I'm a pretty new whitetail hunter and plan to go out and start setting up some ground blinds in the next couple weeks. What are some basics I should look for in finding some good spots? Trails, creeks, rubs, thick areas, meadows...? I'm really pretty inexperienced with big game hunting altogether so any advice would be appriciated. The only place I ever hunted whitetails was pretty easy for me to pick a spot because I worked on that property and saw a lot of deer in one area. I didn't have to do much intentional scouting.
Find their food source, and then their bedding area, and set up on the trails between the two. You can fine tune it by finding natural "funnels" or "pinch points"...anything that make the deer go past a certain area. Terrain, roadways, open fields vs. woodlines, rivers, creeks and ponds are all good areas to look for a funnel.
Depending on your area, white oaks are a great magnet. Crop fields also draw them in.
Now is the time to get out there and pattern them and figure out what they will be eating when your season opens up....then its a matter of putting in your time and watching the wind.
Good luck.
I guess some info about the land would help... it's about 80-90 acre woodlot. Some has been logged and most is just a mix of hardwoods and conifers. I think there is a creek running along one side of the property about 100 yards in from the road. Pretty hilly. A couple of clearings... that's all I can think of for now, I was only there once, but did see two does and a cyote on their heels.
Find a spot where they are crossing the creek. That makes a good funnel spot. If there are brush piles left from the logging, see if you can find a trail that goes between two of them or a brush pile and the creek. Later on, you can look for rub lines (places where bucks rub the bark off of trees with their antlers. The side of the tree with the rubbed off bark is the direction the buck was coming from. This may tip off where he is bedding as they often make rubs between the feeding and bedding areas (usually at night or just before dawn).
Welcome to the wonderful world of traditional bow hunting. I know of nothing more satisfying.
Where ever you decide to set up make sure you have complete cover front,sides and behind you.
First of all, the presence of deer in the area. Big help.
Direction of the prevailing wind. Big plus if it keeps you downwind.
I like the funnel. Couple of years back I found a spot where the woods met a beanfield and there was a narrow stand of timber that separated one beanfield from another. The deer went from the timber into that narrow stand to pass between the 2 beanfields under cover. In the AM they were going to, in the PM from. I set up where I was 90 degrees to their path with the prevailing wind in my face. Been a terrific producing spot ever since.
sam
Great advice so far. Most of my stands are in funnels between bedding and food. However, I would add the down wind side of doe bedding areas and funnels between bedding areas is my second location for stands. I move to these when the pre-rut is going. The buck really like to circle down wind of bedding areas as they check for hot does.
Great advice so far. Try to figure out bedding and feeding areas and key in on trails that connect the two. Pay very close attention to the wind and try to set up stands or build ground blinds for every possible wind direction. Pick which stand to actually hunt based on the wind direction that day and where you expect the deer to approach from.
That's a very simple description of a very complex problem. The fun is in finding the right answer with many variables thrown in the mix, but that really is what it boils down to.
On a track of land that small try to find the food source and put up as many stands as you can and hunt the wind. Look for droppings (Deer Poo) and maybe some rubs and also find a area with lots of fresh tracks. If you hunt there much you will see a pattern pretty quick. Good luck and good huntin.
I love creek crossings because it is very easy to see where they cross. If you don't see them in the morning try it in the evening. I would highly recomend those wind floaters you just pull a little off and watch what it does it will tell you tons of info on the wind (just because it is hitting you in the face does not mean it is not swirling back around 50 yards behind you) especialy in the hills and dips. Edges are where it is at, especially edges in the woods where it goes from thick to more open woods. Gregg miller has written some excellent books I would highly recomend you read. I loaned all mine out and they have never returned. Those clear cut logging trails are prolly a good bet also. there is just to much to cover you need some of Greggs books from amazon.com. You also might want to check out Fred Asbells ground hunting book, I have heard it is worth checking out for the ground hunting stuff. Once again WIND FLOATERS!!!
thanks for all the advice everyone. Looks like I have some investigating to do.
One note on scouting. Keep your presence at a minimum in the area you intend to hunt. The more you go in there, the more they will know you are in there and when you visit. A couple sortees should suffice to get locations and learn the area. Don't stink it up so much that you affect what they are doing.
On small pieces of hunitng ground the wind direction and how to access your stands without alerting every deer on the small piece are very important. Keep in mind where you think they are coming from, wind direction, and how you can access your stand without walking through where they are coming from. Always better to hunt deer that aren't quite aware of your presence than those that know without a doubt you are there. Good Luck!
ditto on what George said, it's better to go in one time and spend enough time to gather the info you need then to go in and out over and over.
learn to read the wind in your area. get your hands on a copy of "Come November" by Gene Wensel. ton's of good info for newbies as well as older bowhunters. trail cameras are also great tools to find out when the deer are using certain areas and trails. get a topo map of your hunting area and study it for funnels (pinch points). finally keep a logbook or notes on you findings. deer sightings, rubs, scrapes, trails, tracks, droppings and so on.
it may take a few years to nail down what the deer are doing on your specific piece of property, but once you figure them out your golden. good luck!
How do you identify bedding areas in the woods? Fields are easier, but how do you find them?
You say you have old logged areas running into hardwoods....lots of times that is a great spot to set up...... especially along the creek.
I like to use natural material as a blind . I gave up the stand hunting a few years ago and still see as many deer.....actually connecting with more from the ground.
Lots of great tips from everyone...good luck this year.
That bedding area can be a tuff one. In MO. where I hunt, when the foliage is on deer will bed wherever they want. A deer can lay in a standing corn field and have all the water and food they want right there. I have jumped deer on hills along the creek banks, anywhere they feel they can see or smell danger. When the foliage gets lighter deer will still bed where ever they want as long as they feel safe. I have seen lots of beds on the tops of hills overlooking the fields I come in when I hunt that side of the property those deer just layed there and watched me go by. The snow can teach you a lot. Lots of times when the foliage gets light I like to hunt the edges in the woods (edges where ceder thickets meet with more open woods. I have found several shed antlers looking under cedar trees in the winter when the woods is pretty bare and not much cover. Get Greg Millers book tons of info. That is my best stab at that, I aint no pro.
I don't want anybody to be dissapointed if you buy Gregg Millers books (he is a compound shooter) the info is good. I will say I like the books aggressive whitetail tactics and the other one that is not Rubline secrets, I have seen lots of bucks on rub lines but I think it is tricky. I can't remember the name of the other one, like I said I have not seen it in years after lending them out. I have not read a lot of books on this stuff but I like these.
three things
Location
Location
Location
If you find a trail that looks extremely well used, look to the downwind side of that major trail and you should find a thin trace of a trail through thicker cover. That will be the buck trail. at a point slight;y more open on that trail down wind side of that trail set your stand or blind. Use extreme care entering and leaving your stand.
I would spend a day walking ,noting the thickest areas. I would walk the entire creek as far as it is on the property you are hunting and look for crossings. I would look for white oaks, persimmons and last years buck sign. Its about a sure thing it will be in the same place this year.Take some field glasses to check for acorns now.
If there is some timber harvest there will be new growth with browse areas as well. I would do my best to cover the whole place in this one day writing stuff down I find. If I found a white oak or some kind of feed tree I would pick stand sites right then for every wind direction and the best route to those stands from the truck without my wind heading for the thickets.
I would go back as the season draws near scent cautious of course and check for anything new.Personally I`m not a "trophy" hunter and I really focus on food. I often setup on sign found right then during the season if its hot and do well . Most of all have fun and remember you never master this thing we love...you just get better.RC