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Post by jittnee on Dec 22, 2006 11:38:08 GMT -5
This year I finally got permission to hunt some private land. This land is an 8 acre square lot that is about 75% wooded and the other 25% is a field with long marsh grass. The 8 acres is surrounded by corn fields with one other stretch of woodlot that is about 400 yards long and about 150 yards wide off the south west corner of this property. The buck sign in this property is amazing, large rubs and scrapes are everywhere, as well as some well defines paths throughout. I placed my trail camera and got a lot of shots of many deer, including a real nice buck. I have seen two other bucks during daylight hours, one that was larger than the pictured one, and the other was a nice 8-point. However, I have not seen these bucks often during the day, and have not been given a shot at one (the 8-point I jumped bedded down and the larger one came in at dark and stayed in the brush). I have NOT had any pictures of deer taken from my camera during the day and that concerns me. As I am new to hunting in Indiana and not accustom to hunting around such open ground, I was hoping some of you experienced Indiana hunters can give me some advice for next year. Because of the limited wood lot, I feel that if they're not in there when I get there in the morning they do not move in there, as I have only seen deer move out of the wooded area and never in to it, and with the corn down, the only way into this woodlot is by passing through an open field.  |
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Post by DEERTRACKS on Dec 22, 2006 11:52:58 GMT -5
Great pic.
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Post by Decatur on Dec 22, 2006 11:55:26 GMT -5
Edges, and trails leading to/from feeding/bedding areas are good. As well as any type of "funnel" natural, or man made.
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Post by hornharvester on Dec 22, 2006 14:53:42 GMT -5
If you jump a buck from his bedding grounds this late he most likely will bed somewhere else. The best setup for this small lot would be the maim trail in and out from the bigh woods going into the 8 acres you hunt. good luck, h.h.
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Post by jittnee on Dec 22, 2006 19:02:33 GMT -5
H.H. - This 8 acres is more or less a stand alone spot. There are large corn fields on all sides. The only woodlot that is connected to it is that stretch I mentioned earlier, however this too ends in a corn field. I have one stand right on the edge of the property next to this section, but it is only good for a N or NE wind, which most of the time the winds are from the S or SW. I have a second stand on the east side of the property and that is where this picture was taken from. I appreciate your suggestions, thanks guys.
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Post by bsutravis on Dec 23, 2006 5:09:30 GMT -5
Check out google.earth to get a bigger picture of your area. I'm certain there are other small wood lots nearby, probably some larger tracts of land. Look for these areas to help determine where the deer are going and coming from. If you are hunting it late season with firearms, you have an advantage of picking a stand location that offers the largest viewing area.......since you only need to concentrate on the 8 acres, you don't have so many variables and options that can sometimes make it more difficult. If it were me I'd do some spotlighting at different times of the night to possibly find where the deer are at night, so you can use that info to plan your route into the woods without bumping the deer. If your woods has sign, than you can still kill a deer there if you put in the time. I killed a doe on Monday and there were smaller bucks still chasing does this late in the season! Good luck!
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Post by hornharvester on Dec 23, 2006 12:10:21 GMT -5
H.H. - This 8 acres is more or less a stand alone spot. There are large corn fields on all sides. The only woodlot that is connected to it is that stretch I mentioned earlier, however this too ends in a corn field. I have one stand right on the edge of the property next to this section, but it is only good for a N or NE wind, which most of the time the winds are from the S or SW. I have a second stand on the east side of the property and that is where this picture was taken from. I appreciate your suggestions, thanks guys. Im sorry, I thought the other wood lot join your property. Id still hunt the side that is closest to the other wood lot as deer usually travel the shortest distance from woods to woods. h.h. |
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Post by Old Ironsights on Dec 23, 2006 14:53:27 GMT -5
FWIW (since I have no experience but am relaying what a landowner told me)
The deer are accustomed to farm implements, but not walkers.
See if you can get the landowner to drive you across the feild in a familiar truck or tractor. Hop out and go to the stand and have the truck move on.
I've been told that deer will watch the farm equipment but not bolt because they have seen the thing all year.
Anybody with actual experience seen this?
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Post by Hood on Dec 23, 2006 15:07:05 GMT -5
I have hunted a lot of small wood lots. It can be pretty tough at times and you have to be patient.
