Thermal Analysis

[neonomad]

I might post this about once a year, I can’t remember, and I know these kinda posts are a little tedious, but never know where inspiration might spark, so..

any thoughts on working this white outlined property? The best daylight action is in the river valley but the thermals swirl and breathe throughout the day. I can keep to the tops (small woods, Ag, food plots) with my fingers crossed, but have been more motivated to river access in the past few years. I’m headed here next Thursday with light south winds. I’m considering a ground approach since as the thermals shift in the morning and the evening I can drop to the river and reposition. River flows right to the left, so sucks SW in the evening. I’m thinking the safest overall spot is the upper lobe of the central river flats, and there is decent deer river crossings going on everywhere. River to back is a good general position. The hottest spots are middle of river flats timber sections but hunting is basically impossible.Bedding is kinda everywhere.

 

[Jtaylor]

This deer is going to be a world record by the time you figure this out

 

[BTaylor]

This deer is going to be a world record by the time you figure this out

We are hunting a specific deer not just deer in general?

 

[Jtaylor]

We are hunting a specific deer not just deer in general?

I think something was said last year about a specific deer but I might be wrong, it does seem like a difficult property to hunt.

 

[BTaylor]

I think something was said last year about a specific deer but I might be wrong, it does seem like a difficult property to hunt.

I agree. There are a few spots I would look at for the wind that is forecasted but if the target is a specific deer then knowing where he is showing on camera could significantly influence my thinking.

 

[neonomad]

Good memory! Yes and I posted elsewhere I finally encountered him along the river a few weeks ago, but couldn’t get the bow drawn (movement in the stand issue not a strength issue). That leads a fella to start eyeballing the Hickory Creek crossbow. Maybe I need to try something easier, like public land haha. One thought that comes to mind for 2023 is strategic mock scrapes but too late for that now.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

These are the areas I would look for just based on the aerial map. In hill country I like to focus first on areas of forced travel. I would give the wind and thermals some consideration, but it would not keep me out of a spot unless I knew it was dead wrong. I think it is Dan Infalt that talks about hunting bucks on just off winds. The idea is they think the wind is in their favor and it nearly is. It is a fine line. I tend to be pretty aggressive when I only have a short time to hunt a place, and I am also pretty aggressive since I hunt public ground and you can't save a spot. Good luck!

 

[BTaylor]

Good memory! Yes and I posted elsewhere I finally encountered him along the river a few weeks ago, but couldn’t get the bow drawn (movement in the stand issue not a strength issue). That leads a fella to start eyeballing the Hickory Creek crossbow. Maybe I need to try something easier, like public land haha. One thought that comes to mind for 2023 is strategic mock scrapes but too late for that now.

Why do you think it is too late for a mock scrape?

 

[PancreasBroke]

Where do you park? Are there any other hunters on the property? Any idea how the adjacent properties are used (ag/hunted/just homes/etc)? Am I correct the majority of the property is a depression (you are dropping down into that river and the main house is on the higher elevation compared to rest of property?

Would be nice to see more of the map. But get if you're trying to be discreet. Could black out the names of stuff.

 

[neonomad]

@NMSbowhunter I’ll keep this short but from my experience you’ve made some good observations, and pointed out some things I’ve been overlooking. For example middle creek / woods on the high ground is a bit of an intrusive hunt, but at minimum I need to get a camera or two in there to get a sense of the traffic, and more intrusive hunts don’t bother me as much starting in about a week. Thank you I appreciate it.

@BTaylor I spose I have nothing to lose, I leave as little stink around as possible once season gets going but I can think of a couple spots where it’s worth a try and I will.

@PancreasBroke heres a bigger map, I park at two pink dots to hunt the high ground and the one pink dot at the park when I’m headed up the river. It’s mixed Ag and woods up top. My food plots about 2.75 acres are pretty dialed in, and really turn on near Thanksgiving. A buddy hunts with me, he shot a smaller buck by the river a few weeks ago and his son puts a few sits in through the season, usually up top. We’re trying hard to leverage the river when it’s low enough, and do minimal woods walking. Yep it’s a big valley. The best pinch is right behind that house, it’s a 100’ vertical cliff. If you sat along that cliff on the right day, it’s likely something is eventually going to come by… it’s heavy heavy deer traffic all night but daylight travel is very very sporadic. By last week in Oct that spot might be worth it, my camera there is currently not talking to me, which is driving me nuts but here’s a pic from that spot. Property is an hour 20 mins from my house. Thanks!

 

[NMSbowhunter]

Another thing to consider is that these deer will be smelling human odor regularly in an area like this where they are surrounded by people. They should be a little more forgiving about scent than a deer that never smells a human until hunting season. Good luck!

 

[BTaylor]

@NMSbowhunter I’ll keep this short but from my experience you’ve made some good observations, and pointed out some things I’ve been overlooking. For example middle creek / woods on the high ground is a bit of an intrusive hunt, but at minimum I need to get a camera or two in there to get a sense of the traffic, and more intrusive hunts don’t bother me as much starting in about a week. Thank you I appreciate it.

@BTaylor I spose I have nothing to lose, I leave as little stink around as possible once season gets going but I can think of a couple spots where it’s worth a try and I will.

@PancreasBroke heres a bigger map, I park at two pink dots to hunt the high ground and the one pink dot at the park when I’m headed up the river. It’s mixed Ag and woods up top. My food plots about 2.75 acres are pretty dialed in, and really turn on near Thanksgiving. A buddy hunts with me, he shot a smaller buck by the river a few weeks ago and his son puts a few sits in through the season, usually up top. We’re trying hard to leverage the river when it’s low enough, and do minimal woods walking. Yep it’s a big valley. The best pinch is right behind that house, it’s a 100’ vertical cliff. If you sat along that cliff on the right day, it’s likely something is eventually going to come by… it’s heavy heavy deer traffic all night but daylight travel is very very sporadic. By last week in Oct that spot might be worth it, my camera there is currently not talking to me, which is driving me nuts but here’s a pic from that spot. Property is an hour 20 mins from my house. Thanks!View attachment 74235View attachment 74236

I like most of the spots @NMSbowhunter highlighted, esp that draw coming up to the NE corner of that plot/field. The other spots that I would for sure want to investigate would the east side and south end of that knob north of the river just NW of you pink access dot. It looks like there is a pretty defined vegetative edge running more or less N/S that comes down to the east side of that knob that looks really steep. Travel there could connect to E/W travel along the river between the river edge and the south end of the knob.