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I scouted my new hunting ground last night...

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I scouted my new hunting ground last night...

Old 09-02-2004, 07:31 AM
  #1  
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Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Springfield, Illinois
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Default I scouted my new hunting ground last night...

I am lucky enough to have 15 acres of timber to hunt 10 minutes from my house. I found some pretty good signs. The timber has some 100 year old trees in it, but most of the forest is young with useless saplings! Lots of undergrowth. The trails are everywhere and confusing. There doesn't seem to be any order, just trails going everywhere!! I am really have trouble finding straight trees to attach a stand to. Because of the shortness of the trees I am wondering if I can even put a stand up? I may be forced to hunt from a blind. I did find one HUGE rub on a tree. Apparently there is a monster in the timber !!

Any suggestions on stand placement??

Steve
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Old 09-02-2004, 07:40 AM
  #2  
Typical Buck
 
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Default RE: I scouted my new hunting ground last night...

What do you consider a huge rub? Remember that the deer patterns will change in the next month, and then again when the rut comes in. Good luck and show us what you shoot!
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Old 09-02-2004, 07:45 AM
  #3  
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Default RE: I scouted my new hunting ground last night...

It was/is a pretty good size tree. The bark was torn off about 2' of the tree. I don't know my trees, but it was a soft bark tree. It was a pretty impressive sight! What has me concerned is the area I will be hunting is just off of a corn field. The corn will probably be harvested in another week or 2. So their patterns will change. If I had a camera I would take some pics.
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Old 09-02-2004, 09:11 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Omaha Nebraska USA
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Default RE: I scouted my new hunting ground last night...

Stevenson,

I'm not a rep for it, and you'll likely get tired hearing about it, but check out this link for ASAT camo. It shows photos of conditions like yours. The first photo is what sold me on it last year because I have a lot of dogwood saplings that look identical to what that guy is standing in, and it sounds like you may have similar conditions. I'm still hunting again this year, instead of using a blind, because I can slowly move to where the action is and still feel comfortable about being concealed within the natural vegetation.

http://www.asatcamo.com/T_brush.htm

-Brad
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Old 09-02-2004, 09:46 AM
  #5  
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Default RE: I scouted my new hunting ground last night...

ASAT: I ordered a set from Lyn....haven't got it yet though. But October ain't here yet. Thanks for the tip!! I can't wait for them to come!!
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Old 09-02-2004, 09:57 AM
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Default RE: I scouted my new hunting ground last night...

Build a small platform stand to get above the saplings. Or, just hunt the edges of the clustered mess. Good luck.
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Old 09-02-2004, 10:12 AM
  #7  
Typical Buck
 
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Default RE: I scouted my new hunting ground last night...

Stevensondrive,
I have dealt with this the past two full seasons, and should be able to help you out with some advice. Right now I have to manage some tasks, but I will make sure I come back tonight and give you a good in-depth reply.
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Old 09-02-2004, 09:02 PM
  #8  
Typical Buck
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
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Default RE: I scouted my new hunting ground last night...

Okay, sorry it took so long

I have hunted what you described for sometime now.

There are two keys you need to take care of before the season comes up, besides finding a stander tree (just gotta keep an eye out).

1. Find the major trail. Usually it will be in the center at some point, and often links two fields. There should be tons of minor travel paths that the bucks use, and alternates that all deer follow. This will allow you the best chance to scout the area.

2. It is all about the corn, especially when dealing wth bow season. Acorn drop and the rut are the only two other competitors. And since you are in a small tract, you can find the acorn producing trees easily, and modify your strategy. Im not sure of the timing of the rut for your area, but it will still ultimately be affected by the corn. The does will feed on the corn, and the bucks will follow in a rut situation. Prior to the rut the bucks will also go after the corn, they might be a bit more nocturnal-esque though. Keep in mind what I am talking about is the corn right when it comes down.

Talk to the farmer, and find out his intentions with the corn. If he plans on having it cut before opener, offer an exchange to hold a 1/4-1/2 acre next to the tract until the day before bow season starts.

With the corn down, the following 3-4 days will allow you to pattern the deer as you know where their destination is going to be. Look for the staging areas just inside the wood line. Id bet money that you will find a parallel trail running about 5-15 yds in the woods on the side of the corn field. This is the area you want to focus on. Bucks usually wont hit the field during hunting hours, but do stay nearby, most often in the staging area, which allows them to scope out the field for does and danger. Be careful about stand placement in regards to scent control. If prevailing winds are a problem, as they can be on small tracts, pick a secondary trail leading to the staging area. This will keep you in the favor of the wind, plus will put you in the situation to come across a buck heading to the staging lane during shooting hours.

I have found afternoons/evenings to be more productive as far as buck activity during bow season in broken woodlots in farming country. Mornings are mostly doe sightings, as they are returning from the fields. The majority of the time, bucks will head in before you can see daylight. I have had issues of jumping bucks while getting into my stands in the morning. Usually they are just inside the woodline waiting for the does to head in so they can scent check them for receptiveness. So be careful heading into the woods for morning hunts.

I have found the game cams to be really effective in this situation, seeing as how the tons and tons of trails can be misleading. Placing them will allow you to see the use activity of a particular trail. I was able to completely pattern the deer using my woodlots with one camera. They make one giant circle, heading between 3 wood lots. And to me it is consistent from generation to generation of deer.

Using the corn is the greatest asset you have in hunting the woodlots. Otherwise, look for hedgerows, drainage basins, and treelines that run into the wood lot. Typically any place that comes into the shape of an "L" when looking down aerial wise is a good place to begin a pattern search, then head inward to find the major trail I mentioned earlier. The point where the hedgerows, etc. run into the woods will sometimes be a travel route for deer as they try to avoid being out in the open as they head from lot to lot.

Good luck!

Oh and if you are lucky enough to get the feeling that a dominant buck is using the area as their home base, take a step back and look objectively at your hunting choices. I take a step back, and get the ole spotting scope out and do a good old fashioned stake out. From afar you might be able to get a chance at seeing the bucks entry/exit point from the woodlot. After seeing this re-occur, I stay out of the woods completely, or as restricted as possible. Then hunt the patterened area selectively. I have seen some scenarios where I have been literally face to face with the same buck on the ground several times in the same season, and others get jumped once, and never return.

Sorry for the loooooooooong post, but I have learned alot from this style of hunting, and hoped it would help you out. Id be afraid of hunting big woods its been so long since I have been out of farm country
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Old 09-06-2004, 08:05 PM
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Default RE: I scouted my new hunting ground last night...

Did you ever consider a ladder stand because you dont always need stright trees for thoughs.
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Old 09-07-2004, 01:08 PM
  #10  
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Default RE: I scouted my new hunting ground last night...

Phade,

Thanks for the tips!! Oddly enough, I am actually hunting for does [] I just love the meat!!

I went back into the timber and found where several nice trails intersected. I also found a wonderful tree, it actually kinda looked like a phone pole it was so straight! I am not putting a ladder stand up because of fear of theft. I put up my stand using climbing sticks, then took the sticks with me.

Steve
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