Hunting from a Cliff (using a blind)
10-18-2006, 06:29 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 10
Hunting from a Cliff (using a blind)
Due to a problem with a neighboring hunting club, I am needing to relocate my stand to a different location on our property. (2000 acres in Nicholas Co., WV).
I have been searching the property for a good spot, and I think I've found one, but would like others input concerning it.
On the border of our property we have an Oak flat that runs approx. 600 yards of the hilltop on one side of a creek. It is located about 500 yards uphill from the creek and main gravel road on the property.
Access to this oak flat is fairly limited. Select cutting of the woods has blocked the main trail in to 4 wheelers at a point about 500 yards away.
At the edge of the oak flat is a series of rock faces (cliffs), which are around 20 feet vertical, but with room to hunt from, and trees as a backdrop to prevent you from being skylined. I've found a particular rock face, easily accesible, that overlooks two tram roads that run directly below the rockface... approx 20yards, and 50 yards away each horizontally. My field of view is around 200 yards, east to west, both ways.
The timber company has come in and select cut below the face... making it an nice, open area... with woods below and above for the deer to lay up in. Plenty of browse along the tram roads... with limited mast in the lower woods, but much thicker on top, above me.
The kicker is.. to my immediate right, I overlook what I think of as a bambi superhighway <g>. Theres a deer trail that allows access to the oakflat from the lower part of the mountain (tram roads). If the deer veer to the right, they have to go around 600 yards to find an easy way to the top (acorns). It shows a ton of activity, but of course alot of it may be nocturnal.
My main question is, assuming that the rockface is safe (it looks to me like it would be), does this seem like a good place to setup? I think of it as being on Gods own treestand... but I have more room to maneuver, and can reset up along the face to different spots depending on wind, etc.
I plan to setup a small, portable blind(screen) to help shield me from below. Hope the explanation of the area makes sense...
What do you all think of the spot?
Thanks in advance for any replies. I plan to hunt it a few weekends leading in to rifle season thanksgiving week, but would appreciate any advice.
I have been searching the property for a good spot, and I think I've found one, but would like others input concerning it.
On the border of our property we have an Oak flat that runs approx. 600 yards of the hilltop on one side of a creek. It is located about 500 yards uphill from the creek and main gravel road on the property.
Access to this oak flat is fairly limited. Select cutting of the woods has blocked the main trail in to 4 wheelers at a point about 500 yards away.
At the edge of the oak flat is a series of rock faces (cliffs), which are around 20 feet vertical, but with room to hunt from, and trees as a backdrop to prevent you from being skylined. I've found a particular rock face, easily accesible, that overlooks two tram roads that run directly below the rockface... approx 20yards, and 50 yards away each horizontally. My field of view is around 200 yards, east to west, both ways.
The timber company has come in and select cut below the face... making it an nice, open area... with woods below and above for the deer to lay up in. Plenty of browse along the tram roads... with limited mast in the lower woods, but much thicker on top, above me.
The kicker is.. to my immediate right, I overlook what I think of as a bambi superhighway <g>. Theres a deer trail that allows access to the oakflat from the lower part of the mountain (tram roads). If the deer veer to the right, they have to go around 600 yards to find an easy way to the top (acorns). It shows a ton of activity, but of course alot of it may be nocturnal.
My main question is, assuming that the rockface is safe (it looks to me like it would be), does this seem like a good place to setup? I think of it as being on Gods own treestand... but I have more room to maneuver, and can reset up along the face to different spots depending on wind, etc.
I plan to setup a small, portable blind(screen) to help shield me from below. Hope the explanation of the area makes sense...
What do you all think of the spot?
Thanks in advance for any replies. I plan to hunt it a few weekends leading in to rifle season thanksgiving week, but would appreciate any advice.
10-19-2006, 06:14 AM
#5
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 10
RE: Hunting from a Cliff (using a blind)
Thanks for the input folks.
Responding to the comments, I'm fairly sure I'm not going to have a problem with being silloueted unless the deer are directly below me, and I'm at the edge of the cliff. With the leaves off the trees behind me,I'll
not have much "overhead" cover... but will have a good background behind me. The rockface is probably 10 to 15 feet below the crest of the hilltop, and about 30 yards from the upper main tramroad thru the oak flat.
I'm going to try to track down a gamecam from a friend this week if possible, but am somewhat hesitant to go in to my site any more than I have to during the season. The less chance for leaving a scent, the better. I could have him 4wheel in to the site from the back side of our property and put out a bag of corn or so. If he does, I could ask him to set up the cam up above my rock, where the trail ties in to the tram road on the oak flat. This would give me an idea when and if the deer are moving from the top to the bottom, anyways.
I'm fired up to get back into the woods. I'll probably setup some brush immediately behind me to help with my blind... but mainly am looking forward to the great view.. and hopefully good hunting.
Thanks again.
Responding to the comments, I'm fairly sure I'm not going to have a problem with being silloueted unless the deer are directly below me, and I'm at the edge of the cliff. With the leaves off the trees behind me,I'll
not have much "overhead" cover... but will have a good background behind me. The rockface is probably 10 to 15 feet below the crest of the hilltop, and about 30 yards from the upper main tramroad thru the oak flat.
I'm going to try to track down a gamecam from a friend this week if possible, but am somewhat hesitant to go in to my site any more than I have to during the season. The less chance for leaving a scent, the better. I could have him 4wheel in to the site from the back side of our property and put out a bag of corn or so. If he does, I could ask him to set up the cam up above my rock, where the trail ties in to the tram road on the oak flat. This would give me an idea when and if the deer are moving from the top to the bottom, anyways.
I'm fired up to get back into the woods. I'll probably setup some brush immediately behind me to help with my blind... but mainly am looking forward to the great view.. and hopefully good hunting.
Thanks again.
10-19-2006, 06:51 AM
#6
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location:
Posts: 4,553
RE: Hunting from a Cliff (using a blind)
I think that the spot sounds very good and your plan sounds good as well. I, personally would not even bother putting out a camera at this point in the game, and just plan to hunt it on opener. Good luck.
