Entry/Exit Routes?
 

Curious as to what are some of the novel ideas you have come up with for entry to, and exit from certain stands.

Let 'er rip tater chip.

LT

RE: Entry/Exit Routes?
 

Alter them.

RE: Entry/Exit Routes?
 

Since its so integral to success I have had to do a lot of strenous things getting too/from stands. Other than half mile detours...I like to wade up creeks if they are bordering the stand and I have climbed some hills that were over 6o degree inclines to make sure I did not spook deer and they did not find my scent trail. My favorite stand requires me to climb a 400 foot river bluff just like that...otherwise I might bust deer.

RE: Entry/Exit Routes?
 

And by this, you mean, to get to and from stand on a different path each time? I have done this a few times. Spreads scent over 2 or more areas instead of one trail though. Not sure how effective that is in the long run.

LT

RE: Entry/Exit Routes?
 

Trebuchet

RE: Entry/Exit Routes?
 

Avoid stand sites that don't have ideal ones. I look for terrain features (drainage/irrigation ditches, guts, etc), to conceal movement. On my property I've found my best bet in most of my locations is to place myself backed into a "wall" where deer only enter/exit strictly in front of me all the while allowing me to exit/enter securely out behind my stand.

RE: Entry/Exit Routes?
 

Joe, you are what I call SERIOUS. lol But hey, whatever it takes. That is what I was looking for here.

LT

RE: Entry/Exit Routes?
 

How did that turn out for you[8D]?

RE: Entry/Exit Routes?
 

I talk about this a lot in here......and people still think I'm crazy....but I gt to one particular woodlot about 2 hours, most times, before first light. The No. 1 reason "why" is.....I KNOW I blow out a lot fewer deer this way. The side effect is.....a cozy little nap in my climber.;)

I've done some switching up on entry routes......and even entry times for the day. I went in at 9:00 one day in '06 and had the greatest day I've ever had afield. Who would've thunk you'd have a great day gettin in so late?......OR....was that "early"?

I think the deer pattern us a lot better than we pattern them......and I think it's smart to mix things up.

RE: Entry/Exit Routes?
 

How's your way working out for you?.....lol

What I meant was......you're gonna leave human scent no matter which way you go in. Go in the same way EVERY time....and you're going to educate your herd. It's not AS vital for me as it is others to do this. I'm going to a different tree most every time.

If you think deer aren't patterning YOU if you take the same trail every time.....then by all means keep going down that path.;)

RE: Entry/Exit Routes?
 

I see now what you were saying Jeff. I do this as well. I will Sometimes be in stand an hour before first light. Sometimes, I will be an hour after first light. Heck I even go sometimes at 10:00AM and sit the rest of the day. Just according to what stand I am hunting and how often I have hunted that particular stand. I agree, deer will definately usually catch on to us quicker than us to them. (Older/Smarter Deer)

LT

RE: Entry/Exit Routes?
 

In the mornings when going into stands I try to stay in the woods much as possible to avoid alerting the deer in the field feeding. In the evenings when going in I try to stay away from the thick little bedding patches that are in a woods that these bucks like to bed in but at the same time I try not to walk around zigzagging all over the woods making footsteps all over. The less steps it takes me to get where I got to go the better.

RE: Entry/Exit Routes?
 

by canoe.

RE: Entry/Exit Routes?
 

I realize very well that a deer will pattern you if you use the same trail every time. They will also smell where you have been on all of your other entry/exit routes. I like moving to different trees too, but I will still use the same general path to get to a different tree. This way, you didn't just leave a "new" trail of scent to a different tree. In doing the different path, you may be pushing a deer further away than before, whenyou had only pushed or altered his/her path only 20 to 30 yds. Deer sometimes will only skirt a stand once they realize it is a spooky place. By using the same trail and only choosing a different tree maybe 20 to 30 yds deeper into the area, you may just intercept that same deer.

LT

RE: Entry/Exit Routes?
 

LT....honest question....

How long do you think your scent trail remains in the woods?

For this question....we'll assume you're clean and you've sprayed down......and rain doesn't wash out your trail.

How long?

RE: Entry/Exit Routes?
 

Days, maybe weeks. According to how much vegetation you contact, ground moistness, other variables as well, I suppose.

LT

RE: Entry/Exit Routes?
 

If I'm hunting public land I take the easy route..until it 's time to break off for my spots. There are "trails" that hunters are gonna walk. It's human nature. I'll stick to those knowing that the deer know it too. Once it's time to head for the more remote spot I'll be in, I factor in the wind and the expected route of the deer I'm heading to interecept. I will respray my boots at this point and I will go out of my way not to leave any trail that they will pick up on.

