Hunting around lakes?

[PoorMansWrangler]

Has anyone messed with hunting around a large lake before? Have some public land near the house, large lake with sections of public that you can hunt around the lake. Have walked around there for a couple of years, hunted it a handful of times. Woods are small, thick and nasty, and the fields are tall grass (head high right now) that see a ton of pressure (pheasant releases). Some of the sections of woods have horse trails going through them as well, not my biggest concern as I imagine the deer get used to the riders.
Have tried to kayak into a few spots from the backside via the lake, but woods are so thick it’s hard to get much of anything done. I feel like this should create a big long range funnel if I can find the spot I need to be in, but figured I could as around

 

[Abishai]

Lake edges and water access are a lot more popular right now than they were a few years ago thanks to YouTube. You can probably still find some spots but don't be surprised if you find a lot of people too.

 

[MidMichBow]

Without knowing where the woods and grassy areas are, it's hard to say exactly where to set up. Generally speaking my experience is that deer do tend to move parallel to water - distance from the water is usually determined by habitat. If you have the time and gumption, it'd be worth getting boots on the ground to look for sign. If the primary pressure to the area is horseback riders and pheasant hunters, you may find the deer aren't as bothered. Thick woods can be a challenge, but also an opportunity. Are there trails through them that deer use? Can you find an edge near a trailhead to setup? Or is there a spot you can get to where things open up a little bit and deer feel safe to hang out? The good news about challenging habitat is usually other guys don't wanna mess with it either so you may have the place more to yourself. Water access would be awesome in terms of scent control too, so don't give up on that. Just my 2 cents from some scouting along a river with similar fields/nasty woods and from hunting near a larger lake. As Abishai mentioned, edges can be popular, but if they're hard to access, maybe less so. Good luck!!! Whatever happens, you'll learn something which is worthwhile.

 

[NMSbowhunter]

I'd start with a map of the lake that shows the horse trails (if you can get one). If not, in the early spring post season I would walk them all out with a GPS tracker and map them myself. I scouted a property several years back that was heavily used by horse riders. What I found was that the deer were parallelling the horse trails on the other side of a deep creek. The deer's trails were maybe 40 yards from the horse trails. On the side with the horse activity, I saw no deer sign. On the other side of the creek was plenty. My feeling is that the deer become accustomed to the sights and sounds and smell of horses. If I ever get serious about hunting that spot I may take along some saddle soap and leather to make my intrusions smell more like a horse rider and not a hunter.

Anyway, what I would do if it were me, is map the trails and look for where the trails come within about 40 yards of the water's edge. Between the water and the horse trail should be a good spot to ambush a deer whose travel is pinched down by human activity on one side and a hard terrain feature on the other. If you can set up on the water side and have the wind sending your scent out over the lake, all the better.

Thick woods are good. Deer like thick.

 

[Weldabeast]

1 of my fav places to hunt has a 9 mile long lake bordering 1 side and a river bordering the other. depending on wind direction I either hunt the lake or the river....the lake side is thick woods like you describing. It's hard going and loud crashing thru but if you can get out there and explore you might be able to find small clearings that the satellite photos don't show. I try to find the clearings in the off season and mark their locations. Disregard the arrows in the pic...I think I deleted the original but you can see in the overhead photo how thick the woods look but you can also see the nice lottle clearing I found......watching guys catch fish and slinging arrows hahaha

 

[Jammintree]

Sounds like reverse engineering to me. Sure, I have a goal of paddling a deer out in the bow of my canoe. But personally I start off locating deer and then asking myself: how and where do I intercept them.

 

[GCTerpfan]

Not sure what the terrain is like in your area but in the mountains around here lakes have lots of fingers/coves that end up acting like an outside field edge and funneling movement around the end of the cove. There is usually a creek that enters the cove that depending on the size could possibly be used as access into the thick stuff. Probably wouldn’t have to go too far up the creek to find a creek crossing working around the cove.

 

[elk yinzer]

Not my crew, but I've done similar.

Boat access can certainly get you to some cool stuff. Other guys do it for sure, it's not some hiding in plain sight secret.

We have a place in another state where there are so many guys that boat access first day of rifle, our play sets up for them to push us deer. We did the boats one year and the launch was a zoo, started just hiking in from the back side.

 

[GCTerpfan]

Not my crew, but I've done similar.

Boat access can certainly get you to some cool stuff. Other guys do it for sure, it's not some hiding in plain sight secret.

We have a place in another state where there are so many guys that boat access first day of rifle, our play sets up for them to push us deer. We did the boats one year and the launch was a zoo, started just hiking in from the back side.

