• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

Deer Decoys and low density deer population

kidneystones_3000

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2019
Messages
293
I live near near Milwaukee Wisconsin and one of the hunting spots is close to home. In the past i would just go up North to hunt but these last 2 years i have been trying do both. The hunting spot near my home is in a county wear the deer per mile is 7 and the buck's per square mile is .8 . I know what your all going to say don't waste your time hunting there. I talked to a bowhunter and told me they shot a nice size bucks and knows another who shot few good bucks. This public land is a combination farmland marsh and woods, i think public land is above average for the country that is located in. I seen 2 deer the last deer since i hunted thier, i think i hunted it like 7 times. Thiers alot of squirrel hunters the bowhunting pressure is not bad until Halloween. One of the problems with area very difficult finding trees for my tree saddle because the brush is so thick the best i could do is getting a 15yd in one direction in most cases.

Here's my question do you think i should grunt more and use deer decoys this year because of the lack of success i experience. Plus the deer density is very low. I plan using Montana doe deer decoy head is pointed to the ground feeding .I did scout the area 2 times the last 2 years in the spring the deer sign is not great. Its about 180 acres. In low density hunting spots do you think its good to try still hunting more.

Second question after gun season for whatever ever reason i haven't had that much succes in killing deer. Do think its better to try still hunting after gun season. For the record i hunted from a climbing tree stand for ever. I have very little experience hunting from the ground.
I plan taking it serious for first time this year i do enjoy being in my tree saddle more to be honest.

This spring i did find 4 good spots in a different country close to home the problem is i didn't get to scout because i sprained my ankle i got into a car accident and i had family obligations. I do plan on hunting those other also spots this year.
 
Last edited:
I know in Washington County after the gun season the deer leave public land. Too much hunting pressure during the gun season.

Deer decoys can work really well under the right circumstances. From the little use I have, the does really don't like them. If you can add, something for movement it helps. The bright side is it really focuses the doe's attention. Enough that you can get a shot off.

I have a flambeau buck decoy with removable antlers. One of my most memorable hunts I carried it in through thick brush. I made a ton of noise at about noon for a pre-rut hunt. I set up and just pulled my bow up and a P&Y 8 point showed up. I was able to get an arrow nocked but my release was Velcro. I tried finger shooting but shot 5 feet over its back.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk
 
I know in Washington County after the gun season the deer leave public land. Too much hunting pressure during the gun season.

Deer decoys can work really well under the right circumstances. From the little use I have, the does really don't like them. If you can add, something for movement it helps. The bright side is it really focuses the doe's attention. Enough that you can get a shot off.

I have a flambeau buck decoy with removable antlers. One of my most memorable hunts I carried it in through thick brush. I made a ton of noise at about noon for a pre-rut hunt. I set up and just pulled my bow up and a P&Y 8 point showed up. I was able to get an arrow nocked but my release was Velcro. I tried finger shooting but shot 5 feet over its back.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk
Do you think still hunting is a better on public land after gun season because i see
very few deer my up in a tree . It just seems to me you up your odds by covering ground. But stalking on the is very difficult skill on public very few hunters do it easier said then done In general if your not getting results do you think better to more aggressive and change your approach.
 
Do you think still hunting is a better on public land after gun season because i see
very few deer my up in a tree . It just seems to me you up your odds by covering ground. But stalking on the is very difficult skill on public very few hunters do it easier said then done In general if your not getting results do you think better to more aggressive and change your approach.
Still hunting can be very effective. The issue is 180 acre parcel maybe too small to still hunt. I could be wrong though.

I have never still hunted while bow hunting other than the walk into my stand. I have had mixed results gun hunting.

I'll let others chime in on that.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk
 
My first bow deer was a still hunting success. I did get lucky as I saw two does head from a field to the woods. I circled and tried to cut them off but didnt get far enough fast enough,I was 40+ yes away. They were milling around for a while and I couldnt move but then one bedded down,the other went downhill a bit. So I snuck to 20 yes and shot. The thing I learned was not to shoot at a bedded deer,the angles are bizarre. I hit right where I aimed but it was a long track job.
Still hunting after gun season is a very low percentage proposition in my opinion. Deer are so on edge that they will bolt if one of them farts too loud.
Early season is a good time,especially on windy days and or when the ground is wet.
It takes a while to go slow enough when still hunting,and to know when you can go faster.
Coming to a crest in a hill or the edge of a gully should make you stop and scan.
 
Still hunting through a property to find fresh sign can be a good option if you haven’t been able to scout ahead of time to learn the property. Set up in the saddle once you find the fresh sign.

I don’t use the grunt tube anymore unless I can see the deer and it is headed in the opposite direction. Basically, it is a “I’ve got nothing to lose at that point” tactic.
 
I know in Washington County after the gun season the deer leave public land. Too much hunting pressure during the gun season.

Deer decoys can work really well under the right circumstances. From the little use I have, the does really don't like them. If you can add, something for movement it helps. The bright side is it really focuses the doe's attention. Enough that you can get a shot off.

I have a flambeau buck decoy with removable antlers. One of my most memorable hunts I carried it in through thick brush. I made a ton of noise at about noon for a pre-rut hunt. I set up and just pulled my bow up and a P&Y 8 point showed up. I was able to get an arrow nocked but my release was Velcro. I tried finger shooting but shot 5 feet over its back.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk
I had something similar happen during set up, just gripped the shaft of my release instead of pulling with my wrist and let her eat!
 
Back
Top