Aggressive enough? Thick enough?

[Robert loper]

Ive had so little time to do much this year that it has made me second guess snd doubt things i do when time is available for me to hunt or scout. this makes me be very cautious and not as aggressive as I probably should be. With that said ive made so many mistakes this year as do we all and will keep making mistakes every year. we need to realize that this is how we learn so many different things about how deer use a certain area and when deer use a certain area. The biggest mistake I make every year in my opinion has been not being aggressive enough. Especially when I have limited time to hunt. Thick areas need to be just that ( thick )
The thicker the better.
ill be short and sweet with this.
These are pictures from around a really good bedding area the me and my friend @Jhand hunt.
There are a sick amount of deer in the interior and the more pressure around this area seems to push more deer into it. Makes pretty good sense doesn’t it?
This is a primary bedding area thats used all year long.
So how would someone go about hunting this and not buggering it all up?
Thats the hard part and the part that i believe we need to be more aggressive in entering into this sanctuary.
To me finding really good exit trails and hunting them early on would be the best bet, then as pressure builds move in a bit deeper. As the rut kicks in then that seems to be the time to invade the deepest parts. These would be all day sits of course.
Even late season areas like this will produce. Probably be able to get around 4-5 hunts all year any more than that is gonna probably be counter productive. In conclusion watch where you are hunting look at if you can see long ways and if you can your probably not deep enough.
i break areas down like this.
the more open the arwa the younger the deer if any you will encounter.
the thicker the better

 

[2Sloe]

View attachment 78253View attachment 78254View attachment 78255View attachment 78256View attachment 78257Ive had so little time to do much this year that it has made me second guess snd doubt things i do when time is available for me to hunt or scout. this makes me be very cautious and not as aggressive as I probably should be. With that said ive made so many mistakes this year as do we all and will keep making mistakes every year. we need to realize that this is how we learn so many different things about how deer use a certain area and when deer use a certain area. The biggest mistake I make every year in my opinion has been not being aggressive enough. Especially when I have limited time to hunt. Thick areas need to be just that ( thick )
The thicker the better.
ill be short and sweet with this.
These are pictures from around a really good bedding area the me and my friend @Jhand hunt.
There are a sick amount of deer in the interior and the more pressure around this area seems to push more deer into it. Makes pretty good sense doesn’t it?
This is a primary bedding area thats used all year long.
So how would someone go about hunting this and not buggering it all up?
Thats the hard part and the part that i believe we need to be more aggressive in entering into this sanctuary.
To me finding really good exit trails and hunting them early on would be the best bet, then as pressure builds move in a bit deeper. As the rut kicks in then that seems to be the time to invade the deepest parts. These would be all day sits of course.
Even late season areas like this will produce. Probably be able to get around 4-5 hunts all year any more than that is gonna probably be counter productive. In conclusion watch where you are hunting look at if you can see long ways and if you can your probably not deep enough.
i break areas down like this.
the more open the arwa the younger the deer if any you will encounter.
the thicker the better

Bucks use their noses for everything. When they bed, they use it to watch their back, when they’re looking for that other buck, they circle downwind and when they are looking for hot does….they run along the downwind edge of those bedding thickets letting their nose do the work. That’s where I would start.

 

[PancreasBroke]

I try to have a spot to hunt for every wind direction and each of those spots have a better or worse odd I consider for certain weather types. This means having multiple areas to hunt i realize. Sometimes i never make it to those areas. But those days I get to hunt I know I at least have a spot that Im confident in. If Im not going to hunt that area within the next few days again, ill go right in (quietly) and try to bump everything up to see what was in there. If they werent in there, that is a learning experience for me.

post season scouting in season observing from a distance helps tremedously. Opening day i never hunt but drive around and make note of the number of vehicles in parking areas. More intel on how I think deer will behave. If those areas are hunted hard deer will be very very alert and hidden deep in their beds.

 

[Robert loper]

I try to have a spot to hunt for every wind direction and each of those spots have a better or worse odd I consider for certain weather types. This means having multiple areas to hunt i realize. Sometimes i never make it to those areas. But those days I get to hunt I know I at least have a spot that Im confident in. If Im not going to hunt that area within the next few days again, ill go right in (quietly) and try to bump everything up to see what was in there. If they werent in there, that is a learning experience for me.

post season scouting in season observing from a distance helps tremedously. Opening day i never hunt but drive around and make note of the number of vehicles in parking areas. More intel on how I think deer will behave. If those areas are hunted hard deer will be very very alert and hidden deep in their beds.