I enjoyed that video. It's funny, elk hunting has had a similar impact to my whitetail hunting as he describes in the beginning of that video. Anymore, I'll take a doe with a camping trip and a cool adventure over a big buck out my back door.

 

[Hlzr]

Not my crew, but I've done similar.

Boat access can certainly get you to some cool stuff. Other guys do it for sure, it's not some hiding in plain sight secret.

We have a place in another state where there are so many guys that boat access first day of rifle, our play sets up for them to push us deer. We did the boats one year and the launch was a zoo, started just hiking in from the back side.

Less than 2 months, planning on being in the ANF for the opener.

 

[jlh42581]

Less than 2 months, planning on being in the ANF for the opener.

Almost went to look at a camp the other day in the ANF. I decided it was just a tad too far to commit to at todays interest rates. 1.5 hours of driving at minimum once a week just to mow grass wasnt happening. Id have to pay for that.

 

[Exhumis]

Good answers here, here’s mine. I hunt a parcel that butts up to a lake, not huge but takes awhile to walk around. The advice about finding the trail is spot on, get you some topo maps and figure out the deer funnels. Deer will absolutely get used to and tolerate horses, the parcel I hunt has horses and I’ve observed the deer mingling with the horses and paying them no mind. Now cattle, on the other hand, that’s a different story.
I’ve found a lake isn’t as much of a draw as I thought it would be, I figured animals would want the water source but I guess they don’t travel everywhere with a Stanley and consume gallons of water a day like humans do.

 

[jlh42581]

Good answers here, here’s mine. I hunt a parcel that butts up to a lake, not huge but takes awhile to walk around. The advice about finding the trail is spot on, get you some topo maps and figure out the deer funnels. Deer will absolutely get used to and tolerate horses, the parcel I hunt has horses and I’ve observed the deer mingling with the horses and paying them no mind. Now cattle, on the other hand, that’s a different story.
I’ve found a lake isn’t as much of a draw as I thought it would be, I figured animals would want the water source but I guess they don’t travel everywhere with a Stanley and consume gallons of water a day like humans do.

They just get water wherever. Puddles, creeks, tree stumps, plants they eat. Early in my hunting days I assumed water played a huge role too. I think when it does is the heavy drought times.

 

[Exhumis]

They just get water wherever. Puddles, creeks, tree stumps, plants they eat. Early in my hunting days I assumed water played a huge role too. I think when it does is the heavy drought times.

Yup. That parcel with the horses also has a creek, rancher tells me deer hardly ever drink from it. I haunted it early in my hunting career until he told me that and pointed me at a funnel they were crossing the property at. Funny how much we think we know. Nature is awesome

 

[OSUTodd]

Hunting around Corps of Engineers lakes, I sometimes struggle with the concept that what is a boundary to me doesn't matter a hill of beans to the deer. The public land is generally a long skinny ribbon bounded by water on one side and private land on the other. Both are hard boundaries to me, but deer freely cross the fenceline. Mentally I catch myself letting the fence influence my thinking of what direction they should be moving.

On the positive side, the lake itself is generally a boundary to the deer, while providing silent access for me.

 

[LtMoe66]

My favorite public land hunting is around an 18,000 acre lake. The Corp ground provides plenty of land. I use my Ebike and boat for access. I find the biggest key is to hunt it during none prime time! The deer stay on patterns better, less hunters, and using the access methods I mentioned seem to work great especially during the week. Disadvantaged are usually warmer temps and bugs, but I’ll deal with that for a chance at a good buck. Good luck !

 

[Hossmiller]

I love using lake access to hunt. It gives me easy access to bow only hunting. I really enjoy hunting islands. It’s definitely not a secret, but you can at least weed out some of the competition. A few of my spots I can walk or paddle too, but paddling to them gives me quicker and quieter access. Not to mention my truck isn’t parked on the side of a road giving away my location to road scouters. Good luck.

 

[osbornoutdoor]

Hunting around Corps of Engineers lakes, I sometimes struggle with the concept that what is a boundary to me doesn't matter a hill of beans to the deer. The public land is generally a long skinny ribbon bounded by water on one side and private land on the other. Both are hard boundaries to me, but deer freely cross the fenceline. Mentally I catch myself letting the fence influence my thinking of what direction they should be moving.

On the positive side, the lake itself is generally a boundary to the deer, while providing silent access for me.

Great points.


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[PoorMansWrangler]

Appreciate all the help fellas! Had some luck on a lake doe! Now to try and catch up with a buck!

 

[dalton916]

Good job!