PapaSumoto

Hello Everyone,
This my first time posting on the forum. I am 16 years old, a New Jerseyian, and an avid shooting enthusiast. This December, I will be deer hunting during both the muzzloader and shotgun seasons. My pops and I recently checked out some land we are permitted to hunt on. It consists of a large open area, at least 15 acres, that backs up to some woods. At the back of the field, we found some scattered deer tracks, droppings, and what appeared to be some animal trails. These trails went through dense cover and a painful amount of thorns. We didn't find any rubs or scrapes. Do you think we should put our stands on the trails leading to the open field, or right where the trails join the field? Does the deer sign I mentioned seem convincing enough to hunt this area? What are your thoughts on times to get in to position for the early morning and evening hunts? Can deer tolerate such thorny conditions?

Sorry for being such a novice,

James O.

RICHIE3

If that is all you have to hunt, then by all means, go hunt it and be careful. If there is sign there from deer, then the deer are there, even though it may be just a "run-thru". But, the "run-thru's" can produce some exciting and some really nice bucks once the initial pressure from the season is on. It is not always so much the area you are hunting, but how it lays out along other parts of properties next to you. If it is small, and located between or next to 1 or 2 larger timbers, then you have yourself a natural funnel and should be a real nice place to hunt. I hunted an area similar to the one you describe, and it produce some nice deer, very well.

Plus, you would be suprised what a deer can run thru, and how fast and invisibly silent he can do it.

Good Luck!!! Let us know how you did!!

radical_racin

first of all yes they can survive the thorns
what i do to set my stand is i go scout and lok for things like tracks water nuts like acorns or beech nuts and find out how far away the traiks are from this stuff. if it is not to far from a good trail then i would set up one person on the trail and the other somewhere over looking the field.
and as far as what time to head in well i go in to my morning stand about 1 to 1in ahalf hours brfore light.
my evening stand at least 2 hours before sun down.
2 hours is the least amount time i usally sit for 3 hours i head out after dark.

good luck hunting <img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>

smokepoledoug

Welcome to the board papa and radical. You failed to mention what was in the field and are the deer eating something there. Get on the deer trail close to the field in the afternoon if they are feeding there. Get at the back of the property near a thicket in the morning to intercept them going to bed down. Pay caution to the wind at all times.

PAhunterJEN

I have 32 acres and my opinion is to scout your property long before the season starts. I know its too late now, but if I were you I would set up where the trail intersects the field - take note of which way the wind blows. On my property there are fields bordering on 2 1/2 sides. Judging on the amount of trails I see there are at least 10 main trails leading into the woods from the fields. I have been scouting since summer and I still cannot predict which trail the deer will come in from. But once they are on the property almost all the trails lead towards the center where the brush and trees are thick. I walk these trails all the time that I feel most of the deer know me. I stumble upon them and they even sneak up on me. Just last week I heard a noise and turned to see an 8 pointer heading right towards me. Since I was walking I didn't have the bow ready. The buck stopped 15 feet from me and looked at me. Then he trotted off as I tried to get ready for a shot. Too late! Anyway, be at your stand at least a half an hour before sunrise. I have noticed the most movement at about a half hour after sunrise and a half hour before sunset. That's about the only thing I can predict. Good luck!

coyotefeeder

Look for a corner to thwe open feild and see if they are coming in there. Go back in the woods about twenty yards and try to intercept them. Don't set up right on top of trail. get back where you can see feild and trail. Get off the ground and into a tree.

If it crawls it falls, if it flies it dies.

burniegoeasily

I would set up to where I had good vision of all trails. Also take in account how the wind tends to blow in that area. You dont want to set up with the wind at your back, you will never see anything in this case. If you have a chance to hunt this land next year, get out well before season and cut some shooting lanes through the thickets, scout to see how the deer move, and plan your attack for the season.

&quot;Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity&quot; Martin Luther King Jr.

deerslayer444

I have about the same situation. A good friend of mine has 14 acres of land on which is his home and a small pond leaving only about eight acres for hunting. His property line butts up to several hundred acres of prime deer land and we use corn feeders to entice the deer to his property. We harvest deer every season doing this. It may be a bit late for you to try this but maybe if you can hunt the same land next year you may consider this. Corn is cheap at about four dollars for a fifty pound bag. Be sure to check if it is legal in your state. Feeders are simple to make or you can just pour it on the ground in a small pile near where you plan to hunt. Do this starting a few weeks before season checking on it at least weekly if possible to keep the feed in good supply to the deer.

farm hunter

If you are not afraid of heights, get up high, at least 20 ft, maybe 25ft - if you can - but be safe, use a harness.

I'm a firm beleiver, that for every 5 ft up, you can get away with 5 times more, whether your scent, or movement.

With a small property this is very important. Understand, that most of the deer that frequent this spot will be &quot;passing through&quot;, and action will be fast when they do come through, most of the time.

Play the wind, and try to hunt near the most likely looking funnel, or hedgerow on the land, regardless of the sign.

propmahn

I hunt excatly 27.74 acres. at least according to the surveyor. I just turned 20 and today i got my first deer (an 8 point buck no less). The land i hunt is probably one of the greatest places in inidana to hunt. the bucks and does arent overly large 150 lbs field dressed is average or so. some of the deer have until recently been feeded in the grass behind the house not 50 feet from the back door. The key is to hunt the right places. my brother sat 2 unsucessful seasons because he sat in the wrong spot. I did that same thing last year. this i got to thinking about deer movement and i put my stand in the right spot. and now i have about 80lbs of meat coming my way.

I recommend in my limited expirence to find a more heavily covered area, thats wear ive seen 90% of the deer. In my area shots are limited to 25 yards (and thats with shooting lanes cleared), that plenty of room to take deer. Find paths they travel and you too can get some meat

propmahn
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