RE: Under these situations, how do you find the deer?
 

Depending what time of year it is, a freshly falling acorn tree can be your best freind, (especially on a large ridge or clearing like a logging road) Deer have a tendency to group to the first falling acorn trees in the woods. This is a great source of food for them considering that they have been eating the first perinials related to lillies, crocuses,and even hostas since the snow melted. So these delicious acorns are a absolute delight for them to find. As far as baiting them goes, I would just hang my stand within my desired shooting range from the dropping tree.....if the tree is dropping them...you will not be baiting...good luck hunting...hope you get some:):):)

RE: Under these situations, how do you find the deer?
 

Jimmy,

I know exactly what you're up against. I hunt similar areas in NH & VT. It's truedeer love acorns up here, but I've been in the woods a lot this year and they're running right by the acorns to paw under the beech trees. Where I hunt, there were acorns everywhere this year, go figure. All things being equal, I usually like to hunt the edges of the swamps and thickets, or the edge of soft woods and hard woods. I find that on a typical day, the deer are low in the mornings and make their way up the ridges to bed down and look back on their trails. I like to get up on the ridges early andease my way down. Look for natural funnels. One of my favorites is an opening or crossing spot in a stone wall.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of variables. Weather, hunting pressure & wind are always in play.

I guess thatis why it's fun for me.

Good luck!

RE: Under these situations, how do you find the deer?
 

Just put out the corn and letthe deer find YOU LOL

dd

RE: Under these situations, how do you find the deer?
 

Hey Jimmy. I know the area you hunt and it is pretty similar to my area down here in Southern NH. One thing I have found in the last 2 years in my areas is that while the oak flats definitely have a lot of deer sign, for the most part it is being made at night. So I started backtracking from what looked like the best sign towards the most likely bedding area. For my area it was a very nasty swamp edged by some impenetrable mountain laurel. I had set up right on the edge of that swamp and seen deer... but deer aren't stupid and they rarely leave the swamp from an angle they can't scent check what's waiting. I found for me setting back about 200 yards in an overgrown draw (which I had originally thought was thier bedding area) on the way to the best mast had me in deer all season. A lot more than by setting up on the swamp edge. Last year in the snow I saw a deer leave that swamp and it went 100 yards in each direction of where it left the swamp to scent check that all was clear. It did that while in the swamp where you could never have seen it. I found if you set up on the flat itself, you may see deer but you will bust them when you leave or bust them when getting in there in the morning as they are already there. This year I saw 57 deer within bow range while in stand in NH, and all of them moved past me on their way to feed or bed leaving me able to get in and out without getting detected as they were well gone by the time I was climbing in or out.

The one thing I was really surprised at is just how far a deer will travel between where they eat and bed. I think most guys tend to think it is only a few hundred yards, but the deer around here are travelling a 1/4 mile, sometimes farther. I believe the secret is not to hunt on the bedding or food area or within 200 yards of it. Because if you get busted, you've just blown the whole pattern. Since I hunt out the back door, if I bust deer in a spot.... I don't see them again very often in that area because they have lots of oak flats to choose from in the pure forest we hunt.

RE: Under these situations, how do you find the deer?
 

sounds like connecticut hunting

RE: Under these situations, how do you find the deer?
 

just keep hunting near oak tree's that are dropping acorns. you will see deer sooner or later.

RE: Under these situations, how do you find the deer?
 

Some very good advice given...especially from VT Ridges and MA Jay. This area (in NH) is very typical of hunting New England, especially Maine, VT and NH. I also hunt Maine and find the same type of woods (but much wetter and thicker) and the game plan is the same. If you have the luxury of knowing the area, you have a trump card to play but if it's completely new to you, a lot of time spent in the woods in necessary.

I tip my hat to those who can consistently shoot deer here. We (3 sons and a friend)have been very successful in the past becausewe are very focused and dedicated. We hunt dark 'til dark and usually from treestands. A lot of time spent in the deer woodshelps indeed. Unfortunately with the light hunting pressure, we are, for the most part, the only guys hunting these woods and having other hunters move thedeer around is usually not to be found. Last year we got three bucks out of four hunters and could have all tagged if one son had not passed early on a doe during M/L season.

When we saw bucks they did not offer that good shot, when we saw does, it was bucks only season....MA Jay saw 57 deer within bow range, (I didn't know there were 57 deer in NH ;))...we saw an average ofabout 10-15 deer per hunter during the entirebow and firearm seasons. We usually tag about3-4 deer per year out of the 5 of us, (incl bow season) sometimes only2 sometimes all 5 tag. Those numbers could be higher if we didn't let deer walk early in the season. Those numbers don't sound bad, especially hunting in low deer area but the number of hunting hours is quite large. Luck surely plays a part in being successful,but time spent in the woods is crucial.

Since most of these woods have been untouched, past history has tought us where the deer like to go under different weather conditions and times of the season. That's what we have going for us, but the advice given on this thread will be taken to heart. It would nice to get into deer early and often and although we have put in the time, that has never been the case.

Any additional thoughts would be appreciated and again thanks for the time to respond........Jimmy

RE: Under these situations, how do you find the deer?
 

I would get a bag of buck grub and a trail camera and go to town during the off season. How much time can you spend in the woods until bow season? That is the only way to figure out what they are doing. If you scout now until bow season you will know where they are bedding where they are foraging etc. Deer to my knowledge don't use just one bedding area. I just came inside from being in the woods and I checked a bedding area behind my house and there were no deer. Some days there are, some there are not. They are still back there. Maybe change up your walk in routine, maybe come in from a differnt side. I like to sit on top of a ridge as long as I have a good back drop while in my treestand. You are using the ridge as an elevation key, more visable area to view when you are high on a ridge. Is there a ridge that overlooks the swamp? If so I would key in on that area before any other. Those big new england deer love swamps. just my two cents, hope it helps.