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Using a particular hunting method?
- Thread starter xbronam
- Start date
Ringbill27
New Member
I’ve found out last year that going for a walk on a bright sunny windless day but at -10 or colder can be very productive.
Quiet snow on the ground is helpful.
Quiet snow on the ground is helpful.
Mennoniteman
Well-Known Member
With the limited info provided on the challenges, spending more time in the outdoors where the deer are is a very effective method.
yoderjac
Well-Known Member
it probably depends on what the "challenging conditions" are:
Weather
Hunter interference
Wind
Terrain
Too many deer
Too few deer
Primitive hunting equipment
.
.
.
The list goes on.
When I lived in PA where there was a compressed season and a million hunters, on public land you could not hunt food, you had to hunt escape routes. Where I hunt now, on private land, in a state with long seasons and liberal bag limits, stand hunting between bedding cover and food is effective and hunting food sources directly is possible.
Techniques vary from north to south, east to west.
Weather
Hunter interference
Wind
Terrain
Too many deer
Too few deer
Primitive hunting equipment
.
.
.
The list goes on.
When I lived in PA where there was a compressed season and a million hunters, on public land you could not hunt food, you had to hunt escape routes. Where I hunt now, on private land, in a state with long seasons and liberal bag limits, stand hunting between bedding cover and food is effective and hunting food sources directly is possible.
Techniques vary from north to south, east to west.
Drycreek
Well-Known Member
I only have one strategy at this point in my life, and that’s hunting from a comfortable stand overlooking a food plot. If you build it, they will come ! But….they will come at their convenience, not yours. That’s why I said “comfortable”, because I have pulled quite a few all day sits during peak pre-rut periods when bucks are moving. Especially the coldest days in the dark moons. We don’t get a lot of really cold weather here, and you don’t see a lot of early or late movement when it’s in the twenties or below. Our deer do not have the same fur as northern deer do, so I venture to say that they are more comfortable between 30* and 60* in the winter. If it’s 40* at high noon in the pre-rut, bet your money on buck movement mid-day where I hunt
Flatiron75
New Member
Most of my kills over decades have come from stand hunting - elevated or ground. In our mountains here in Pa., you can sit on a high, rocky point or ledge, and see below you for quite a way. Same goes for an elevated tree stand. I've also taken deer by sneaking along quietly, placing each footstep on rocks or mossy spots to avoid crunching leaves. Wind must be right to pull off the sneaking method. Steady wind after a soaking rain is perfect. I might wait 5 minutes between steps (or more!) to avoid making noise, or having my movement noticed by any deer. I've walked up to within 25 yards of bedded deer that way.
No matter the type of stand I've taken, I do so in places deer frequent. Travel corridors between food & bedding cover, escape trails, and the thickest security cover in a given location are where I set up shop. I typically have hunted dark-to-dark, and I have the patience of a stone.
No matter the type of stand I've taken, I do so in places deer frequent. Travel corridors between food & bedding cover, escape trails, and the thickest security cover in a given location are where I set up shop. I typically have hunted dark-to-dark, and I have the patience of a stone.
Mennoniteman
Well-Known Member
Drycreek has written the textbook on perfect hunting right here! Key words are pre-rut all day sits in a comfortable spot overlooking a good food plot. Not to knock anyone else's method of hunting, but if you haven't done this yet you are missing out. Note "Keep a bag of your favorite goodies on hand for an all day sit"
Mennoniteman
Well-Known Member
"and I have the patience of a stone" And I have the patience of a pebble; a little nudge and I'm rolling along to the next great hunting spot
Flatiron75
New Member
I'll agree with pre-rut, all-day sits in select locations. I've seen more nice bucks cruising in daylight then, than at any other time of year. I once walked parallel to an 8 pt. about 20 yards apart at that period of the year.... Pa. archery season. I was on a mountain road walking slowly - he in the woods 20 yards to my left. He had his nose to the ground, stopping occasionally to look at me on the road, but showing no concern at all. I couldn't get a shot - too many hemlocks and mountain laurel to get a clear shot. He eventually walked off into the laurel slowly, still showing no alarm at all. I continued up the sloping road to my intended stand location. Learning event that day.
