New deer hunter tips

**ShurShot** · 09-03-2012, 04:22 PM

I am new to deer hunting and have a deer stand question?

I have a place to hunt not far from my house. It's only 5 acres but it's surrounded by civilization so it's kind of a little deer oasis (I like to think!)

I've found what I think are two or three bedding areas and some tracks
I also just scared up a giant doe right as I stepped into the trees so I know there are deer here!

My question is, I am sitting in our tree stand right now. There are quite a few trees/branches (whoa, just got dive bombed by a locust, scared the crap out of me!) anyway, I am trying to decide how much of this stuff I should cut away.... should I just make a shooting lane or two but leave some cover or open up this whole area around the stand? (I will only be bow hunting this area)

**deerwhacker444** · 09-03-2012, 04:43 PM

Cover is good, especially since you're bowhunting. Leave as much as you can, but clean out enough to give you room to draw your bow to move around, and a couple of lanes to shoot in.

**ShurShot** · 09-03-2012, 04:49 PM

That makes sense, kinda what I was thinking.

Thanks!

**ShurShot** · 09-03-2012, 06:45 PM

Just saw a fawn go creeping by about 50 yards from my stand... didn't see anyone with her/him. Is that normal or is there usually a doe nearby?

**DEER 24/7** · 09-03-2012, 06:48 PM

if it is only 5 acres i would stay out of it. only just hunt the outside edges of property,a small area like that if you go in wondering around you will scare them out of there just my .2 cents

**white92coupe** · 09-03-2012, 06:49 PM

Open up a lane or two. Set up on a trail and leave the bedding areas alone. Ambush them on their way to or from food and water.

**willystruck** · 09-03-2012, 09:17 PM

I have always believed that if you re arrange the deers living room they'll move out. just a couple of narrow shooting lanes and no more. No need to take out trees and undergrowth, just a limb or two here and there.

**Lurker66** · 09-04-2012, 12:13 AM

If its 5 acres with alot of houses around it, its prolly a bedding/retreat area. Id look for trails comming into the wooded area, set up near the edge and only hunt it in the mornings. Ambush them going to the bedding area. Chances are they'll see, hear or scent you comming to stand in evenings.

Spook em a few times and they'll go somewhere else.

**ShurShot** · 09-04-2012, 12:44 AM

This all makes sense. I've tried to stay out of it but I really want to know what is going on in there?!?!?

I've scouted it twice before today. Once about two months ago. Saw 4 or 5 piles of scat and one of the bedding areas. The second time was about a week ago. That time I made a circle through most of the property and that is when I found the other bedding areas and saw a couple of what looked like trails cutting across the property.

The stand was there before I got permission to hunt it so I am trying to figure out if it's in a good location or not. A friend's dad owns the property, no-one ever goes there but he put the stand up a few years ago. It's the kind with a ladder and fairly large seating area.

It is pretty heavily wooded with a little higher elevation on the South/East sides than the North/West. I could walk down the South fence line and get to the stand pretty easily but that is where the biggest bedding area is and it looks like a pretty heavily traveled trail runs along that fence. The stand is about 40-50 yards into the trees from that fence line.

Today, I wanted to try and find a straight shot to the stand without going through the bedding areas, crossing trails, etc... and just sit there quietly for a while to see what was going on. I entered the trees on the West side and scared up a large (looked big to me) doe. I went straight to the stand and just hung out there quietly for a few hours. I saw a fawn walking slowly straight East to West about 30 yards South of the stand but that was all I saw.

I'm not exactly sure where they are going to eat but I am pretty confident I know where they are bedding down.

When I say it is surrounded, I should be a little more clear... it is North of Edmond, about 2 miles East of I-35. The surrounding areas are not suburbs but there is a industrial yard, a couple of homes on */-5 acre lots with trees, etc... so not totally civilized.

I am thinking about sticking a feeder somewhere near the stand, there is also a small-medium sized clearing towards the North end of the property where I thought I might plant some wheat or something. Any thoughts about that?

I'm gonna try to grab a couple of cameras this week and stick them in there too. I'd like to get in and setup my shooting lanes, feeder(s) and camera and get out then leave it for a while. I wasn't sure if messing around in there too much would scare them off or not but I think you guys have answered that.

**bigcountryok** · 09-04-2012, 04:28 AM

I would highly recommend that you look that stand over real good and ensure its in good shape and that the straps are not worn at all. If they are replace them and if the stand is questionable don't use it. Of course always wear your saftey harness. Most deer hunters who die in the woods do so as a result from a treestand accident.

