Urban hunt

[HuskerInIowa]

Anyone done any of the special urban hunt things? Any tips you’d feel ok sharing? First year for me so it will be doe only but a nice chance to fill the freezer and then donate to HUSH to help others in need. If I could gain enough points it looks like I’d have an opportunity to go after a buck next season.

 

[woodsdog2]

Following

 

[Exhumis]

I’ve done a couple urban archery hunts and I currently hunt right next to a busy brewery. Practice, practice and practice some more. And then keep practicing. Nothing will sour your hunt faster than having to track a wounded deer across someones property while they’re having a pool party or a bbq. Accidents happen with even the best shot but practice to eliminate at least the unprepared factor. Don’t take long shots, keep them short and sweet and certain. Prepare to have to deal with the Karen’s and Chads of the world. Discrete entry and exit is key. The non hunting types will purposely come up to you in your stand and yell at you, then bitch about the deer eating all their flowers. If you’re hunting a park try and stay away from busy trails. I think you’ll have a great time, there’s some monster deer in urban areas as they have no predators and pretty much free range. Also they’re a bit more conditioned to humans so if you make a mistake you might get a second chance that a mountain deer wouldn’t allow.
Edit:
One thing I forgot to add is above all else be polite and respectful of everyone you come in contact with. This may seem obvious but it’s hard when someone is being a compete tool to your face. Many folks don’t agree with urban hunts or you may be the first hunter a person has ever come in contact with and at that point you are representing every hunter.

 

[HuskerInIowa]

I’ve done a couple urban archery hunts and I currently hunt right next to a busy brewery. Practice, practice and practice some more. And then keep practicing. Nothing will sour your hunt faster than having to track a wounded deer across someones property while they’re having a pool party or a bbq. Accidents happen with even the best shot but practice to eliminate at least the unprepared factor. Don’t take long shots, keep them short and sweet and certain. Prepare to have to deal with the Karen’s and Chads of the world. Discrete entry and exit is key. The non hunting types will purposely come up to you in your stand and yell at you, then bitch about the deer eating all their flowers. If you’re hunting a park try and stay away from busy trails. I think you’ll have a great time, there’s some monster deer in urban areas as they have no predators and pretty much free range. Also they’re a bit more conditioned to humans so if you make a mistake you might get a second chance that a mountain deer wouldn’t allow.

Thanks for the input, appreciate it. I put in for areas I think will be less trafficked by humans. I’ve been reviewing all rules and regulations and will be 75 feet from trails and facing away but areas I’ve scouted will be deeper in anyway. Seems like on the off chance I have any sort of altercation I need to just walk away, report it, and move on. I’ve done my part to understand all the rules and pass the tests. It’s still my job to execute though.

 

[Exhumis]

Yeah man with that mentality you’ll be good. If you don’t use lighted nocks I’d recommend some to help with shot placement ID. Then you just gotta wait and let the animal expire, everyone’s favorite part, that way you don’t accidentally push it into the churches back yard right in the middle of potluck. Course depending where you live now it’s a deer fry!

 

[131north]

It sounds like you're applying for a park-type deal. I do one of those and what I'll say is that your typical scouting/patterning might not apply because of the extra non-hunting pressure. I was very surprised to find bucks walking around mid-day. I think people that draw those hunt early and late to avoid the walkers and such, but the deer don't seem to much mind and IMO it's actually an advantage because it's like having a deer drive, it gently moves deer to places where they want to avoid human interaction. So if you get one don't be afraid to get in there at 1:00 and catch one on his feet in the only place he can get away from the mountain bikers and joggers.

 

[HuskerInIowa]

Yeah man with that mentality you’ll be good. If you don’t use lighted nocks I’d recommend some to help with shot placement ID. Then you just gotta wait and let the animal expire, everyone’s favorite part, that way you don’t accidentally push it into the churches back yard right in the middle of potluck. Course depending where you live now it’s a deer fry!

Actually a good thing I’ve not asked about. I’ve been looking at lighted nocks but also at looking at just upgrading arrows all around anyway. I trust the folks at my local shop (archery field and sports, not sure if I’m allowed to say that) but maybe I can upgrade and get a lighted all done at once and then make sure it’s still on track.

 

[Exhumis]

Lighted nocks are the best decision I ever made, wish I’d done it a long time ago. Not only for shot placement but arrow recovery.
You can name drop a shop no worries. Glad you have a shop you trust. If you’re gonna upgrade your arrows make sure you get plenty of target time before hand to assess their behavior and flight characteristics and get them fine tuned.

 

[Robert loper]

Anyone done any of the special urban hunt things? Any tips you’d feel ok sharing? First year for me so it will be doe only but a nice chance to fill the freezer and then donate to HUSH to help others in need. If I could gain enough points it looks like I’d have an opportunity to go after a buck next season.

