I know shooting traditional equipment I'm going to have to get a little closer than what I'm used to. I want to try to stay at 12-15 yards max, closer than that would be great. I've got ladder stands, pops ups, a ghillie suit, I'm used to hunting out of homemade brush blinds, I know to play the wind, etc. I was just wondering what set ups you guys prefer for getting really close. I know everybody has their own ways of doing things, and I'm just looking for new ideas.
I think there's such a thing as getting too close. The last time I was hunting blacktails in No Cal, I was in a pop-up blind. The nicest 4X4 I've ever seen came around from behind the blind and was standing less than 6' in front of it. I waited frozen in position hoping he would walk off a little further and turn his head away from me so I could get in position and draw the bow (yes, I was out of position! I'm just not the kind of person who can stay in shooting position for hours). But that wasn't to be; he didn't like what he saw or smelled and ran away to the side before I could do anything about it.
I would much rather have a deer 15-20 yards away than less than 10 yards. I just think I have a better chance for a shot.
I like to learn the deer travel patterns better and position myself in a travel funnel, manmade or other, so that they move by close. I have been hunting the ground for several years now and I usually get some pretty close encounters.
ChuckC
Once you locate a good stand site, sit very still in your ghillie with the wind in your face, and you will have a good working combo. Good hunting!
QuoteOriginally posted by ChuckC:
I like to learn the deer travel patterns better and position myself in a travel funnel, manmade or other, so that they move by close. I have been hunting the ground for several years now and I usually get some pretty close encounters.
ChuckC
X2!!!
Except I do both ground hunting and elevated stands. Depends on each location.
Try to find Funnels and pinch points then hunt. Or even better, like the Wenzel's have mentioned a funnel inside a funnel is even better.
As much as I like hunting from the ground in natural material blinds, treestands prove to be the most productive for me. I hunt mostly smaller tracts of property so keeping my impact minimized is important. Treestands close to the edge really seem to help with that. I'll use a ladder stand or hang on depending on the situation and like stands 12 to 15 ft high for a 12-15 yard shot. If you can leave the stand up, brushing it in some will help keep from being busted, altho movement and wind are the keys.
Have Fun!
I'm with McDave on this one. I like em 10-20 yards. I Use logs and brush in more open woods and cut subtle trails for them in the thick stuff to sort of steer them where I want them. 10 yards and closer and they catch any movement they freak out. Seems like you have more of a comfort/buffer zone for them where they feel somewhat safe even if they catch you move a little. Not to mention the scent factor is compounded up close too. Just my opinion though.
I have shot 4 deer this year. The farthest shot was 14yds. I like to throw a little hand throw corn out from 10-15yds out from my stand. If they come in and find it, it gets them to stop for a bit. Then it is just a waiting game for them to get in the correct position for a shot.
Bisch
I like to be tucked into the edge of the thick stuff they walk thru! I'm lost in open woods I need low canopy with young tree growth, young pines growing everywhere, swampy ness, brush, scrub oaks..... remember hunting deer this close be real quiet with a stop grunt too load and they are gone.
QuoteOriginally posted by Tajue17:
I like to be tucked into the edge of the thick stuff they walk thru! I'm lost in open woods I need low canopy with young tree growth, young pines growing everywhere, swampy ness, brush, scrub oaks..... remember hunting deer this close be real quiet with a stop grunt too load and they are gone.
That's how it is where I hunt. Lots of thick young pines, along with a mixture of creek bottom and oaks. Most of the mature pines were cut last summer so this year there will be some new growth/clearcut areas that will be pretty good too. Before I've always set up where I could shoot out to 30 yards, and tried to keep my shots under 25. The farthest I've ever shot a deer is about 22 yards. By next fall I hope to be able to shoot that far with my recurve, but I just want to be safe and not push it. Also I'm a fan of pop up blinds, and usually brush them in really good a few weeks prior to season. But I don't know how well that will work this year because my trad bow is so much longer. I may use homemade brush blinds and a ghillie suit a lot more.
A ghillie and playing the wind should get you close. If you are too close, getting drawn is sometimes tough! Have fun!
I like the deer to be no closer than 10 yds
12-15 is the best for me
Ive had a does 1 yard away from the tip of my arrow
Couldnt do anything but enjoy the moment
Cover and wind. I try and have as much hiding me as possible and use shooting lanes/holes.
