Am I doing something wrong?
11-19-2015, 05:29 AM
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 9
Am I doing something wrong?
This is my second year hunting and second year hunting on the same property. Last year I saw around 6 deer within shooting distance of my tree stand.
This year I am hunting out of a blind lifted up 6ft. Not the prettiest setup but I'm covered and in the air.
My problem is this: I had a trail camera up that is about 100 yards east of my blind and before I setup my blind, I checked my cam and I had a few deer on it. But ever since I put up my stand, I haven't seen anything nor has my cam.
I'm on private property, nobody hunts here except for me, and I make sure that I take all of the necessary steps before and after hunting like using non-scent items (body wash, shampoo, deodorant, spray) and I enter my blind quietly and exit my blind quietly.
Last year, all the deer I saw came from the east (where my trail cam is).
Could I be doing something wrong? Please let me know. I still consider myself a beginner.
This year I am hunting out of a blind lifted up 6ft. Not the prettiest setup but I'm covered and in the air.
My problem is this: I had a trail camera up that is about 100 yards east of my blind and before I setup my blind, I checked my cam and I had a few deer on it. But ever since I put up my stand, I haven't seen anything nor has my cam.
I'm on private property, nobody hunts here except for me, and I make sure that I take all of the necessary steps before and after hunting like using non-scent items (body wash, shampoo, deodorant, spray) and I enter my blind quietly and exit my blind quietly.
Last year, all the deer I saw came from the east (where my trail cam is).
Could I be doing something wrong? Please let me know. I still consider myself a beginner.
11-19-2015, 05:45 AM
#2
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: idaho
Posts: 2,773
hard to say without more information.are you sitting still?are you downwind of where you expect deer to come from?are deer even still in area or have they moved on?just a few things to think on.not knowing your area not much more I can add, if you have a specific question don't be afraid to ask it.
that's why it's called hunting, not killing. keep at it, persistence will pay off.everyone must learn as they go and none of us ever get to the point we know it all.
that's why it's called hunting, not killing. keep at it, persistence will pay off.everyone must learn as they go and none of us ever get to the point we know it all.
11-19-2015, 06:16 AM
#3
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 9
hard to say without more information.are you sitting still?are you downwind of where you expect deer to come from?are deer even still in area or have they moved on?just a few things to think on.not knowing your area not much more I can add, if you have a specific question don't be afraid to ask it.
that's why it's called hunting, not killing. keep at it, persistence will pay off.everyone must learn as they go and none of us ever get to the point we know it all.
that's why it's called hunting, not killing. keep at it, persistence will pay off.everyone must learn as they go and none of us ever get to the point we know it all.
Well I am in Indiana. I am about 45 minutes south west of Indianapolis. It's about 50 degrees outside. Also, I never have understood the whole wind direction thing when it came to hunting. Idk how you are able to determine that. It feels like the wind is blowing north east. And I expect the deer to come from south east to east direction. But I'm a little west of where they usually come from. I also don't know if deer have left this area, but last year, I saw deer here all the way up till the end of December.
What other Information would you need?
11-19-2015, 06:27 AM
#4
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: idaho
Posts: 2,773
I am sitting still, I'm in my blind.
Well I am in Indiana. I am about 45 minutes south west of Indianapolis. It's about 50 degrees outside. Also, I never have understood the whole wind direction thing when it came to hunting. Idk how you are able to determine that. It feels like the wind is blowing north east. And I expect the deer to come from south east to east direction. But I'm a little west of where they usually come from. I also don't know if deer have left this area, but last year, I saw deer here all the way up till the end of December.
What other Information would you need?
Well I am in Indiana. I am about 45 minutes south west of Indianapolis. It's about 50 degrees outside. Also, I never have understood the whole wind direction thing when it came to hunting. Idk how you are able to determine that. It feels like the wind is blowing north east. And I expect the deer to come from south east to east direction. But I'm a little west of where they usually come from. I also don't know if deer have left this area, but last year, I saw deer here all the way up till the end of December.
What other Information would you need?
when I say sitting still , deer can detect the slightest movement.
are you being as silent as possible? because same goes for sound.
you don't want them downwind of you. because same goes for scent
11-19-2015, 07:12 AM
#5
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 9
other information?well map of your area might be a start. it is just tough to say how I, PERSONALLY WOULD DO IT , different without knowing anything firsthand about the area, therefor ,I cannot really say if or what your doing wrong. only suggest a few things to think about.
when I say sitting still , deer can detect the slightest movement.
are you being as silent as possible? because same goes for sound.
you don't want them downwind of you. because same goes for scent
when I say sitting still , deer can detect the slightest movement.
are you being as silent as possible? because same goes for sound.
you don't want them downwind of you. because same goes for scent
11-19-2015, 07:38 AM
#6
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Germany/Calif.
Posts: 2,664
Just an idea, maybe you are laying down what I call a scent fence when you are walking in. Not only are some Deer hesitant to follow a trail with human scent on it, they can even be hesitant to cross a trail of human scent.