Even taking these precautions I have seen deer hit my back trail and never once, recall a bad reaction. I wear rubber boots and they are heavily descented. I also make sure to step in any mud, deer crap or other natural things. As fordescenting I rarely use a scent killer on my boots. I prefer deer dander,and these boots are only used for the walk in and out and on stand. They are not worn in the truck and they don't go out to shovel the snow etc. They are my hunting boots!

RE: Entry/Exit Routes?
 

I've done that too!!:D

RE: Entry/Exit Routes?
 

I don't believe this to be true, LT.....but I'm no expert. I don't see how this would be possible if you go in clean....rubber boots.....etc... I think they can tell where you've stepped .....due to the disturbance of the vegetation....but I don't think we're leaving that much scent on the ground by just walking in.

Maybe I'll learn something in this thread.

RE: Entry/Exit Routes?
 

I am by no means an expert here either Jeff. I do know what I have witnessed as far as deer altering patterns whether by scent contamination or simply human presence. I believe they can and will pattern us. I have witnessed this on several occasions. If they are not patterning us by scent, then why will they skirt some stands and never use that trail again? Is it because they saw you? Not in my experience. I have a very strict scent regimen, but they will continue to bust us all at one point or another. Now, will they alter their pattern just because of one screw-up on being scent free? I don't think so. They may be more cautious the next time, but not enough to alter their trail. Using different trails distributes whatever scent we leave or ground disturbance oveer a different area each time we do so. imho

RE: Entry/Exit Routes?
 

If you're not there (in the stand)....how do you know they haven't patterned you?...and only avoid it when you're there?

I'm not saying you're naive. I'm saying I used to think this way and have since changed. I used to think that I wasn't spooking deer.....because I didn't see them avoid me. Now....I think I quite possibly get pegged a bunch.....and never know it.

And if you think using the same trail is what will work best for you....by all means....do it! I don't think there are many "absolutes" to deer hunting. I do what I think will make me successful in my woods. You should do the same.

RE: Entry/Exit Routes?
 

This is a good question to an extent, but I am going by tracks and scat that have altered after hunting a stand a few times.

So, why do you think that you are getting pegged? Scent? Sight? Deer may have altered their path?

This is a good conversation Jeff, but actually what I was more looking for was "by what novel means" have you entered/exited stands, and why.

Yours is a definate take on this, but not exactly a different approach for different situations/setups. No harm. Actually we can continue and others can (please do) chime in as well.

LT

RE: Entry/Exit Routes?
 

I had an area that I hunted every weekend, had a well worn path thru 3ft weeds and grass. By the time I came back the following weekend there were droppings up and down the path. The deer had begun using MY trail because it offered the path of least resistance. With that in mind, I'd say minimal scent would not last more than a couple days.

RE: Entry/Exit Routes?
 

I don't KNOW that I am. I'm just not naive enough as to think it isn't happening.

I've got a spot that's not 250yds off the road. I go into this spot 4 or 5 different ways.....thinking the one day I alter it right.....is gonna be the day I DIDN'T bump the big boy going in. I've walked to this site a few times in the dark.....right down the road. When I do this.....I bump deer along the way almost every time. I got to thinking.......deer are used to cars going down that road a LOT more than seeing someone walking. So I got an idea........Lisa gets up on the weekends and drives my truck down the road with me on the tailgate. When we get to my entry point.....she slows down and I hop off. Is it less conspicuous? I don't know. Does it work in my mind? Yeah.

That's unconventional;)

RE: Entry/Exit Routes?
 

So you "are" saying that I am naive enough to think it isn't happening? Lol, no I know that's not what you are saying Jeff. That's just not your style.;)

I thoroughly admit that we will get busted/pegged. Just a matter of time.

By the way, you're way of getting to your stand area is what I was looking for. You did what you had to do to get there and spook the least amount of deer as you could. That is what I am after as well. We will all spook a certain amount of deer getting to stand at times. My goal is to have this be a low number.

LT

RE: Entry/Exit Routes?
 

I spend the off season digging tunnels to my favorite trees. :D

RE: Entry/Exit Routes?
 

Gawrsh Mickey! I thought I would get more responses than this.:D

LT

RE: Entry/Exit Routes?
 

Entry/exit routes are so dang important, but not talked about enough. Done incorrectly, they can blow your current hunt as well as future hunts in a matter of minutes......Many times people will not even realize they are bumping deer with their entry. Just because you cannot see or hear deer bounding off doesn't mean you did not spook them. Think, Where are the deer and where are they going....then try to slip in without them seeing/hearing/smelling you based on the terrain, wind, and weather.....sounds real easy huh? :)