How to hunt private field with hardwoods boarder and close to a big lake

[DCZ]

Hi all,
I have been a long time reader and really appreciate all of the help and guidance this forum has provided. I hunted a lot as a kid and just recently got back into it. I jumped headlong into the rabbit hole of saddle hunting (thanks to this forum) and have been able to harvest a few deer each of the last two years from public land in west Tennessee. I really appreciate the collective knowledge and support of this forum.
I recently got access to my first piece of private land and am looking for suggestions on how/when to hunt it (both bow and rifle). I have access to 50 acres of CRP with a gently rolling topography. It is surrounded on two sides by TVA land (hunting allowed), a road on one side and private on the south (owner does not hunt). The two spots marked on the north are pretty dense thicket, which looks like good bedding. There are decent trails running along the south and east tree line (hardwoods). I am interested in your thought on strategies on how to approach this. The land is 2 hrs away, so summer scouting is doable, but not simple.

 

[stevethebreeze]

Just from a quick glance the west is probably out with a road and not only that, a road that leads to a boat ramp to the NE. Just from looking at it for a couple minutes and from what you have previously mentioned, Im hunting the East side looking for A) Hunters to move them over to your property and B) those deer in the TVA land on your East side coming to graze. You have a great looking piece of property though. Woods sticking out into the field(fingers), corners, terrain changes like hills going down into the fields preferably with water runoffs. I would hunt close to your water source early even though you have what looks like a lake, sometimes deer dont like the noise, especially mature bucks. Also early in the season im hunting oaks, Beech nuts, any secondary food source that may be producing that time of year.
Of course, it would be better if you just ask me to come hunt with you this upcoming season so I can share with you my wealth of knowledge. LOL

 

[DCZ]

Thanks. I was thinking something similar. As hunting days are somewhat limited, due to work, I was also thinking about using the boat ramp as a launching point to approach from the private land in the morning. My hope was I could sneak in and catch the food to bed rotation without bumping them out of the field in the morning.