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Post by jjas on Aug 19, 2023 8:14:04 GMT -5
...when hunting over a food plot or ag field without blowing deer out of the field.
I have a couple of spots that are tough to get out of without spooking deer. One is a over a food plot and the other is over a clover field that's about 30 acres.
Any ideas as to how to get out of areas like this without blowing the field?
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Post by boonechaser on Aug 19, 2023 8:25:43 GMT -5
I really don't worry about it. Biggest thing to me is not over hunting stands, and only hunting sets when conditions are in my favor. My best sets are not hunted till pre rut kicks in, and then only couple x's week , and only with right wind. If your hunting ag fields I would put up multiple sets, for different winds on field, and hunt sparingly.
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Post by lawrencecountyhunter on Aug 19, 2023 8:34:40 GMT -5
I only put stands where I have good access in and out. If I find that I can't get in and out without spooking deer, I move the stand. There are lots of spots that I'd love to hunt here on my home property, but I stay out just because of lack of access.
My best stands have thick brushy walls of cover to access behind, topography to hide my approaches and departures, or they're just 20-30 yards in from the road and I can walk a straight line in and out.
My advice is move your stands to a place near the plots where you do have good access, then try to direct deer movement to you. You could try a licking branch, water hole, drop a tree strategically to make them walk around closer to you, or a combination of methods.
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Post by genesis273 on Aug 19, 2023 8:36:22 GMT -5
Thus could be hard to answer without knowing your set up, terrain, etc...
But, if I'm on the field edge and see deer in the field, I wait until it's completely dark and slip out without my headlamp on.
If I have a friend hunting with me, and he can slip out clean, I may have him come pick me me up on the field edge, assuming it's harvested, at the base of my tree (obviously make sure you're not damaging the field and landowner doesn't mind). This will bump deer but, they're use to farm activity and will come right back out.
Study your ariel photos of your hunting set-up. Prepare yourself a couple entry and exit strategies for each hunting set up based on wind and cover. Prepare some trails that you can easily and safely navigate with or with out a headlight.
Try and get yourself use to the thought or idea that you may have to take the long way around to get back to your vehicle.
T. Edward Nickens once penned the idea of not sounding like a hunter on his way out. Talking loudly and not being careful as he walked out. The idea was to make the deer think it's just a random thing and not a hunter. Seems a little different to me though.
If you can slip in and out of your stand without the deer knowing they're being hunted, then you'll be just fine.
Good luck and hunt safe!
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Post by jjas on Aug 19, 2023 8:40:41 GMT -5
I really don't worry about it. Biggest thing to me is not over hunting stands, and only hunting sets when conditions are in my favor. My best sets are not hunted till pre rut kicks in, and then only couple x's week , and only with right wind. If your hunting ag fields I would put up multiple sets, for different winds on field, and hunt sparingly. I try to do what you are saying. I leave the area(s) alone until pre rut, try to hunt them sparingly and only on the best wind and we have multiple stands/blinds set up. It's just tough to get out without being seen, especially on the ag field.
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Post by boonechaser on Aug 19, 2023 8:43:19 GMT -5
As long it is a occassional bumping of deer it shouldn't change their pattern. Of course they arn't stupid , continued bumping will make them change patterns for certain.
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Post by jjas on Aug 19, 2023 8:45:35 GMT -5
I've heard of hunters having a buddy drive a 4 wheeler near the area to try and clear the field a bit, but I don't like doing things like that. I've even read where people use a coyote call to try and clear the fields as well. I've never tried it, but I don't like to spook deer in any way if I can avoid it.
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Post by MuzzleLoader on Aug 19, 2023 9:22:14 GMT -5
If ya can’t get out or in without spooking them, find another spot or path. Hunt the fringe. It’s My number 1 concern around ag fields. Might take an extra day or two. But bust them out. They will come after dark.
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Post by jjas on Aug 19, 2023 11:47:04 GMT -5
Thanks for all the replies.
The thing about this ag field is there is a fairly narrow opening to the gate that leads into it. There's no other place to park.
And where do I consistently bump the deer? Right near this opening when I'm coming out after a hunt. I hug the fence line walking out after dark, but I inevitably run a few deer out as I get close to that gate.
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Post by Woody Williams on Aug 19, 2023 13:56:32 GMT -5
Deer can stay there all night - I can’t.
I’ll usually lower my crossbow or gun to the ground. Bounce it up and down in the leaves while barking/growling like a dog. That usually works.
