ILLINOIS BOTTOMS BUCKS ?
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: BELLEVILLE IL USA
Posts: 35
ILLINOIS BOTTOMS BUCKS ?
HELLO GUY' S I HAVE A PROBLEM I HUNT RIVER BOTTOMS THAT FLOOD ALL THE TIME I CAN' T FIND NO SIGN OF ANY SORT EXCEPT FOR RUBS THE LAND OWNER SAY' S HE' S SEEN SOME BIG ONE' S I' M LOST?THE WOODS ARE IN A SHAPE THE OF A square and are about30acres or so there' s a large tract of woods that butt into these smaller woods but only by a finger. don' t know . theres a good stand of acorns and a couple persimion tree' s in the area i selected to hunt but no deer?
any help would be great.
any help would be great.
#2
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Shiloh,IL
Posts: 83
RE: ILLINOIS BOTTOMS BUCKS ?
Hi WEIRDOH,
Sounds like maybe you might need to sit on stand a few times just for observation, to see if you do see anything....but are these woods just standing by themselves? any fields on the sides? you say 30acres butts into a small finger of woods? Sounds like imo you have the classic bottleneck goin on....if thats what you mean by these woods butting together.....if it were me i maybe would try hunting a little closer to the area where they connect.....just a suggestion you may consider.....any thick stuff? or just relativley open? are these woods private? if so you may try using a game cam to try and locate maybe which trails they are using...since you say it floods out any sign.....in what direction do these woods run? n,s,e,w ?
these are just my opinons and i' m not trying to tell you what to do.....just trying to be of help.....
Sounds like maybe you might need to sit on stand a few times just for observation, to see if you do see anything....but are these woods just standing by themselves? any fields on the sides? you say 30acres butts into a small finger of woods? Sounds like imo you have the classic bottleneck goin on....if thats what you mean by these woods butting together.....if it were me i maybe would try hunting a little closer to the area where they connect.....just a suggestion you may consider.....any thick stuff? or just relativley open? are these woods private? if so you may try using a game cam to try and locate maybe which trails they are using...since you say it floods out any sign.....in what direction do these woods run? n,s,e,w ?
these are just my opinons and i' m not trying to tell you what to do.....just trying to be of help.....
#3
RE: ILLINOIS BOTTOMS BUCKS ?
Try hunting the narrowest part of wooded area that butts up against the smaller woods you mentioned. If there are several rubs and the farmer tells you he sees deer, you can bet they are there.
My favorite spot is along a river, but the deer don' t really use it much until the surrounding fields are picked. Closer to the rut that area becomes a trafficjam with deer trails appearing! Good luck.
My favorite spot is along a river, but the deer don' t really use it much until the surrounding fields are picked. Closer to the rut that area becomes a trafficjam with deer trails appearing! Good luck.
#4
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Nashville Illinois
Posts: 380
RE: ILLINOIS BOTTOMS BUCKS ?
My favorite spot is along a river, but the deer don' t really use it much until the surrounding fields are picked. Closer to the rut that area becomes a trafficjam with deer trails appearing! Good luck
#5
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Troy, Illinois
Posts: 226
RE: ILLINOIS BOTTOMS BUCKS ?
I would find out where the land owner is seeing the deer and when. Then set up and observe to see if you can figure out their pattern. If that fails wait until December when I retire from the Air Force and move to Troy. I' ll be more than happy to help you out in person.
#6
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Northern Illinois
Posts: 612
RE: ILLINOIS BOTTOMS BUCKS ?
Check for the bottle neck like the others where telling you. Also if the the woods section is a large square check the corners to see whats there. Checking the complete surroundings will let you see if you have some funnels, and inside, outside corners to hunt. If you have a good funnel (bottleneck) this will be excellent once the rut starts kicking in as the bucks start cruising for does.
Another thing to consider is the crops in the area. If they are still up (corn) the deer may hang out in there more until they have to head tot he woods. Food sources change too so the deer may be there soon.
Good luck!!!!!!!!
Another thing to consider is the crops in the area. If they are still up (corn) the deer may hang out in there more until they have to head tot he woods. Food sources change too so the deer may be there soon.
Good luck!!!!!!!!