I have years ago.
i have to say i was young and more dumber back then. Lol
I did alot of dumb things which i know now diddnt help my success one bit lol
I will say urban deer hunting is very difficult because at least where i live or have done it the deer pretty watch humans all day. Lol

 

[hokiehunter373]

@Exhumis touched on a lot of important stuff already. I've found that a lot of the time, deer like to watch the people trails, especially if those trails are below a rise that they can be laying on. If where your hunting is completely surrounded by houses, you can throw this tip out, but they like being near them. If you're hunting a park or something that has houses on one side but not the other, the first thing I'm looking for is deer coming back in the AM from the houses to bed in the park or right off the back side of the houses. If you have anyone walk/run/bike through during your hunt, don't think your hunt is over. The deer in urban situations are used to it and it's likely not going to change anything. The exception is off leash dogs, although they can sometimes run deer to you as well. Speaking of people walking, if you're walking to your stand and see deer, don't slow down. They don't care about people walking by if the deer don't think they've been noticed. Make a mental note on how you can loop around to set up on those deer without them seeing/hearing you or in a spot they should travel from that point to.

 

[Hunter260]

Here’s 4 urban deer that I’ve either killed or been a part of killing and heres my advice on the matter
1. Don’t be afraid of people, I killed a great buck once on a place that people used for rc airplane flying. Every night until right before dark there were 3-4 of those planes zippin around the field and a lot full of cars not 300 yards from where I was set up. I shot him 10 minutes after they left. The deer are used to it at long as everything seems normal to them.

2. Get creative with your setup. To this date the biggest deer I’ve seen on the hoof was on an urban property. This property has a creek off to the side and an actual concrete bridge with rails is the only way to cross from one side to the other without climbing a big bank. There were deer tracks all over this bridge. There were no trees or any cover to hide in anywhere close by. They had cut round bales of hay and left them in the field so before season a buddy and me rolled two bales all the way through the field more than 300 yards and placed them about 50 yards from the bridge. We used them as a cover and the big buck ended up coming through but never got closer than 80 yards.

3. Use access to your advantage. One thing about urban hunting is there are cars and roads everywhere. It is super easy to drive right up to your set, and the deer 100% do not care if you’re in a car. One of these bucks came from an area that surrounded a business. There was only 1 legal place to park your car to hunt and it was on the very other side of the property and you had to walk right through all the bedding cover and cross 2 creeks to get to the food source all the deer were using from there. It was questionably legal at best, but I had my wife drop me off with all my hunting gear in the parking lot of the business and I could make a quick jog right to my setup on the edge of a field by bedding. Only problem was the business had a gate at the end of the road that they locked at dark, so when you left you either had to belly crawl under a fence with barbed wire on top that had big giant no trespassing signs or make the trek through a bedding area. But I was the only guy doing this, and I think that’s the reason I got one killed and others went home empty handed.

 

[RMcDonald7]

The buck in my profile (133") was killed Urban. I have an open 1acre lot across from my house in a residential neighborhood that belongs to my neighbor who has 2 acres total. The urban hunt in my area calls for 2 conjoining acres and you must be 6' elevated. Archery only of course. You can harvest 7 deer from Urban (does not go against the state license) but have to kill in concession - 3 doe-1 antler-2 doe-1antler deer. They must be checked into the local police dept. I have tracked through neighbors yards. That buck i'll admit I had an arrow take a really wonky flight on release and hit him back almost in no mans land - gut shot. ended up finding him next morning bedded down bobbing his head- I was able to get another arrow in him and finish the job. The Urban hunts are pretty action packed if you have deer moving through the area. I will have 7-8 and sometimes up to 20 deer move through my yard daily. The insurance companies push for these urban hunts to cut down on vehicle accident claims in these approved areas. NOW- some neighbors do not like this program at all! I had a doe exhaust in my neighbors yard right in front of him as he was mowing his lawn (i could see from my stand) and he hovered over the deer waiting on me to approach. I immediately called the local police dispatch (they run this program) and kept him on the phone as I approached, neighbor was pissed and said "well, you might as well come and get it now" and kept saying this was wrong, he's a hunter and this was not hunting... blah blah then told me these deer are like pets - the local kids and families feed these deer! I looked at him and said "you sir are the problem! keep feeding them and i'll keep killing them!" The Police was on the phone the whole time and heard the conversation. I retrieved the deer and that was it. I just walked away as he kept talking..

So, its a good program to over populated areas. Good luck!

 

[Iron_llama]

I've done two city hunts, saw two does, took one shot that didn't connect. I didn't get drawn for this year's hunt. Despite my failures I have some thoughts.

I think that city hunts are a perfect application for the Ranch Fairy dust. Set up close, take short shots with heavy arrows. Shoot well forward, into the "Vital V" / "Spaghetti Junction", and try to break the offside shoulder on exit. A suddenly-three-legged deer is hopefully less likely to run into traffic, and leave you liable for a collision. Let alone the hassle of tracking across multiple backyards. Use heavy, overbuilt arrows with monolithic single bevels, and shoot with the intention of breaking or severing bones, after cutting up the most important plumbing.

