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Where would you pay the most attention to?

Jayo

Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2019
Messages
59
I've hunted this property for two seasons. No significant hunting pressure on this part of the property. About 100 acres. I just started running some trail cameras so hopefully will get a better idea of whats around soon. I've only seen 2.5 year old bucks so far. Only bucks I've seen have been in the saddle on the left hand side of the topo map. Anything jump out at you on this map where you'd focus your efforts? Thanks in advance.



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which creek? Left hand side? That's a lake.
Sorry my bad. The solid white line I assumed was a meandering creek. I see now it's a hard elevation change. Still, water source us good especially during rut. What @Smokingbarrel270 said combined with that thick stuff and water you might have found yourself a good spot. Just remember the first rule of fight club: don't talk about fight club. If two people know it's not a secret.
 
Agreed! Tough getting in there quietly.

You could prep the area coming up to your tree. Barry Wensel uses a hoe and rakes foot steps in the ground down to bare earth for the last 50 yards or so up to his trees. That way you basically silent getting to your tree.


Sent from parts unknown
 
Some things your gonna want to understand, maps wont be able to tell you very much with out boots otg.
I like to think long term, like scouting is an investment for my future seasons, so Is this a property you will have a few years to hunt? If so, summer trail cameras may not give you a whole lot of useful info, they could but probably wont. Get your cameras running through the season. This will give you ideas of where the travel/cruising corridors are. Then you adjust fire for the next season.
If you are able, take the time to walk every Inch of the property. This could take sometime but 100acres you should know everything you absolutely can about the property.
While learning the property by walking it, look for transitions, edge, tkey terrain features and sign. If you get out there now and burn it out right now, itll have time to settle down again prior to hunting, get in there asap, as your best time to get in there has passed (being winter post season)....

Move slow, observe everything, take notes and pictures, use onX itll give you a great baseline to start building off of.
 
^ditto. The other thing to look at is along the lake/pond/swamp to the west of the photo. To the northeast of that water feature is a nice size hill 1050', you can access via the water and your thermals should be pulled to the water in the am on a east/north wind. Check for trails running along that hill about 2/3 up. Also check on the east/northeast side of that 1050' hill it looks like there could be a saddle with a slight ridge coming in from the north, all good spots.
 
^ditto. The other thing to look at is along the lake/pond/swamp to the west of the photo. To the northeast of that water feature is a nice size hill 1050', you can access via the water and your thermals should be pulled to the water in the am on a east/north wind. Check for trails running along that hill about 2/3 up. Also check on the east/northeast side of that 1050' hill it looks like there could be a saddle with a slight ridge coming in from the north, all good spots.


Thanks. I can't access the water. The only bucks I've seen on this property have been in that saddle that you're referring to. I shot a 2 1/2 year old 8-pointer in that saddle last year and I've seen buck bedding on top of that hill you're referring to. Haven't seen any mature bucks in that area yet. That area has been primarily where I've hunted this property. Typically lots of rubs and scrapes in that saddle. I've been primarily accessing it from the road heading up a ridge through some thick stuff and into that saddle. Lots of oaks in there.
 

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Not sure if my other post went through. I would look for trails along the hill sides and try to keep pressure to a minimum, whats the food source
 
Not sure if my other post went through. I would look for trails along the hill sides and try to keep pressure to a minimum, whats the food source

Your previous post did go through. In that area it is Oaks.
 
Something to think about, if your not seeing sign of mature bucks, and your not getting pictures of mature bucks, they *may* not be there. One thing you have to consider is the area your hunting in, does the region receive heavy gun hunting pressure, are there some type of age or antler restrictions. If not there's a real good chance that 2.5 is the consistent "mature" age for the region. Now obviously there are outliers, and I clearly dont know your region. That said, set your goals for the property to attainable, if the property doesn't hold older age class deer you wouldn't want to hunt there holding out for them. There is always the chance on could pop up during the rut, rut hunting is 99% luck and 1% skill. I'd suggest just ripping that area apart, like I stated before, just know that property in and out, then find another property and do the same, give yourself as many chips in the game as possible! Good luck happy hanging!
 
Also, find the nastiest places on the property, that's a great starting spot. Try to find places that you dont really want to go, chances are many others dont want to go in there as well, those spots could be holding the older bucks.
 
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