Hunting Thick Woods
11-10-2014, 11:17 AM
#4
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Winston County, AL
Posts: 84
I see what you mean, but no, it's not really an option. Part of it is the fact that I have to hunt on others' land (with permission, of course), and part of it is the nature of the forests around here. They're mainly younger, with lots of underbrush. Mature forests are logged, which opens up the land to more brush. I'm stuck with very narrow shooting lanes and am not able to see deer moving in until they're right in the kill zone, so I have no time to prepare for the shot.
11-10-2014, 11:43 AM
#5
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,359
I see what you mean, but no, it's not really an option. Part of it is the fact that I have to hunt on others' land (with permission, of course), and part of it is the nature of the forests around here. They're mainly younger, with lots of underbrush. Mature forests are logged, which opens up the land to more brush. I'm stuck with very narrow shooting lanes and am not able to see deer moving in until they're right in the kill zone, so I have no time to prepare for the shot.
Where are you at and what are the deer eating?
11-10-2014, 12:03 PM
#6
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: south eastern PA
Posts: 15,428
If the owner allows it, cut yourself some openings and shooying lanes . They don't have to be big, just big enough to be able to shoot. If you are hunting in the thick, you must keep your eyes moving around looking for parts of deer that were not there earlier. If you stare in one direction, you will miss what is moving in the other areas.
11-10-2014, 12:57 PM
#7
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Winston County, AL
Posts: 84
Rockport, I'm in Winston County, Alabama.
As for what they're eating, I can't say for certain. I know there are no farms in this side of the county; the ground is too rocky and there are too many canyons. People have garden plots, but those are all dried up now. So the deer aren't eating ag stuff. There are oak trees around, mostly the ones with huge acorns. I think that's black oak. Anyway, hogs, squirrels, and deer all seem to leave them behind. There are white oaks and a few red oaks around, but there aren't any that I can find on the land I'm allowed to hunt, nor on the land next to it. In all, land I can hunt and land I can walk but not hunt is about 350 acres or so, and I've not found any food sources that really stand out. I'm not experienced enough to be able to tell what they're eating if the obvious signs aren't present.
I went and walked it again today. The land is backed up against Smith Lake, but the shoreline is rocky and steep. I've found a very small pond in the middle of the property that I think they're watering at. I didn't have time to check everything, but I may can make that work, especially if the owner will let me hang a stand.
Oldtimr, I can't make too many changes to the land in question. The gentleman who gave me permission is careful about such things because others have abused his permission in the past. He may let me hang a stand, but other than lopping off the odd branch or cutting a sapling here and there I don't think he will allow me to do much at all.
As for what they're eating, I can't say for certain. I know there are no farms in this side of the county; the ground is too rocky and there are too many canyons. People have garden plots, but those are all dried up now. So the deer aren't eating ag stuff. There are oak trees around, mostly the ones with huge acorns. I think that's black oak. Anyway, hogs, squirrels, and deer all seem to leave them behind. There are white oaks and a few red oaks around, but there aren't any that I can find on the land I'm allowed to hunt, nor on the land next to it. In all, land I can hunt and land I can walk but not hunt is about 350 acres or so, and I've not found any food sources that really stand out. I'm not experienced enough to be able to tell what they're eating if the obvious signs aren't present.
I went and walked it again today. The land is backed up against Smith Lake, but the shoreline is rocky and steep. I've found a very small pond in the middle of the property that I think they're watering at. I didn't have time to check everything, but I may can make that work, especially if the owner will let me hang a stand.
Oldtimr, I can't make too many changes to the land in question. The gentleman who gave me permission is careful about such things because others have abused his permission in the past. He may let me hang a stand, but other than lopping off the odd branch or cutting a sapling here and there I don't think he will allow me to do much at all.
11-10-2014, 01:32 PM
#8
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 3,359
I don't know how helpful I'm going to be on hunting Alabama but I thinks its pretty universal that you are going to have to find out what they are eating. Google should help you learn that or maybe somebody here from Alabama can help.
Food water and cover and it sounds like you have found 2 out of 3
the deer will likely be back for those big acorns once they eat up the other acorns they like better.
I'm sure there are white oaks somewhere.
As far as the brush.....if its all over and you can't cut it your just going to have to deal with it I reckon.
Gotta find out what they are eating and where its at.
I have the opposite problems. Corn fields as far as the eye can see and a thousand white oaks.
Food water and cover and it sounds like you have found 2 out of 3
the deer will likely be back for those big acorns once they eat up the other acorns they like better.
I'm sure there are white oaks somewhere.
As far as the brush.....if its all over and you can't cut it your just going to have to deal with it I reckon.
Gotta find out what they are eating and where its at.
I have the opposite problems. Corn fields as far as the eye can see and a thousand white oaks.
11-11-2014, 02:28 AM
#9
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: MICHIGAN
Posts: 2,568
I've hunted the big wood all my life and cedar swamps you almost have to crawl to get thru them. Takes a bit of scouting(best time is after the season is over.) and look for the trails most heavy traveled. Look for small clearings also. Funnels are good places to find also like a narrow dry spot between a couple of swamps or marshy ground.
Hunting heavy brush woods areas isn't all bad. Ya you can't see the deer till they are about on top of you but that is true of the deer also they can't see you either. Just need to practice quick rifle handling and have a nice easy rifle to use. I like the carbines like a Winchester model 94, Remington Model 7, Remington 760 (7600) carbine, and several others that are over all short and easy to swing in thick brush. Don't over look a shot gun like a Remington slugger which is short or a Mossberg. I also prefer a peep sight for that type of shooting over a scope.
Al
Hunting heavy brush woods areas isn't all bad. Ya you can't see the deer till they are about on top of you but that is true of the deer also they can't see you either. Just need to practice quick rifle handling and have a nice easy rifle to use. I like the carbines like a Winchester model 94, Remington Model 7, Remington 760 (7600) carbine, and several others that are over all short and easy to swing in thick brush. Don't over look a shot gun like a Remington slugger which is short or a Mossberg. I also prefer a peep sight for that type of shooting over a scope.
Al