PAhunterJEN

Anyone have advice on hunting lowlands? My property has a small creek at the lowest level and then rises 400 to 600 feet to the top of the hill. It is wooded for at least 20-30 feet on each side of the creek then opens to a field which is 50-60 yards at its widest. Then it is all woods to the top. A few times in the past I have tried to set up in a couple places at the edge of the field and I have always been busted. There are two main trails that cross the creek and it seems that a lot of the deer come down the hill from either side of the valley to get a drink. Then they head back up the hill.
I'd like some tips on wind and thermals. Is it best to set up there in the morning or the evening? It seems like scent would drift upward in the morning as the heat rises. Would it be best to hunt this area on a foggy or damp morning?
Thanks in advance for any tips you can give me...

RiverBottomBowHunter

One tip I can give you is when hunting creek bottoms, try to find a good crossing. I've had really good luck at crossings, especially in the early season when it is still warm.

adams

You don't need help with thermals. You just need someone to say you're correct. Your scent will go up hill in the morning and down hill in the evenings. My honey hole is a creek bottom. I'm set up down wind of the most prominant crossing. Another good spot to scout is where the creek bottom and the field meet. I'd scout around along the wooded fringes to fine the best spot. The field should keep the deer in the woods and bottle neck them where they can pass around the end of the field. If this lines up with the brook even better.

Are the banks of the creek steep? Any place that offers easy crossing(unless it's all easy crossing) is good. I found a place up north a couple of weeks ago. There was a good sized brook that had very steep banks in most places 30 feet tall. I walk the creek for about 1/2 a mile and found 1 spot that offered a gentle slope and an easy crossing and right dead smack in the middle of this slope was a "cow path". I'm wiling to bet that 90% of the animal that cross the brook within a half mile of this crossing cross at the crosing.

OHBowhunter

You have to love those crossings.

PAhunterJEN

Thanks guys!
As I said, there are two main trails. These are used a lot because the brambles are very thick everywhere else. At each end of this field there are houses so the deer are forced to use these trails if they want to get some water or cross. I can't put up a tree stand so I will have to find some sort of ground clutter to hide in...

brb6687

Have you thought about putting up one of those pop-up blinds? I bought one to try this year with my boys. They still have a tendency to move around too much and i think this will help out. I have also used those hoop style pop up three panel blinds with much success. I believe they are made by ameri-step.