Best option is to get in there early and stay late. Try using any features such as hills or fence lines to hide your movements when going in and out.
I once hunted a small wood lot that was only 3-5 acres of woods. There wasn't anything but open space around it. One night I got settled in for an evening hunt and this kid comes walking through the woods about a half hour before dark. He stops and asked me if I wanted to do a little scouting in another woods. I thought about it since he just walked through the middle of this small woods and if there had been any deer in there, they surely would have ran out.
Well, dad always told me the best way to get a deer was to sit tight and wait. So I declined his offer and waited. He had no more than left and about ten minutes later I see this deer stand up from it's bed. Long story short, I ended up with a buck over two hundred pounds and about a twenty inch spread!
Good luck,
Robert
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Post by jittnee on Dec 23, 2006 16:27:46 GMT -5
Guys - All great suggestions, thanks. I think though that the deer gods are mad at me this year for some reason. I've had one thing after another happen and this morning was no different. I decided to go out, even though there were 20mph winds. I have been trying all season to get after that elusive "big" Indiana buck and have passed on some smaller ones. With the season ending soon I decided I would take any deer from here on out (I still have one doe tag left, and my buck tag). I sat until about 9:15, and wasn't seeing anything, so with the high winds I decided to still hunt to see if anything was bedded down on the property. I snuck through the wooded portion surrounding the swamp grass and saw a deer bedded about 20 yards away, however he seen me at the same time and jumped up, he ran across in front of me at about 25 yards, I pulled up the muzzle-loader and "Pop", - miss fire - , my in-line has "never" miss fired before. My first thought was I must not have loaded it, but after a few minutes of nothing happening, I put the rod down the barrel, and it was indeed loaded. I placed another primer on and it fired just like it should. It's been one of those seasons, but if the wife will let me, I'll be back at it again tomorrow, I just love the punishment, and sooner or later my luck has to change. Here is a picture of the buck I jumped this morning, not a big rack, but a decent size deer.  |
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Post by hornharvester on Dec 23, 2006 18:03:53 GMT -5
jittnee,
sorry you didnt get a deer but thats why we call it hunting. h.h.
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Post by steiny on Dec 23, 2006 19:52:36 GMT -5
Small wood lots are all we have around here. 40 Acres of woods would be big.
I would say your "approach" to the wood lot is the most critical thing. If you go in in a morning and walk through the deer you're probably done for, and if you go in on an evening and bump them out of the wood lot you are probably done for. Wind direction and wise use of such is critical. Also, set up on the down wind side so you don't pollute the wood lot with your scent. Pretty simple stuff actually.
Suggest using a climber stand so you can always have a good option despite the wind direction.
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Post by chicobrownbear on Dec 23, 2006 20:45:46 GMT -5
Fencerow setups.
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Post by kbacon on Dec 23, 2006 22:19:26 GMT -5
Yeah... are there any fence rows that intersect this woods? If not.. how about low lying ditch line or just low land areas? The deer will travel the low areas trying to stay hidden.
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Post by nodog on Dec 25, 2006 2:53:23 GMT -5
I've hunted small lots with success. They are difficult and do take time. Keeping detailed records are a must. Date, times, wind directions, crop rotations... Scouting and stand setting must be done in the spring. Get them up there and hidden. Be mindful of how you will get up there so as not to be seen or heard. Clear out the approach then and make it as quiet and unseen as you can. Natural cover and scents are a big help, such as roles of wheat straw or bales left to rot. Dead animals help too. Dropping trees for them to bed in and creating travel patterns are almost a must. It also opens up the ground and causes thick growth. Leave the place except for one time in July to see if all is going well. One thing I do and it sounds crazy, I go after the leaves are down with a leaf blower and clear the trails to the stands of everything so my approach is absolutely quiet. It works. Doesn't seem to bother them and I find tracks on it the very next day. Go figure. If they are there you have to get up and ready without them knowing it, and they will the moment you step near the place unless you become a ghost. They will be gone for a couple weeks sometimes to the next lot with no reason to return. One thing they will do is be on the calm side of the woods if the wind is blowing a gale on the other. I don't think I've ever taken one in the a.m. either. Good luck! Your going to need it.  |
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