Could not have said it better myself.
gotta be aggressive.
if you arent bumping deer here and there your probably not being aggressive enough

 

[1simplemann]

Loper, I cut my bowhunting South Jersey. Specifically Burlington county. What county is this? Looks like you got some laurel there, some holly, and some oaks. I haven't hunted that type of woods in 25 years. I love to hunt oaks and laurels! I miss it. Bet you have a lot of squirrels there. I can count on both hands how many squirrels I've seen while hunting here in MT. Anyway, I would hunt your bedding area one of 2 ways. 1st way would be to read JE's books, follow his methods, get in early and hunt scent free all day. His scent control methods are time consuming but are worth it. If your hunt right where they live, AND hunt multiple times, they can't know your there. The 2nd way would be to approach from downwind, hunt the downwind edge on an entry/exit trail. Hopefully the tree you select allow you to observe plus give you a good opportunity to shoot. Get in early and stay late. Pay attention to how they approach and use the bedding area during the day. Then give it several days rest. Use what you learned from the 1st sit and move accordingly. Plan on being right in sweet spot right in the peak of the rut. DON'T over hunt it. Your 1st sit in in the bedding area will most likely be your best hunt. Deer sightings will go down from there. Easily 50% or more of my bow kills are in trees that are being hunted for the 1st time. If you give it rest, there's a chance that the buck your hunting wasn't there the 1st time or or a new buck will show up.

 

[Robert loper]

Loper, I cut my bowhunting South Jersey. Specifically Burlington county. What county is this? Looks like you got some laurel there, some holly, and some oaks. I haven't hunted that type of woods in 25 years. I love to hunt oaks and laurels! I miss it. Bet you have a lot of squirrels there. I can count on both hands how many squirrels I've seen while hunting here in MT. Anyway, I would hunt your bedding area one of 2 ways. 1st way would be to read JE's books, follow his methods, get in early and hunt scent free all day. His scent control methods are time consuming but are worth it. If your hunt right where they live, AND hunt multiple times, they can't know your there. The 2nd way would be to approach from downwind, hunt the downwind edge on an entry/exit trail. Hopefully the tree you select allow you to observe plus give you a good opportunity to shoot. Get in early and stay late. Pay attention to how they approach and use the bedding area during the day. Then give it several days rest. Use what you learned from the 1st sit and move accordingly. Plan on being right in sweet spot right in the peak of the rut. DON'T over hunt it. Your 1st sit in in the bedding area will most likely be your best hunt. Deer sightings will go down from there. Easily 50% or more of my bow kills are in trees that are being hunted for the 1st time. If you give it rest, there's a chance that the buck your hunting wasn't there the 1st time or or a new buck will show up.

Good info brotha.
Great advice.
I have read and watched all of Johnny carbons stuff years ago and hunt very similar to him and have had good success over the years.
I love how scent lok clothes fit and are so tough.
I am actually thinking of purchasing the saddle suit just because I know how good their clothes are.
Ever since i started hunting a bit like John and even Dan around (2007) My encounters and learning curve has soared. Especially with more buck encounters outside of the rut.
Thats what I like to focus on in my learning curve ( behaviors outside of the rut).
In my opinion the rut is the most unchallenging time of the year.
Im a dummy when it comes to things i enjoy doing and i always challenge myself to do things the hardest way possible lol.
Now i say this and i mean no offense to anyone or any know how nor am i taking any accomplishments from anyone but, Its easier during the rut and in my opinion,
The reason why i like to focus on outside of the rut is because if you can get consistent outside of rut then you can get on anything anytime. Its just the way ive taught myself for a conference builder.
Me or Jhand will definitely be quietly stealthily invading deeper into this area in January fir observation sits.
We hunt the wind mostly. I believe the scent lok and Johns scent regimen help but, im convinced that you will never beat a deers nose 100%.
Plus with work and family I could never follow his scent regiment to a tee. I dont have 6-7 days a week to hunt. So I gotta adjust and have that wind some how in my face or just missing an area.

 

[1simplemann]

Good info brotha.
Great advice.
I have read and watched all of Johnny carbons stuff years ago and hunt very similar to him and have had good success over the years.
I love how scent lok clothes fit and are so tough.
I am actually thinking of purchasing the saddle suit just because I know how good their clothes are.
Ever since i started hunting a bit like John and even Dan around (2007) My encounters and learning curve has soared. Especially with more buck encounters outside of the rut.
Thats what I like to focus on in my learning curve ( behaviors outside of the rut).
In my opinion the rut is the most unchallenging time of the year.
Im a dummy when it comes to things i enjoy doing and i always challenge myself to do things the hardest way possible lol.
Now i say this and i mean no offense to anyone or any know how nor am i taking any accomplishments from anyone but, Its easier during the rut and in my opinion,
The reason why i like to focus on outside of the rut is because if you can get consistent outside of rut then you can get on anything anytime. Its just the way ive taught myself for a conference builder.
Me or Jhand will definitely be quietly stealthily invading deeper into this area in January fir observation sits.
We hunt the wind mostly. I believe the scent lok and Johns scent regimen help but, im convinced that you will never beat a deers nose 100%.
Plus with work and family I could never follow his scent regiment to a tee. I dont have 6-7 days a week to hunt. So I gotta adjust and have that wind some how in my face or just missing an area.

I'm in the same boat. At times my scent control is less then desired. Proper scent control is time consuming. However on the days that I do pay more attention to detail, I definitely have more deer downwind unspooked than normal. All day sits are tough. I didn't do it one time this year for a variety of reasons. On limited hunting time though It does pay off. I only have Sat and Sunday to hunt. With that said, I had 61 hours in the tree this year. I ate my tag for a variety of reasons. (Basically I sucked this year.)

