What's your favorite...
- Thread starter Jake_C
- Start date
Yes but anything that brings them to a certain point where they don't want to be exposed... it could be a lot of items could even be farming practices such as well placed round bales lol... adding an added fence row... Sometimes (with the permission of landowners) you can build your own funnels and pinch points...
Gotcha. I'm thinking ahead to post season scouting and trying to get some new things to look for that I haven't already.
Funnels and pinch points are my favorite. One for example on a property I hunt is a deep ditch that runs East to West through the woods and the deer travel around it. I have a stand on both ends of it.
I'm hurting when it comes to food sources. 70% of the public i'm hunting is covered in oaks so damn near the whole place is a food source lol. the only producing apple tree I was able to find was in the middle of a field the DNR planted with sunflowers for dove. I try to avoid the fields due to the extreme pressure they get but I am trying to set up between them and bedding. If I could figure out what makes a big buck travel the way he does to any given destination (an age old problem i'm sure lol) I'd have it made! lmao
awesome. that's the kind of stuff i'm looking for. I did stumble, accidentally, on one funnel that is similar to this. It's a creek where it takes a wide S turn and is very steep on both sides. the "outside" edge of the turn seems to be traveled heavily. I guessed that they don't want to try to cross due to the steep banks so they follow along the bottom.
Hunting public land, I would hunt the other hunters. Set up on escape routes and sit from 10-dark. Don't be afraid to take chances and do something nobody else is.
The main property I hunt has hiking trails through it for members and guest, basically public that is privately owned. Most of the deer I kill are sneaking away/around people.
The main property I hunt has hiking trails through it for members and guest, basically public that is privately owned. Most of the deer I kill are sneaking away/around people.
I'd also stay away from any scents or calling. I'd say they know what that game is already. At least when it happens during daylight. I won't call unless I hear the deer doing it.
Agreed. I found probably a hundred of those little white pads for scent hanging from trees while I was scouting this spring. no way i'm putting that stuff out. may as well announce over a bull horn that there are hunters here. A friend of mine has good success with it on very low pressure private ground but this public seems to be a whole other monster.
I need to find the escape routes. I found one while I was squirrel hunting. Should be a good spot for a quick sit once the crowds start funneling in during the rut.
The only issue I have with hunting escape routes, is that the deer are often within range when you see them. So you have to be ready at all times. I don't get to play on my phone like chad while on a set. I like it though, I really enjoy hunting these types of places from the ground. In your face action!
True, and I really hate stopping a deer to take a shot. I suppose that's something i'll have to learn to deal with if i'm going to hunt those kind of situations.
dante322
*Supporting Member*
Pressured bucks will stick to thick cover. The thicker and nastier the more they feel secure in it. Find a trail that leads in and out of a swampy briar patch.
dante322
*Supporting Member*
Inside corners of age Fields are a good choice as well. I wish the dark would plant sunflowers around here. I hear they are deer magnets but never had a chance to find out for myself.
They planted a couple of fields with strips of corn and sunflowers around here. mostly just the usual corn, though.