Don't skyline yourself in a tree stand. Have a buddy sit up there and you look up. You would be surprised how badly you can stick right out.
Have good back cover to hide your silhouette.
Draw when the deer is behind brush or a tree.
Getting close is my favorite part. I like to see the ticks crawling in their fur before shooting!
Exaggerating about the ticks of course!
10-15 is ideal for me.
I still hunt because that is what I like to do, not because I am particularly effective...this is a great way to learn about deer behaviour even if it is not the major hunting method you use
DDave
Most of my shots are between 15/20 yards.I am comfortable at those ranges and seem the game are also.Kip
Hopefully before next deer season I'll be confident out to 20. That's plenty far for me. Right now I'd feel comfortable at about 7...maybe!! But it's only been a few weeks and I missed a week of shooting because of work. I'm not giving up!!
I just noticed your in east tx, so am I! Where about are you?
We have a hog hunt coming up in April at the old sabine bottom wma if you wanna meet some tradgangers! A great group of guys and always room for one more!
I'm in Crockett. Old Sabine isn't too far from me. I've been watching that thread, and I may try to make it!!
Cool deal! I'm up around Big Sandy. If your ever up this way give me a shout and we'll do some shootin or something!
I got with in two feet of a nice eight pointer this year. Problem was, I had my favorite right hand bow with me and I have a little problem of always taking one too many practice shots with a judo point. I was looking for my next target and I almost stepped on him. He jumped up and just stood there about six feet away, at least until I tried to dump the judo and get out a broad head. He did not like the looks of that broad head. While still hunting I got between two bucks that were 25 feet apart. One ten feet to my left and one 15 feet to my right. I blew my first attempt when i hit my arm on a sharp broken branch and flipped the arrow off the string, but he ran, stopped and I got him with the second arrow.
QuoteOriginally posted by crittergetter:
Cool deal! I'm up around Big Sandy. If your ever up this way give me a shout and we'll do some shootin or something!
Thanks!!
The biggest thing that has helped me get closer is altering the landscape to encourage deer to walk past me at close range. I do this by hinge-cutting trees, blocking trails etc. I am beginning to rely on this more and more as I mostly hunt areas with low deer densities. I may go out hunting 7 or 8 times in a row without seeing a single deer so when I do finally see one, I want the best odds for a shot as I can get! Plus it's really fun to do all of this work around a particular stand in Feb/March and then see it work perfectly in November. I've always done this sort of thing but I have since really increased the use of this tactict after attending Barry Wensels bootcamp and seeing firsthand how much those guys do it. What a difference it makes. Think of it as taking a great spot and making it even better! The other thing I now do to all of my rut stands is make a large mock scrape right where I want the deer to stop. I make it large and obvious. 4 foot in diameter or so. A cruising buck will stop there pretty much everytime and will give you a relaxed shot at a distracted buck.
Oh and another big one for me. I hate to be in a tree that doesn't have enough cover. Not only are you more likely to be busted by approaching deer but it also adds stress because as the deer moves closer you are concerned that he MIGHT pick you off! I use a lot of pine tree boughs attached to the tree to build a little nest up there in order to hide myself. Often I'll actually cut down a 6 foot pine or cedar tree and tie wire it into the tree where my stand will be. If I am hunting an area that is full of honeysuckle then I tend to keep my stands much lower in order to use the honeysuckle as cover. A few years ago I shot a big buck from 8 yards in a stand that was only 6 feet off the ground but was well concealed in the honeysuckle.
A tucked in well 8-12' stand is my favorite. Being elevated gives you more shot options usually. We spend a ton of time and effort to get into range of that 15 yard circle and game usually doesn't read the script to walk in front of you stopping perfectly. At those ranges they will detect you sooner or later and to be able to have more shooting options most time is the difference in success and failure.
Just a matter of circumstances and how much of a challenge you want to bite off.
I killed a button head at 3 steps from the ground once. One of the proudest shots of my bow hunting life. RC
I shot my deer at 10 feet on the ground the year. Op you'll find that that further you can shoot accurately the more deer you'll get. Once you get beyond a certain distance it's a lot easier get the shot off. Ideal distance would be 40 yards but that's too far for my liking so 20/25 yards is nice for me.