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new monotonous area and ''hot sign''

Dmathews87

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 30, 2022
Messages
759
Location
SE Louisiana
wanted the advice of the veteran deer slayers on this...im hunting a new area that is thousands of acres of monotonous woods...its flat and everything looks the same. The area does have some swamps and creeks. This area is also tore up with hogs\hog sign. I have scouted through it a couple times and hunted with only one evening where i saw deer and missed a shot. That area i setup on had a nice white oak with a good drop and some sign of foraging (no droppings just acorn caps and disturbed earth, no tracks either). You hear all the time, find the hot sign. What are you guys calling hot sign. What is you need to see to setup? By the way im talking general deer hunting, not mature bucks.
 
Hot sign to me is disturbed leaves under the drip line of a tree along with notched caps, acorns on the ground, and fresh deer poop. The fresh poop is the real tell tale sign. If there are fresh glistening turds, then they have been there very recently. Depending on how many deer you have in the area, sign can go from absolutely torn up to being fairly subtle. We have low deer density where I hunt so I have to look pretty close sometimes to figure out a spot. The place I used to hunt had tons of deer and the ground would sometimes look like someone had run a garden tiller in there.

Also, armadillos can leave confusing sign of disturbed leaves but a good way to tell is that they will often push a path of leaves. The fresh deer poops are the best sign to look for.

Another way to find a feed tree is to sit and listen. Squirrels will often be in the hot tree, and you can often hear them barking from a good way off. I have found a lot of hot trees by listening for squirrels.
 
Hot sign to me is disturbed leaves under the drip line of a tree along with notched caps, acorns on the ground, and fresh deer poop. The fresh poop is the real tell tale sign. If there are fresh glistening turds, then they have been there very recently. Depending on how many deer you have in the area, sign can go from absolutely torn up to being fairly subtle. We have low deer density where I hunt so I have to look pretty close sometimes to figure out a spot. The place I used to hunt had tons of deer and the ground would sometimes look like someone had run a garden tiller in there.

Also, armadillos can leave confusing sign of disturbed leaves but a good way to tell is that they will often push a path of leaves. The fresh deer poops are the best sign to look for.

low deer density here combined with the hogs make it very hard to scout. You have to find spots that dont have as much hog activity and even then, some of the sign you find may or not be as you mentioned from other critters.
 
Everyone has an opinion.

But for the terrain/vegetation you’re mentioning, and given the deer density, “hot sign” for me would be seeing the deer in legal hunting hours making the sign.

The big answer is hunt places with more bigger deer with less people and hogs and more terrain features to homogenize deer movement.

If you’re set on hunting few deer in monotonous terrain, find them in the flesh. Deer with lots of food options choose the best one. They won’t go far if they feel secured near it.

Also, I didn’t take my own medicine this weekend. I got into deer Saturday. I did not push and scout the area to see ALL of the why/where/when details I needed. I hunted Sunday, and discovered more details only after I walked out of woods. That likely would’ve led to having deer under me.

Moral of story - more boots not less.
 
Everyone has an opinion.

But for the terrain/vegetation you’re mentioning, and given the deer density, “hot sign” for me would be seeing the deer in legal hunting hours making the sign.

The big answer is hunt places with more bigger deer with less people and hogs and more terrain features to homogenize deer movement.

If you’re set on hunting few deer in monotonous terrain, find them in the flesh. Deer with lots of food options choose the best one. They won’t go far if they feel secured near it.

Also, I didn’t take my own medicine this weekend. I got into deer Saturday. I did not push and scout the area to see ALL of the why/where/when details I needed. I hunted Sunday, and discovered more details only after I walked out of woods. That likely would’ve led to having deer under me.

Moral of story - more boots not less.

eventually later in the season ill have the luxury of taking some time off work and going to other areas up north (2-3 hour drives). unfortunately this is what i have to work with for now. I agree with the more boots comment but these dam hogs man, the deeper i go its like i just find more of them.
 
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