trails, plots, shit, rubs?

[at1010]

What do you all like to look for this time of year when you are scouting?

I hunt a lot of my plots but I have found that is OK hunting but next year I need to get into the thicker trails to get a shot at a mature deer.

Today I found some areas with 20 piles of deer shit within 10 yards and trails that are WORN!


So what are some of your all best sets? Trails, plots? Trails to plot/fields?

 

[Bigslam51]

Look for faint secondary trails that the bucks will use. Find one of those that goes through a pinch point and you could hit paydirt. Take note of where all the bedding areas are also.

 

[giles]

Keep in mind that what you are finding now might not be the same patterns as early season, mid season, or even deer hunting season at all.

 

[Bigslam51]

Keep in mind that what you are finding now might not be the same patterns as early season, mid season, or even deer hunting season at all.

I tend to disagree with that. The trails you find now are going to be the ones they've used all season.

 

[giles]

I tend to disagree with that. The trails you find now are going to be the ones they've used all season.

In a area with low pressure and higher deer numbers, I'll agree.

In my area deer are yarded up and you couldn't find a turd in some really good areas. The critters trails have turned into coon paths. But then you go a mile down the road and will be slipping around on wet shit on stomped down paths.

I should've said more in my original thread before posting, but I had to jump up and do some actual work...damn job thing getting in the way again. Lol

 

[Bigslam51]

But even if the deer yard up somewhere else your still going to find their trails. Coons ain't making trails 1-2 feet wide.

 

[giles]

But even if the deer yard up somewhere else your still going to find their trails. Coons ain't making trails 1-2 feet wide.

I understand that, maybe I'm just not wording things right. We are saying the same things here, I think.

 

[Bigslam51]

I understand that, maybe I'm just not wording things right. We are saying the same things here, I think.

Great minds think alike, Giles.

 

[Hortontoter]

Look for faint secondary trails that the bucks will use. Find one of those that goes through a pinch point and you could hit paydirt. Take note of where all the bedding areas are also.

I'd say this is solid advice. Pinch points/funnels are what I think increases your odds more than anything. Only thing that is compareable may be a bait pile if associated with heavy snowfall.

 

[at1010]

thank you all!

I agree Chad, I think that if a trail is worn down now, that tends to be a very used trail all year long.

The issue I have is my farm has trails everywhere, criss crossing, up/down, etc. I guess I can just pick the most worn down trails and hope for the best.

The other issue is knowing where they bed. I know of a couple clear cut areas that they MUST bed in, so thick its perfect for them. However I have found about 20+ beds this week in open bottoms near some of my sets. I am wondering if sometimes Im not pushing deer out on my way in to the stand.

 

[Carpn]

One thing I like about this time of yr ya can see how the terrain lays better and stand back and get the big picture . With the leaves and such gone ya can see much better .
Trails are a good thing , but by this time of yr a area with a decent number of deer is gonna have trails all over the place .
Finding rubs is good , if its a area that not only has rubs from last fall , but also yrs before . Don't get all caught up in a couple rubs from last fall....But if a area shows signs for multiple yrs it will be worth checking into next fall .

The majority of my decisions on where to hunt area based on terrain , and cover first . And sign second . Generally if ya find a spot with the right terrain or cover to allow deer to travel thru , there will be sign there .

 

[finelyshedded]

One thing I like about this time of yr ya can see how the terrain lays better and stand back and get the big picture . With the leaves and such gone ya can see much better .
Trails are a good thing , but by this time of yr a area with a decent number of deer is gonna have trails all over the place .
Finding rubs is good , if its a area that not only has rubs from last fall , but also yrs before . Don't get all caught up in a couple rubs from last fall....But if a area shows signs for multiple yrs it will be worth checking into next fall .

The majority of my decisions on where to hunt area based on terrain , and cover first . And sign second . Generally if ya find a spot with the right terrain or cover to allow deer to travel thru , there will be sign there .

That's me TOO!!! It stacks the cards in your favor but you still have to get in and out without them knowing it! That is the most important thing you can't over emphasize!!!!

 

[Hortontoter]

I was at the cabin yesterday and took these photos. I did this to show what I think is a perfect example of a natural funnel. This is what I consider to be the best hunting set up on my property, especially during the rut. The orange line is my tractor path, which I use to access my creek bottom and the back sections of my property. When hunting this funnel I always walk in as it is only about a 100 yard walk from my cabin door. The red dotted line represents a fence that borders my property and the farm to the south of me. The solid red lines represent the way deer travel this bottom. The solid red dot is the box stand I shot Splitter out of. It is a little hard to tell, but this bottom has a steep hillside on the west side and is a virtual cliff on the east side. Deer that come through this bottom must walk between the creek and where the old pond was at one time. There is no other way to get through this bottom. The distance from the creek to the old pond site is about 20 foot wide at the widest point and in one spot is less than 8 foot wide. This in my mind is about as good as a natural terrain funnel can be. The second photo is just a closer look at the area a deer must pass through in the creek bottom.

 

[finelyshedded]

Yup Dick!!! That's a great pinch!

 

[at1010]

thanks guys. I am really trying to find more pinch points to hunt for next season. I believe I have found a few already that should be great!

 

[Bigslam51]

thanks guys. I am really trying to find more pinch points to hunt for next season. I believe I have found a few already that should be great!

Good stuff, Al! I have a couple spots picked out also from what I've observed while scouting/hunting. And Dick, that is one hell of a pinch right there!

 

[finelyshedded]

If you can find a tight pinch within a bottleneck or funnel then you've hit pay dirt! They're out there! It can be as simple as a hole in a fence that's below a ponds dam or another restriction cutting though a swale,drainage,small secluded hollow or a finger. If you find a place like that and it's upwind of a tree or ambush spot that you can get into or out of with minimal disturbance then you are set!

Good luck Al!

 

[at1010]

If you can find a tight pinch within a bottleneck or funnel then you've hit pay dirt! They're out there! It can be as simple as a hole in a fence that's below a ponds dam or another restriction cutting though a swale,drainage,small secluded hollow or a finger. If you find a place like that and it's upwind of a tree or ambush spot that you can get into or out of with minimal disturbance then you are set!

Good luck Al!

thats my thing to be honest, I think I just have hunted TOO conservatively in the past. I only hunted the very edges of the farm, and never pushed the limits. I know a few areas that are great, but I need to be able to sneak in. However, if I can sneak in between the draws/creek beds in SE Ohio the funnel is a great area.

Going to get a bit more aggressive for next year for sure!

 

[Hortontoter]

Sometimes I think you can push the limits a bit. Especially if it is your first sit on a stand. Go out now and find a route that allows you access with minimal disturbance. I'd hunt the interior of the property early while there is plenty of foliage to give you some cover. Days that rain are also good times to sneak in later in the season.

 

[hickslawns]

I agree with Dick. I don't play it sloppy or overly aggressive in the early season. In the heat of the rut, I will take some chances though. I have stands in place based on scouting done in Feb-Mar. Those stands are set mid summer. They are left alone until the rut. If on heavy travel corridors I "might" try a sit in early season to verify my thinking. Usually this is only if I have a gut feeling they are using it on an early season pattern. Where many (myself included in the past) get sucked in is if we actually see a nice one and don't connect. We tend to forgot the objective of this stand placement and push it too far. Then by the rut the big boys are skirting this stand area.