Natural Funnell??
 

Would you consider my stand location to be in a natural funnell? Im not sure where there bedding area is (afraid to walk around this close to season), but it seems that this is the only place to cross to get to corn or other large woods without crossing open fields. The creek bottom (black line) is in a small ravine which is slightly lower elevation than its surroundings. My stand is the white box with an X in it. The second map gives a better view of the surroundings without being labeled. Any input would be great!!

Yes it would be a natural funnel like a fence row, tree lines, a hole or low spot in a fence were they cross ect. are all consider funnels along with hundreds more.

I would say so, yes. One thing I see though is that judging from the pic, the woods are still fairly thick in there, with your spot being perhaps 100 yards from the field edge. Thats fine, but if they are following that creek, you may want to get up a little closer to that pinch point between the grass pasture and the hay field where the woods squeeze them down into a more concentrated area. That way if they are not exactly hugging the creek you have a better chance at getting a shot within 30 yards. Kind of hard for me to be certain of that since I have never set foot in your woods, but it's just an observation.

Just by looking at it I to would hang my stand in that narrow pinch point there.

if it was my spot. i would definatly have my stand on that narrow tree line. going from big areas of hardwoods to the next. and in between the feilds, that would be an awesoem spot man.

I'd agree. You're too far from the actual pinch points to really catch it all. They'll probably travel that narrow strip. I'd even consider moving up the narrow strip to the point where that next little point comes into it. You're not in the funnell... you're at a point where they can go a lot of different directions and you'll never see them, or at least you'll miss a lot of them..

i agree with the others, hang it in the narrower part between the fields even, and i would also hang stands on the corner of the bean field, and corn field, corners are natural funnels too, deer feel more safe coming into fields at a corner.

JMO

I like where the hay field meets the creek at the point where the other section of woods comes into it. Hard to tell just from the map, but there are several great looking hunting spots. I have found that the big bucks love some CRP. Good luck!

Maybe. But there is too much more to look at. What food are they focusing on. Deer will abandon corn if white acorns are dropping. They love them. Also, how about those beans. Its hard to say where they are bedding. What kind of runs are you seeing.

id move ur stand up closer to the narrow tree line. Another good spot it looks like is directly left of ur stand now between the two hay fields there is a narrowing area there that leeds to a corn field if you can hunt that area that would be another good stand place.

The funnel like everyone else has said would be to the Northwest of your stand where the creek splits the pasture and hay field. You could have a funnel where your stand is if you have some ridges back there that form a saddle or something that makes the deer have to go around and pinch them into an area but without seeing a topo map I can't really tell what you have there.

I have placed some red spots on where I would hunt this area with the corn being where it is. Of course you would change the spots according to the wind direction.

Thanks for all of the advice guys. It is awsome how you can get so much help from fellow hunters on this site. It seems like others are as excited as I am for the opener. After reading your advice and furthur review of my labeling, I realized I was off with my stand location. I am only 40 yards from the hay field and 60 yards from the pasture. I guess I could still move into the funnell more and get closer to the pasture at the same time.
I re-labeled my stand and the deer trails (yellow) that I am seeing. Most of the trails seem to intersect within 30 yards of my tree. Now I guess I just need to hope I get the correct wind. Thanks again for your input and I cant wait to hear your success stories.

P.S. After all of your advice, I may be hanging another stand or two in other locations :biggrin:

Season has been in here since last Saturday...lol. and yes I am still excited....

But don't get too carried away with our suggestions.. You wanted to know where the funnel would be considered. As a couple have suggested... depends on the food they're hitting and all that at this time of year. The funnel would be great if they're traveling it and during the rut when the bucks are cruising. If they're whacking acorns and they're in the middle of the woods, you should be there. The man on the ground has the best call on where to hunt.

im thinking the same

Do the deer? :) If they do stop there.

If that inside corner off the field is yours that's a natural funnel. If you don't ruin it deer will always come through there until something changes.