Bowhunting a recent clear cut
 

hey everyone!
I just need some direction/suggestions for this fall. Some public land we hunt is starting to be logged, (within the last two weeks).
The loggersare taking everything with the exception of the tall oaks. There are not a ton of oaks, maybe a oak tree every 50 yards or so. The woods that have not been cut arefull of huge poplar, maple, some oaks. The ground in the clear cut hasn't had a lot of time to push out fresh greens out of the soil yet.

My question is, where/how should we hunt this type of environment?
I was thinking of walking the edge of the clear cut and looking for some good tracksin themud/dirt, try to follow the trail,then head into the woods and set up down wind of the trail.

Or I was thinking of sitting on a hill over looking the clear cut with binoculars and glass for deer and try to stalk them.

Any ideas or suggestions are appreciated!! Thanks in advance!
Good luck to everyone!!

Parker34

RE: Bowhunting a recent clear cut
 

option 1

I love love LOVE clear cuts/ cut overs....especially the first couple of years after they were cut!

RE: Bowhunting a recent clear cut
 

Thanks Treed!
Any other tips from anyone?

RE: Bowhunting a recent clear cut
 

If the oaks that are left have acons deer will eat them, but maybe only at night. Play the wind. Start near the edges of the cut, adjust stand locations as needed. For evening hunts, if you are seeing sign but no deer, move stands closer to bedding areas.

RE: Bowhunting a recent clear cut
 

Good ideas Norby! Thanks!
I think the next few years should be pretty good hunting for us with all the new sapplings coming up in the clear cut. The deer should eat that up pretty good I'd think. Hopefully they leave a few parcels of trees to throw a stand up in..

RE: Bowhunting a recent clear cut
 

If they leave the tree tops and limbs I've found bucks like to bed up in those or up against logs. I've jumped a few stepping up on these to have a buck explode out from under me, literally. Also if you plan on using trees in the future it's best to start and maintain trails now. By the second year the briars will be over your head and you won't be able to get to the trees without emptying out the whole cutover.

RE: Bowhunting a recent clear cut
 

I suggest killing the loggers Because they are killing deer habitat...And we need to protect these hunting lands. Its happening around here too much.

RE: Bowhunting a recent clear cut
 

Thanks Talondale!

Nissan
the land they are clear cutting will still be available for public use and after a year or so when the new trees start growing the deer will probably go crazy over that new growth, as we have seen in the past after a clear cut like this.
That is no good you are losing lands permanently to this though..

RE: Bowhunting a recent clear cut
 

They clearcut a large parcel of Forest where I hunt adecade ago. Everyone in my party refused to drive way up where it was for the rifle opener. They were sure it was all ruined. Well I wasn't staying home and opening morning a buck inside the edge about 10 yards. Game over. I would suggest option 1 as well. Next year will be even better. This is a great thing for the animals. New growth is great browse. However now where they clear cut it years laterits sooo thick you cant see a deer 5 feet in front of you.

RE: Bowhunting a recent clear cut
 

Thanks Tribal! Can't wait to get out there. Now if the weather would cool down a bit..
You are right, once the clearing grows up after 5 years it is pretty unhuntable, but hunting the edges of that thick stuff should still be pretty productive!