IMO cut as little as possible. You can make slight adjustments later if you need to, but its hard to fix the cover if you cut too much out.

Good luck, be safe, have a blast and post stories and pics!

**RidgeHunter** · 09-04-2012, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by DEER 24/7

if it is only 5 acres i would stay out of it. only just hunt the outside edges of property,a small area like that if you go in wondering around you will scare them out of there just my .2 cents

Originally Posted by Lurker66

If its 5 acres with alot of houses around it, its prolly a bedding/retreat area.

Yep. When does go into estrous they'll be looking for places just like that. If it were me I'd tread very lightly and very infrequently until the rut (especially if you have another place to hunt), then along come the first/second week of November - make that stand your second home.

If there is a lot of human activity - people walking dogs and jogging by and stuff, the neighbor BBQ'ing every weekend with the smoke blowing through the woods, etc - you can get away with more presence. Personally I wouldn't feed or plant. I bet the deer are going elsewhere to feed/water and coming there to bed. Unnecessary activity IMO.

It is pretty heavily wooded with a little higher elevation on the South/East sides than the North/West. I could walk down the South fence line and get to the stand pretty easily but that is where the biggest bedding area is and it looks like a pretty heavily traveled trail runs along that fence. The stand is about 40-50 yards into the trees from that fence line.

Sounds awesome. I love fences - all but one of my current stand spots are within site of a fence. Bucks will get on a fenceline during the rut and walk and walk for miles until they smell a horny doe in my experience. Remember your prevailing south wind when hanging a stand. Maybe set a south and north option if you need to.

**justin_h635** · 09-04-2012, 12:22 PM

Are you in a residential area? Have you hunted before? If you are a archery novice and answered yes to the first question than my advice would be to worry less about your location (it is five acres, find the first tree on the edge and hope something walks in) and more about shot placement, quick kill should you get an opportunity to kill one. Also, because you are in civilization, I would get your apology down pat as 5 acres is not enough room for a wounded deer to die in which means you are walking across other people's property, and quite possibly, entering peoples yards as the deer finally craters in someones flowerbed or bushes. Prepare for an awkward moment where anything can happen. No way I am hunting a 5 acre parcel near civilization unless I know everyone VERY WELL>

**ShurShot** · 09-04-2012, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by bigcountryok

I would highly recommend that you look that stand over real good and ensure its in good shape and that the straps are not worn at all. If they are replace them and if the stand is questionable don't use it. Of course always wear your saftey harness. Most deer hunters who die in the woods do so as a result from a treestand accident.

I looked it over really good. It's on there good. And I do where a harness. I'm old enough to know "safety first" isn't just a witty saying!

Originally Posted by justin_h635

Are you in a residential area? Have you hunted before? If you are a archery novice and answered yes to the first question than my advice would be to worry less about your location (it is five acres, find the first tree on the edge and hope something walks in) and more about shot placement, quick kill should you get an opportunity to kill one. Also, because you are in civilization, I would get your apology down pat as 5 acres is not enough room for a wounded deer to die in which means you are walking across other people's property, and quite possibly, entering peoples yards as the deer finally craters in someones flowerbed or bushes. Prepare for an awkward moment where anything can happen. No way I am hunting a 5 acre parcel near civilization unless I know everyone VERY WELL>

It's not a residential area. I don't shoot groups with arrows but if I did, they'd be 2-3 inches at 30 yards. The area where the stand is located is locked in pretty good by fence and trees/creek bed. It would have to go pretty far through a lot of heavy brush to get off the property and if it did there is a pretty good chance it won't be on anyone's front lawn or anything like that. If I do this just right, it may run and fall down next to my truck! Just kidding, good point tho, I haven't thought about that problem yet.

Thanks

**criticalbass** · 09-04-2012, 06:20 PM

You may already know this trick, but to get a walking deer to stop, make one short sharp whistle. They'll freeze momentarily, then either stroll on or go instantly to warp 10. Since my whistle is defective, I make a quacking sound that works well for me. ymmv

**Kingmarine** · 09-05-2012, 10:43 AM

Since it is a small parcel of land and unless you actually want to go through all that thick brush and miles down the road possibly, once you do get to shoot one. I would wait at least an hour to start to track it. A couple of hours is better when in doubt. I lost the biggest buck I have ever shot due to not waiting long enough and evidently he was getting up and moving as I got near. Eventually after about a mile and a half the bood trail ended and I never did see it again.