I had one hunting area where, in many years of hunting there, I never saw a Deer come in the same direction I walked in. I'm talking about a whole compass direction or a half circle. They'd come in from due West and sometimes from the South east. I usually walked in from the North. Wind was typically West to East.
Not much foot traffic or contact with humans there, human scent would spook them. I wash with base soap, which is getting hard to find here.
Something else about this spot, the Hogs would cross periodically North/South, usually North to South, sometimes the opposite direction, The Deer avoided the Hog trails, almost those two compass directions. I'm talking a wide swath maybe a fifty yards wide or wider. It is like the Deer just refused to walk the same ground as the Hogs did. When the Hogs were coming, the first tip off was often a Deer leaving in a panic, usually a Doe with a fawn. Deer are notional, I've seen them feeding right next to the Hogs, most Deer fear them, especially the Doe with Fawn.
Maybe you have some Yotes Hunting that area?
I had one area that was rich with Deer, just dry up. Took me months to figure it out. A pair of Dogs would make a loop most every night, they'd walk themselves. My guess is the owner would let them out and they'd come home again a couple of hours later. I saw their sign numerous times, one large Dog one medium Dog. I never did actually see them. I imagine Yotes could cause the same thing.
Just some ideas.
I use my Jeep to scout. I set up on a good spot with a good view and a pair of Binoculars. I usually setup way early 3 A.M. and just sit in the Jeep and watch. Once I get an idea of Deer movements I place my high seat or blind. Full Moon is a good time for this. And/or using farm roads and checking tracks after a rain or snow.
I had one hunting area where, in many years of hunting there, I never saw a Deer come in the same direction I walked in. I'm talking about a whole compass direction or a half circle. They'd come in from due West and sometimes from the South east. I usually walked in from the North. Wind was typically West to East.
Not much foot traffic or contact with humans there, human scent would spook them. I wash with base soap, which is getting hard to find here.
Something else about this spot, the Hogs would cross periodically North/South, usually North to South, sometimes the opposite direction, The Deer avoided the Hog trails, almost those two compass directions. I'm talking a wide swath maybe a fifty yards wide or wider. It is like the Deer just refused to walk the same ground as the Hogs did. When the Hogs were coming, the first tip off was often a Deer leaving in a panic, usually a Doe with a fawn. Deer are notional, I've seen them feeding right next to the Hogs, most Deer fear them, especially the Doe with Fawn.
Maybe you have some Yotes Hunting that area?
I had one area that was rich with Deer, just dry up. Took me months to figure it out. A pair of Dogs would make a loop most every night, they'd walk themselves. My guess is the owner would let them out and they'd come home again a couple of hours later. I saw their sign numerous times, one large Dog one medium Dog. I never did actually see them. I imagine Yotes could cause the same thing.
Just some ideas.
I use my Jeep to scout. I set up on a good spot with a good view and a pair of Binoculars. I usually setup way early 3 A.M. and just sit in the Jeep and watch. Once I get an idea of Deer movements I place my high seat or blind. Full Moon is a good time for this. And/or using farm roads and checking tracks after a rain or snow.
Last edited by MudderChuck; 11-19-2015 at 07:42 AM.
11-19-2015, 08:06 AM
#7
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: On an Island in Vermont
Posts: 22,605
Often deer will just move from one area to another. They will often bed near a feeding area and in the mid west that feed is often a crop field which can change from one year to another. It is always best to place your stand location down wind from where you expect the deer to come from. If that can't be done going up vertically into a tree stand often helps. I wouldn't sit in the same spot day after day. Move around on the property and see what happens.
11-19-2015, 08:32 AM
#8
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: south eastern PA
Posts: 15,436
I can see 360 degrees out of my tree stands so I don't worry much about wind and it has never affected my success. I also have never been a big proponent of worrying about scent free clothing and sprays etc. One thing you did not say is how long has your blind been in place. Deer will avoid things that are new for a while. Since you are on private land, your blind or stand should be placed at least a month before deer season.
11-19-2015, 09:21 AM
#9
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: On an Island in Vermont
Posts: 22,605
Must be the "old" in both OT and myself but I agree about not worrying about the scent free clothing....we probably smell like a deer who knows.
I try to be aware of wind direction especially since I am a still hunter and tracker with gun rather than a stand sitter. With bow I sit in tree stands and haven't really had much problem with wind. I put up more than a few stands and use them only when the wind in right and rotate to not burn a spot out. I have had my best luck when sitting in a stand that has been rested for a few days.
I try to be aware of wind direction especially since I am a still hunter and tracker with gun rather than a stand sitter. With bow I sit in tree stands and haven't really had much problem with wind. I put up more than a few stands and use them only when the wind in right and rotate to not burn a spot out. I have had my best luck when sitting in a stand that has been rested for a few days.
11-19-2015, 10:38 AM
#10
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Illinois
Posts: 3,695
My problem is this: I had a trail camera up that is about 100 yards east of my blind and before I setup my blind, I checked my cam and I had a few deer on it. But ever since I put up my stand, I haven't seen anything nor has my cam.