Wanna see more deer?
08-15-2008 | 07:33 AM
#11
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,492
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From: Southampton Pa BUCKS CO
RE: Wanna see more deer?
I had a Oldtimer show me this when I started to hunt a long time ago. Some of my spots I even use a rake to clear the trail to my stands. But the cutting and pruning of branches and small saplings on State Land would be a NO-NO in PA.
Hatchet Jack
Hatchet Jack
08-15-2008 | 07:35 AM
#12
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,045
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From: S. NH
RE: Wanna see more deer?
ORIGINAL: BobCo19-65
Yep, it sure is a good idea to do. One of the areas that I hunt, I have to walk through some very tall grass (over my head). I usually take a sickle to it and make a trail in September. My only problem in doing this is that I am also making a good walkthough for the deer which also seem to use a lot. In that case I'm not sure if I'm helping the matter or hurting it. If I end up leaving it though, I will also get soaked (trust me) from the morning due.
Yep, it sure is a good idea to do. One of the areas that I hunt, I have to walk through some very tall grass (over my head). I usually take a sickle to it and make a trail in September. My only problem in doing this is that I am also making a good walkthough for the deer which also seem to use a lot. In that case I'm not sure if I'm helping the matter or hurting it. If I end up leaving it though, I will also get soaked (trust me) from the morning due.
08-15-2008 | 03:45 PM
#13
Thread Starter
Site Buck Guru
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,922
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From: Racine, Wisconsin
RE: Wanna see more deer?
ORIGINAL: mauser06
Greg, i thought i might have been slightly crazy going into the honey hole this past winter/early spring and having my way with the trail....soon as i get a chance im going back in to fine tune things...though i tried to compensate for additional growth...my trail and shooting lanes...
did the same thing and made it look completely natural...cant really tell THAT i did it...if you arent looking you wont realize its MY path...and, im a fanatic about touching foliage and having it hit my stand and gear...i usually put my hands in pockets JUST so i cant touch anything with my hands...even if i got gloves on. (i have a terrible habit of snapping off twigs and playing with them as i walk and dropping pieces(laying a human scent trail!) the whole way i walk....
i also piled all the brush i cut into a couple piles...where there was already a big limb down or nasty brushy patch, i piled everything i trimmed from shooting lanes onto it...i hunt from 2-3 trees in that same spot so i was in there a WHILE...
its my honey hole and where i expect the best to come from...try not to over hunt it...not more than once a week and try to make that on the best day possible weather wise..(cooler day...calmer day...light rain etc..) i jsut dont have any other GOOD spots its hard NOT to hunt it...but learned to hunt it as least as i can and be careful in there...
Greg, i thought i might have been slightly crazy going into the honey hole this past winter/early spring and having my way with the trail....soon as i get a chance im going back in to fine tune things...though i tried to compensate for additional growth...my trail and shooting lanes...
did the same thing and made it look completely natural...cant really tell THAT i did it...if you arent looking you wont realize its MY path...and, im a fanatic about touching foliage and having it hit my stand and gear...i usually put my hands in pockets JUST so i cant touch anything with my hands...even if i got gloves on. (i have a terrible habit of snapping off twigs and playing with them as i walk and dropping pieces(laying a human scent trail!) the whole way i walk....
i also piled all the brush i cut into a couple piles...where there was already a big limb down or nasty brushy patch, i piled everything i trimmed from shooting lanes onto it...i hunt from 2-3 trees in that same spot so i was in there a WHILE...
its my honey hole and where i expect the best to come from...try not to over hunt it...not more than once a week and try to make that on the best day possible weather wise..(cooler day...calmer day...light rain etc..) i jsut dont have any other GOOD spots its hard NOT to hunt it...but learned to hunt it as least as i can and be careful in there...
Good replies everyone!
08-15-2008 | 04:42 PM
#17
Fork Horn
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 307
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From:
RE: Wanna see more deer?
It was not intentional but I actually snipped several limbs that were in my way last year from the same cluster of saplings. I also make sure to never touch anything with bare skin. Later a doe came down the trail and stopped to feed on the few branches, 35 yards later she piled up. Now this was not intentional, but could have went the other was had I let my bare hands do the work. My uncle always hides the carrying straps for his climber under some brush. I have watched deer find them and go on full alert, that is why I keep mine attached to the bottom platform.
08-15-2008 | 05:02 PM
#18
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,645
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From: York,Pa
RE: Wanna see more deer?
all my stands are short walks in the woods so I try to do the opposite and leave everything in it's place! I cover my body so NO bare skin is exposed and I know my clothes are scentfree thus leaving everything just like the deer know it to be!
08-15-2008 | 07:02 PM
#19
Fork Horn
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 307
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From:
RE: Wanna see more deer?
I agree 100% but the area I am talking about is on the baks of a large river coming off a gas line. You have to pass through 5 yards of saigon just to get to the tree I use. I got tired of spiders greeting me in the am since I do not use a light much so when I could see (evening hunt) I cut a hole.
08-15-2008 | 07:10 PM
#20
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,288
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From: Kansas
RE: Wanna see more deer?
Had a hunting friend come over one time right when I was getting ready to go hang stands, asked if he could go and help, so I said sure. I bet he fingered every thing withen 5 feet of him on the way in, like to drove me crazy.
I remember thinking to myself, No dam wonder you never shot nothing better than a 6 pt!
I remember thinking to myself, No dam wonder you never shot nothing better than a 6 pt!