Hunting Decision
 

I have an opportunity to get off work early on Thursday and go hunting. I am fortunate to have two places to choose from to hunt. I wanted to get some expert opinions on which woods I should try. Woods #1 is about 90 acres. This wood has a lot of oak trees, hills and valleys, and is surrounded by corn on three sides and the corn is still standing. This woods has a creek that runs through the middle. On my last hunt, I didn't notice much sign in the woods and saw no deer.

Woods #2 is about 20 acres, mostly thickets and a few oak trees. This woods sits in the middle of a bean field. The beans haven't been picked, but are turning brown. There is a power line that runs down the left side of the woods. All kinds of trails in this woods. On my last hunt, I saw deer out in the bean fields but nothing close. At the time of my last hunt the beans were green.

Which do you think would be the better option. Thursday's forecast cloudy and 55 degrees almost no wind.

Thanks for any help or opinions you can give

RE: Hunting Decision
 

Well I'm not an expert but I like creek bottoms. The 90 acre piece should pick up once the corn is cut. I the corn is still stand it will hold a lot of deer and it can be damn difficult to get them to come out of the corn. If you hunt this property I'd lood for sign near the creek and corn. Maybe set up just inside the woods line and try some light rattleing. You might be able to get some action that way.

Teh smaller piece sounds like your best bet if the corn is still standing at the other 90. With a small piece of woods filled with thickets it sounds like a good bedding area. It's tough to tell without scouting though. I'd try to set up between the thickets and the beans if the wind is in your favor and you can enter and exit without spooking the deer.

Do you have a topo or aerial photo of the property?

RE: Hunting Decision
 

I do have a topo of the bigger woods, I am thinking about getting one of the smaller one. The owner said that every night the deer are in the fields, but I don't know if it is just because of the beans or if they actually stay in that area year round.

RE: Hunting Decision
 

From what you described, I'd try option #1. I personally like oak flats. I always have had great luck if I can find a whiteoak tree. Deer will eat a whiteoak acorn over any other acorn if it's available. If you can find a whiteoak tree that's producing acorns, you'll find the deer. Good luck.

RE: Hunting Decision
 

does anyone know what a whiteoak acorn tree looks like

RE: Hunting Decision
 

The leaves have rounded tips (red oak has sharp tips). On large trees, the bark is light grey and hangs in loose plates almost like a shag bark hickory but not as pronounced (red oak has darker grey bark with creases and lines sort of like a white ash but different). The bark on the limbs or small saplings is smooth.

RE: Hunting Decision
 

Well i would go to woods #2. I like hunting bean fields. If you could set up between the beans and the thicket you should be ok.. Good luck to you and have a safe hunt.:D;):)

RE: Hunting Decision
 

I forgot to mention that the thick stuff in Woods #2 has a low cut where the old pond dam ran out and created a runoff. The bean fields are surrounded by other small woods. I really want to hunt this place, but don't know whether to set up in the woods or in the thick stuff. I know for gun season it would be in the thick stuff facing the woods.

Thanks for everyones response. One more day to go.

RE: Hunting Decision
 

Well today is the day. I am leaving at 2:30 to head to woods #2. I like the way the bedding area feeds to the woods and is in between the corn and beans. Hopefully something will offer me a shot.

Take care and good luck the rest of the season.