This is also a perfect application for TimberPimp camo. Slinking into the woods in a leaf suit is conspicuous, especially if you're trying to be sneaky. Diddybopping about in a Hawaiian shirt and a backpack or stroller or child's wagon, you're part of the landscape.

The city I hunt in requires encourages elevated shooting positions - stand, saddle, platform, etc. - although they will grudgingly allow ground blinds. They forbid stalking / still hunting / etc. Before you plan your setup, double-check your city's rules to see if they require a minimum elevation, in addition to any setbacks from trails and such.

As you scout, try to pattern the public. If the high school running team runs down a trail at 4:15 every afternoon, or Edna and Gertrude walk their Pomeranians every morning at 6:45, maybe deer will react to that stimulus. Maybe you can take advantage of that.

 

[HuskerInIowa]

Lot of great advice here, appreciate the experienced folks sharing! Thanks all!

 

[Samcirrus]

I've done two city hunts, saw two does, took one shot that didn't connect. I didn't get drawn for this year's hunt. Despite my failures I have some thoughts.

I think that city hunts are a perfect application for the Ranch Fairy dust. Set up close, take short shots with heavy arrows. Shoot well forward, into the "Vital V" / "Spaghetti Junction", and try to break the offside shoulder on exit. A suddenly-three-legged deer is hopefully less likely to run into traffic, and leave you liable for a collision. Let alone the hassle of tracking across multiple backyards. Use heavy, overbuilt arrows with monolithic single bevels, and shoot with the intention of breaking or severing bones, after cutting up the most important plumbing.

This is also a perfect application for TimberPimp camo. Slinking into the woods in a leaf suit is conspicuous, especially if you're trying to be sneaky. Diddybopping about in a Hawaiian shirt and a backpack or stroller or child's wagon, you're part of the landscape.

The city I hunt in requires encourages elevated shooting positions - stand, saddle, platform, etc. - although they will grudgingly allow ground blinds. They forbid stalking / still hunting / etc. Before you plan your setup, double-check your city's rules to see if they require a minimum elevation, in addition to any setbacks from trails and such.

As you scout, try to pattern the public. If the high school running team runs down a trail at 4:15 every afternoon, or Edna and Gertrude walk their Pomeranians every morning at 6:45, maybe deer will react to that stimulus. Maybe you can take advantage of that.

This will be my 4th year in our city hunt, and it can be awesome and frustrating. One thing is we have a surprising number of homeless people that inhabit the woods in summer and early fall so deer don't get that bothered by human scent. And for a large majority of hunting zones near residential areas the "food" is peoples yards and bird feeders.

 

[Iron_llama]

One thing is we have a surprising number of homeless people that inhabit the woods in summer and early fall so deer don't get that bothered by human scent. And for a large majority of hunting zones near residential areas the "food" is peoples yards and bird feeders.

The two locations I hunted happened to not get a homeless presence. I got pretty fortunate, the airport property is fenced and patrolled; and the other area was an overgrown swamp that wasn't on the route to anywhere the local hobos go. But, that makes your camo options that much easier. Nobody will pay any mind to a raggedy-looking guy pushing a rusty bicycle laden with trash bags down the road. They need not realize that the trash bags hide a bow and a deer carcass.

 

[Samcirrus]

The two locations I hunted happened to not get a homeless presence. I got pretty fortunate, the airport property is fenced and patrolled; and the other area was an overgrown swamp that wasn't on the route to anywhere the local hobos go. But, that makes your camo options that much easier. Nobody will pay any mind to a raggedy-looking guy pushing a rusty bicycle laden with trash bags down the road. They need not realize that the trash bags hide a bow and a deer carcass.

Thats a great camo idea! The deer probably know that the homeless looking people don't shoot at them too!

 

[Iron_llama]

Thats a great camo idea! The deer probably know that the homeless looking people don't shoot at them too!

I suppose a discussion of scent control could quickly spiral into cruel comments about cheap vodka and the like, so I'll leave further speculation to others... that said, I'm sure some of the local population would be happy to help drag venison out of the woods in exchange for a 10-spot or pint of Taaka.

 

[HuskerInIowa]

Went through the meeting tonight, got checked in to verify I’d done all the steps, got my tag for my “stand” and the additional info. All that’s left is to go get in the saddle in a couple weeks and enjoy the time. Goals are to put gain experience using this system, put some meat in the freezer, and donate additional to HUSH. Excited to be in the field.

 

[Aeds151]

My urban hunt started yesterday. Any sex unlimited. Know the heck outta your states “right to retrieve laws. Have that permission lined out ahead of time if hunting near private.


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