I have been hunting public land around a unpicked bean field. It has tracks all over it of all sizes. I have yet to see a deer during shooting hours. I have seen tracks in my tracks from the day before, will they ever be in it during the light?

Try and figure where they are comming from and cut them off. Alot of times a over hunted area the deer will wait till dark.

i hear ya. every time i see deer, i either dont have my bow near me, or no shot opportunity. so far this season ive seen the same six does but no shot taken... i got busted by another doe behind me that i didn't see. but it sure was fun. it makes me laugh at myself too

i also forgot to mention im in an 8 yr drought for harvesting a deer

I'd rather be out in the field, frustrated at lack of deer than stuck in my cube at work frustrated with yet another TPS report.

Sounds like you're doing ok to me.

 

QuoteOriginally posted by GingivitisKahn:
I'd rather be out in the field, frustrated at lack of deer than stuck in my cube at work frustrated with yet another TPS report.

Sounds like you're doing ok to me.

     

amen

Keep your chin up, a guy just posted on here recently that he got his first trad. deer since 1997! Just have to stick with it, eventually it will come. Just remember it's supposed to be fun!  

I would back track the deer closer to the bedding areas and try them thier.You might catch them near dark exiting the bedding cover?

Good luck!

I agree the deer are not very far from the field.

Walk the edges and find where the trials are.  Set up back in away from the field edge. You will see these deer.  May take a few days to pick the right distance/trail but you will see them.


John III

Howard,

You may see the pattern change as the season progresses.  Two years ago, we had soybeans around each of the small wood patches on our farm.  I went out at every opportunity, and saw NOTHING.  There was plenty of deer sign, so they were obviously still there... but not during daylight hours.

After weeks and weeks (and weeks) of this, the pattern changed about ten days before Christmas.  The crops were all harvested, the weather had turned really cold, and suddenly the protein of the few scattered soybeans left by the combine had become a VERY desirable food source.  For the remainder of the season, there was something to "chase."

Last year, with corn around because of crop rotation, there were deer to see, and I was blessed to take four during the course of the season.

This year... soybeans... and I assumed there would be a long "deerless" period of enjoying the woods.  Not so.  For reasons known only to the deer, I've been seeing something (albeit sometimes at long distances) almost every time out, and took a small doe already.  Why?  I HAVE NO IDEA, but I'll take it!

So... I'd simply go out whenever you get the chance.  Watch for the change in pattern, but don't be afraid to take the opportunity to do some scouting if nothing is moving for a period of time.  You can add a lot to your knowledge base of the area, and you'll be better prepared when the time comes!

Good luck on your hunt!

Daryl

Come hunt New Jersey and you will find worse at least you get to see tracks that are consistent.Spend time spotting (if it's legal in Ill. at night)at different times during the day and get their travel times down and then u ambush.

I agree with John3, back track and get back in the woods , maybe not very far try too find what is a staging area , that the deer would hang out till dark prior too entering the field, but like mentioned, this will change soon as the bucks will be getting there dander in an uproar, and could be in that field in the middle of day, don't give up, it will happen.

Find the staging area and you'll have your deer.