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Post by esshup on Aug 19, 2023 23:32:58 GMT -5
Sounding like a coyote will get them nervous and moving. I have waited them out and had to stay a good 2 hours after last legal shooting light. Good thing there was moonlight and my binoculars worked in low light. I couldn't see the deer with the naked eye, but using the binoculars I could.
It's hardest during archery season. Gun season I can usually set back far enough in some of the stands that I can get out without bothering them.
Situations like this is where an electronic predator call comes in handy with a remote to turn it on.
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Post by titanium700 on Aug 20, 2023 17:43:45 GMT -5
Thanks for all the replies. The thing about this ag field is there is a fairly narrow opening to the gate that leads into it. There's no other place to park. And where do I consistently bump the deer? Right near this opening when I'm coming out after a hunt. I hug the fence line walking out after dark, but I inevitably run a few deer out as I get close to that gate. Then hunt on that gate. 😉
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Post by jtkelly on Aug 20, 2023 18:47:31 GMT -5
If I can't help spooking them after dark to get out, I'll make some obvious noise I'd NEVER make trying to sneak in or out. Like bark like a dog, whoop like a rebel yell, what ever to run them off on purpose and yet not give them something to associate with me or hunting.
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Post by omegahunter on Aug 21, 2023 11:20:48 GMT -5
The place I used to hunt had walking paths cut back away from all the ag fields so that you were always walking away from the open fields when leaving. A bunch were a good bit longer walk than if you could cut across the field, but it kept you from spooking any deer that were out there. That place became a coal mine about 15 years ago.
The place I hunt now does not seem to have hardly any activity in the field between the woods and the truck, so I ride the atv to the very corner of the woods and park it there and walk ahead in. I've seen far more deer in the hay field south of the woods than the ag field that is between the truck and woods. There is also a huge ag field to the west of me. The only time I see deer out there is when someone shoots in the woods on the other side of that big field. Got a cow pasture and short distance to the highway on the east side. I would honestly have a hard time getting to this woods if deer hung out in the field to the north.
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Post by steiny on Aug 21, 2023 11:47:58 GMT -5
Deer can stay there all night - I can’t. I’ll usually lower my crossbow or gun to the ground. Bounce it up and down in the leaves while barking/growling like a dog. That usually works. I'm waiting to see the Youtube of this
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Post by jjas on Aug 21, 2023 12:24:17 GMT -5
Thanks for all the replies. The thing about this ag field is there is a fairly narrow opening to the gate that leads into it. There's no other place to park. And where do I consistently bump the deer? Right near this opening when I'm coming out after a hunt. I hug the fence line walking out after dark, but I inevitably run a few deer out as I get close to that gate. Then hunt on that gate. 😉 If I sat near the gate, I'd be maybe 10 yards off the road.
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Post by Mack Apiary Bees on Aug 21, 2023 13:42:01 GMT -5
My new ladder stand is a tough one to get in or out. Super thick area to the stand, but big old open woods at the stand down to South Fork Laughery Creek. I can see 300 yards. This Saturday, hopefully, I'll get a trail through the brush. The thickest is 10-13 feet high and 100 yards long. Nothing will see me unless it's on the same new trail. I am going to walk on an angle down the side of the hill to about 30 feet away from the stand and then to the stand. This way the deer will not be looking my way. The deer should be looking down or up the hill. The hill continues for 360 hundred yards to the creek. Once the leaves drop I might see to the creek.
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Post by titanium700 on Aug 21, 2023 17:43:08 GMT -5
My new ladder stand is a tough one to get in or out. Super thick area to the stand, but big old open woods at the stand down to South Fork Laughery Creek. I can see 300 yards. This Saturday, hopefully, I'll get a trail through the brush. The thickest is 10-13 feet high and 100 yards long. Nothing will see me unless it's on the same new trail. I am going to walk on an angle down the side of the hill to about 30 feet away from the stand and then to the stand. This way the deer will not be looking my way. The deer should be looking down or up the hill. The hill continues for 360 hundred yards to the creek. Once the leaves drop I might see to the creek. I used to hunt a public spot out in English Indiana where I would walk about a mile to get to my stand. Many times when I would come back out after dark I would see deer tracks all around my vehicle. Would drive me nuts. Lol
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Post by willy7948 on Sept 15, 2023 1:30:21 GMT -5
Can you share the property aerial? All depends on what you’re working with.
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