Your right the rut is the easiest time. If you can nail em down outside of the rut, your doing something. Sounds like your on the right track. Concentrate on cover and food.

 

[Robert loper]

I'm in the same boat. At times my scent control is less then desired. Proper scent control is time consuming. However on the days that I do pay more attention to detail, I definitely have more deer downwind unspooked than normal. All day sits are tough. I didn't do it one time this year for a variety of reasons. On limited hunting time though It does pay off. I only have Sat and Sunday to hunt. With that said, I had 61 hours in the tree this year. I ate my tag for a variety of reasons. (Basically I sucked this year.)

Your right the rut is the easiest time. If you can nail em down outside of the rut, your doing something. Sounds like your on the right track. Concentrate on cover and food.

Thnks bro. Appreciate the help

 

[mike.podolan]

View attachment 78253View attachment 78254View attachment 78255View attachment 78256View attachment 78257Ive had so little time to do much this year that it has made me second guess snd doubt things i do when time is available for me to hunt or scout. this makes me be very cautious and not as aggressive as I probably should be. With that said ive made so many mistakes this year as do we all and will keep making mistakes every year. we need to realize that this is how we learn so many different things about how deer use a certain area and when deer use a certain area. The biggest mistake I make every year in my opinion has been not being aggressive enough. Especially when I have limited time to hunt. Thick areas need to be just that ( thick )
The thicker the better.
ill be short and sweet with this.
These are pictures from around a really good bedding area the me and my friend @Jhand hunt.
There are a sick amount of deer in the interior and the more pressure around this area seems to push more deer into it. Makes pretty good sense doesn’t it?
This is a primary bedding area thats used all year long.
So how would someone go about hunting this and not buggering it all up?
Thats the hard part and the part that i believe we need to be more aggressive in entering into this sanctuary.
To me finding really good exit trails and hunting them early on would be the best bet, then as pressure builds move in a bit deeper. As the rut kicks in then that seems to be the time to invade the deepest parts. These would be all day sits of course.
Even late season areas like this will produce. Probably be able to get around 4-5 hunts all year any more than that is gonna probably be counter productive. In conclusion watch where you are hunting look at if you can see long ways and if you can your probably not deep enough.
i break areas down like this.
the more open the arwa the younger the deer if any you will encounter.
the thicker the better

How big of a bedding area is this?

If you do decide to hunt on the edges, do you tend to just always sit on the side directly downwind or are there situations when a crosswind or some other type of wind could be useful? I understand the idea of hunting downwind of a bedding area during the rut to try to catch bucks cruising, but what about outside of the rut? What if someone was just looking to see more deer or fill the freezer?


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[Robert loper]

How big of a bedding area is this?

If you do decide to hunt on the edges, do you tend to just always sit on the side directly downwind or are there situations when a crosswind or some other type of wind could be useful? I understand the idea of hunting downwind of a bedding area during the rut to try to catch bucks cruising, but what about outside of the rut? What if someone was just looking to see more deer or fill the freezer?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Its a pretty big area so there is small bedding areas within this big bedding area.
I hunt the edges early season because the deer feel comfortable coming out of their sanctuary but as hunter pressure builds especially after the first month or so of season the deeper and of course more careful you need to be with entry ways.
i try to always keep the wind somehow in my face or across my face.
I have learned through experience that the rule of thumb is most of the bucks in my areas live and survive by the wind so everything I do is always wind based.
There are some areas like the marsh which can be hearing based but they are mostly in the marshes.
i always go into an area thinking wind based bedding it usually just works out.

 

[mike.podolan]

Its a pretty big area so there is small bedding areas within this big bedding area.
I hunt the edges early season because the deer feel comfortable coming out of their sanctuary but as hunter pressure builds especially after the first month or so of season the deeper and of course more careful you need to be with entry ways.
i try to always keep the wind somehow in my face or across my face.
I have learned through experience that the rule of thumb is most of the bucks in my areas live and survive by the wind so everything I do is always wind based.
There are some areas like the marsh which can be hearing based but they are mostly in the marshes.
i always go into an area thinking wind based bedding it usually just works out.

That all makes sense. I was just wondering if they were still comfortable coming out with the wind at their back, which would be the case if you set up directly downwind. I keep hearing about hunting “just off,” quartering, or cross winds so that they feel like they still have some wind advantage. If it’s early season, are you mostly just setting up on the edge between bedding and food anyways (assuming you have the wind advantage)?


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[Arrowhead1]

I was looking at your pictures and said to myself " these woods look just like the ones I hunt in". Sure enough, I looked at your location, NJ. I hunt mostly in Salem County

 

[Robert loper]

I was looking at your pictures and said to myself " these woods look just like the ones I hunt in". Sure enough, I looked at your location, NJ. I hunt mostly in Salem County

Yea man. South jersey boy here.