all and beat-all but I'm the one out there for hours upon hours seeing what I see or in some cases not seeing. Do I make mistakes, choose wrong sites, question whether I should be in another location..sure!
Sometimes I say I have too many good areas and not enough time to hunt them. And Most times I think I need more more more. [8D]
Am I the best source for information on the land I hunt? Well I certainly talk to anyone who frequents the land be it hunters, owners, neighbors etc, to garnish any info I can. But when It comes down to it. Yes, and thats not to say I'm the know-all and beat-all but I'm the one out there for hours upon hours seeing what I see or in some cases not seeing. Do I make mistakes, choose wrong sites, question whether I should be in another location..sure!
Sometimes I say I have too many good areas and not enough time to hunt them. And Most times I think I need more more more. [8D]
03-26-2008, 06:25 AM
#4
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: S. Illinois
Posts: 1,325
RE: Do you hunt all of your spots/properties the same way?
a cookie cutter tactic that i use is funnels.....yes they work on any ground that has one....in fact sometimes i "overlook" good sign and hunt land structure
i would say that i am the best source of information on most of the ground that i hunt because i am the only one that is allowed to hunt it
i would say that i am the best source of information on most of the ground that i hunt because i am the only one that is allowed to hunt it
03-26-2008, 06:30 AM
#5
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Blossvale, New York
Posts: 21,199
RE: Do you hunt all of your spots/properties the same way?
NO. All properties are not created equal. Crop land and deep woods hunting are different. Deep woods deer are a totally different animal from a crop land deer. No way can you put a cookie cutter stamp on them all. Pressure from other hunters will also change the game. Just like opening day of gun season in Southern NY will change for the rest of the year what deer do and when they do it.
03-26-2008, 06:37 AM
#6
Dominant Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location:
Posts: 21,043
RE: Do you hunt all of your spots/properties the same way?
Great stuff, so far, guys. Just what I was looking for.
Absolutely not. It changes (approach) form woodlot to woodlot.....whether they be 5 or 50 acres. The fact that the woodlots I hunt ARE small also changes the approach.
What's on the adjacent properties (habitat/hunting pressure/access) also changes how I approach hunting these spots.
I think it's highly conceivable.....to downright expected. That's why I detest "absolutes" when discussing deer hunting. We see thread sin here all the time that dispel such. "Do deer go to water"? "Are mature bucks afraid of flash cameras"? etc... I think there are VERY few "absolutes" in deer hunting......othe than they gotta eat, sleep and make little deer.
Yes I do. And I'd bet most if not all of you guys are, too. Refreshing to hear you guys admit that. There's nothing wrong with the assertion.
This goes back to a previous question....but it's something overlooked here a lot, I think. Don't mean that in a bad way. It's just a product of people utilizing the land they hunt to their best interest.......being the sole "expert" on the land they hunt.......and understanding that there are many ways to skin that cat......even if it's "unconventional" to some/many.
To me it's the "benefit of the doubt" factor.
Do you take the same approach when hunting all of your hunting spots/properties?
What's on the adjacent properties (habitat/hunting pressure/access) also changes how I approach hunting these spots.
When we seek advice or hunting mtehods for the lands we hunt.....is it conceivable that there are few "cookie cutter" approaches that will work EVERY time.....in EVERY possible scenario?
Do you feel like YOU are the best source of information regarding the lands you hunt?
Isn't the application of information to suit your situation.....a vital part of becomingthe best hunter you can be on the ground you have access to?
To me it's the "benefit of the doubt" factor.
03-26-2008, 06:42 AM
#7
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Wentzville, MO
Posts: 1,375
RE: Do you hunt all of your spots/properties the same way?
Hunt all properties the same? No, though a couple are similar. Do I know more about the property than anyone else? On one that I hunt I would say yes, with the exception of the guy that is the caretaker and lives there. He's out there every day and works on the neighboring property as well, so I go to him a lotfor recent scouting info.
03-26-2008, 06:46 AM
#8
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: North Cackalacky
Posts: 1,134
RE: Do you hunt all of your spots/properties the same way?
Deer hunting is constantly changing even on the land that you hunt? You have to adapt to these changes to be succuessful
If the acorn trees aren't producing this year will need to change your approach -If there was soybeans last year and cotton this year will need to change your approach- This is why a certain amount of scouting is important and the last few months were the time to be there doing it
The most common approach I take is trying to distinguish bedding areas and set- up a point to intercept them from there - So I apply to the same principle to hunting them but also adapt to changes in the food sources
If the acorn trees aren't producing this year will need to change your approach -If there was soybeans last year and cotton this year will need to change your approach- This is why a certain amount of scouting is important and the last few months were the time to be there doing it
The most common approach I take is trying to distinguish bedding areas and set- up a point to intercept them from there - So I apply to the same principle to hunting them but also adapt to changes in the food sources
03-26-2008, 06:47 AM
#9
Typical Buck
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 899
RE: Do you hunt all of your spots/properties the same way?
GMMAT, maybe I should ask you to clarify. What do you mean by "approach"?
I always try to go completely undetected whenever I hunt. I try to always have my scent blowing to places that deer are not expected, is this what you meant?
Thanks!
I always try to go completely undetected whenever I hunt. I try to always have my scent blowing to places that deer are not expected, is this what you meant?
Thanks!
03-26-2008, 06:48 AM
#10
Dominant Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location:
Posts: 21,043
RE: Do you hunt all of your spots/properties the same way?
Deer hunting is constantly changing even on the land that you hunt? You have to adapt to these changes to be succuessful
If the acorn trees aren't producing this year will need to change your approach -If there was soybeans last year and cotton this year will need to change your approach- This is why a certain amount of scouting is important and the last few months were the time to be there doing it
The most common approach I take is trying to distinguish bedding areas and set- up a point to intercept them from there - So I apply to the same principle to hunting them but also adapt to changes in the food sources
If the acorn trees aren't producing this year will need to change your approach -If there was soybeans last year and cotton this year will need to change your approach- This is why a certain amount of scouting is important and the last few months were the time to be there doing it
The most common approach I take is trying to distinguish bedding areas and set- up a point to intercept them from there - So I apply to the same principle to hunting them but also adapt to changes in the food sources
Crop rotation......an "off" acorn season.....all can play a part.