RookieHunter6
New Member
Do you guys prefer mornings or evenings?
Any tips, first time ever in a bean field.
Any tips, first time ever in a bean field.
Hunting Beans
- Thread starter RookieHunter6
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Drycreek
Well-Known Member
That depends. I've never hunted ag country, but I've planted beans several times. In the early season, late afternoon is best for me. When the beans are ready, any time of the day, especially if it gets really cold. Now cold here, ain't real cold, but our deer are like our humans, they're not used to real cold weather, so freezing is cold to all of us. 
Kwood
Well-Known Member
Have they started to turn? If green and still warm, evenings. If they are yellow, don’t waste your time. If they are seasoned and standing, anytime. Especially late season when cold.
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Sent from my iPhone using Deer Hunter Forum
If you are hunting field edge then evening. If you hunt in am you will probably run deer out of field approaching stand in the morning.
Just be sure to have an exit strategy for leaving in the dark to not blow deer out of field leaving the stand.
Hunting travel corridor 100 or so yards off field is often better than the actual edge. Good luck, beans can be dynamite early season!
Just be sure to have an exit strategy for leaving in the dark to not blow deer out of field leaving the stand.
Hunting travel corridor 100 or so yards off field is often better than the actual edge. Good luck, beans can be dynamite early season!
X-farmerdan
Well-Known Member
There's a lot to consider in picking any spot to hunt, all covered in detail elsewhere. There's an ongoing debate about morning vs evening and if hunting mornings is worthwhile. Several collar-ed deer studies indicate less movement in the morning compared to afternoons, but it's still better than mid-day. I'm just referring to research I've read. Your experience may be different. How you can approach the field will be key, and what you know about wind direction will be tested. I always assume the deer are in the field feeding in the morning. That sorta limits approach. Again, your experience may be something different.
Soybeans are good until yellowing which, I think is just an indicator of timing. This is about the time acorns start dropping....if there are any. And if there are, your opportunities in the soybean field will be more limited. So far as acorns are concerned, some years are good. Others not so much. The other thing about soybeans I think would be helpful to know is if they are full season or double crop beans. In Harriosnburg, VA double crop beans (usually planted following wheat or barley) are planted as last as July 15th. While day length determines the soybean growth stage, those late planted beans might stay green and palatable much later into the calendar year.
Just some thing you might want to consider as you make your stand decisions.
Soybeans are good until yellowing which, I think is just an indicator of timing. This is about the time acorns start dropping....if there are any. And if there are, your opportunities in the soybean field will be more limited. So far as acorns are concerned, some years are good. Others not so much. The other thing about soybeans I think would be helpful to know is if they are full season or double crop beans. In Harriosnburg, VA double crop beans (usually planted following wheat or barley) are planted as last as July 15th. While day length determines the soybean growth stage, those late planted beans might stay green and palatable much later into the calendar year.
Just some thing you might want to consider as you make your stand decisions.
I hunt my RR ag bean fields in the afternoons. They are especially good later in the season like early November to season close in January. Other factors are if the surrounding ag fields of beans have been picked which happens in October and if there is snow on the ground. I have a 400 yard long by 60 yard wide bean field. I have permanent stands on both North and South ends of the fields. This way I can choose a location that will take advantage of the wind on the hunting day. I never leave the stands until after dark unless a deer is shot and needs dragging out. There is thick cover on all four sides of this field and it gets most of it's action on the North end where he deer come out of a neighbor's oak woods that has very light hunting pressure.
j-bird
Well-Known Member
A person could write a book......
To address the original question - for me....evenings. That is because I have to cross open areas to reach many stands. By hunting evenings the deer are back in the cover bedded when I need to be crossing these areas. The key is being able to get in and out without educating the deer in the process.
Tips:
- find the entrance points of the field. Deer tend to enter in corners, points of cover or low spots. Look for deer sign like browsed plants, scat and tracks to help you find the most productive location.
- follow deer trails from the field back into the cover. You will often find rubs and scrapes and possibly even the bedding area.....you can then hunt the trail if you so wish.
- I have found deer prefer either the fresh green forage (as early in the season as possible) OR the grain when it gets cold...real cold late in the season).
- find out when the combine is coming. the deer will quickly hit the field after the combine leaves (I have seen them even in the field with the combine running) as they are after the spilled grain. Every day after the harvest the food there will diminish.....strike while the iron is hot.
- keep in mind that older deer will stay inside the cover and scan the plot before entering the field. Most will use the downwind side if possible to scent check as well......this can be a great place to be when an older buck comes thru looking for love or a meal.
To address the original question - for me....evenings. That is because I have to cross open areas to reach many stands. By hunting evenings the deer are back in the cover bedded when I need to be crossing these areas. The key is being able to get in and out without educating the deer in the process.
Tips:
- find the entrance points of the field. Deer tend to enter in corners, points of cover or low spots. Look for deer sign like browsed plants, scat and tracks to help you find the most productive location.
- follow deer trails from the field back into the cover. You will often find rubs and scrapes and possibly even the bedding area.....you can then hunt the trail if you so wish.
- I have found deer prefer either the fresh green forage (as early in the season as possible) OR the grain when it gets cold...real cold late in the season).
- find out when the combine is coming. the deer will quickly hit the field after the combine leaves (I have seen them even in the field with the combine running) as they are after the spilled grain. Every day after the harvest the food there will diminish.....strike while the iron is hot.
- keep in mind that older deer will stay inside the cover and scan the plot before entering the field. Most will use the downwind side if possible to scent check as well......this can be a great place to be when an older buck comes thru looking for love or a meal.
RookieHunter6
New Member
Thank You all. I will take all of this and check out stand placement and entry tomorrow. These beans are very green at the moment and knee high, a back edge drop off with a creek crossing and a great corner with deer entry points.
