Memory is a wonderful asset for us all. Whether you are a veteran deer hunter or a beginner venturing into the woods for the first time, the tips below will help you maximize your hunting prowess in no time… 7 Tips and Tricks That Will Make You A Great Deer Hunter. But remote areas often have “good hunting” for hunting big woods bucks for a few reasons. Serious Deer Hunting Talk Only! The white-tail deer rut is the single most talked about aspect of hunting, yet may also be the most commonly misunderstood. While there may not be as many deer, the fact is if you want to hunt big bucks, you need to consider heavily wooded areas. The woods offer deer a great environment for survival. Will you see a lot of deer? When deer are disturbed, they do what deer do – run away. When hunters complain about the “October lull,” the truth is deer have probably just switched their food source from fields to hard mast in the woods. You’ll drastically increase your deer-hunting success. I love hunting bucks in the woods! First, the deer there are mostly unpressured since nobody takes the time to hunt them. Even in just-thinned pine stands, you can create these types of food plots and be highly productive over them,” Woods noted. 2019 The Pennsylvania State University, About The deer know were the field is at and don't expect predators to sneak up on them from the field. Hunters are clearly at a disadvantage. November 10 a few years ago, Illinois: The wind was blowing 20 miles per hour. He said most hunters try to intercept deer closer to a food source, such as a field edge. 2011 Youth Deer Hunt. However, if your goal is to consistently experience opportunities with mature bucks, making sure to spend the majority of your time while hunting in the woods may be your safest bet. If you’re hunting a field edge, another tactic many successful hunters are now employing is to place three or four non-strutting wild turkey decoys in the field. Jessica Hepner, an undergraduate whose grandfather had always told her that deer were less active during the day when the moon was full, set out to answer that question using data on female deer in October. Deer that survive discover a spot within their home range where they don’t get disturbed by hunters. Jessica tackled this question as well and concluded that you have. — RELATED: How to Field Dress a Deer TRANSPORT . Because deer are ... One of the best hunting tips I’ve ever received is to hunt the woods in the morning, and the fields in the evening. by Southernhunter1990 » Sun Nov 08, 2015 5:15 pm . While I love to hit a morning stand or two during the early season and into mid October, I make sure that 3 things can happen: 1. Deer … Ideally the best way to transport a deer is to lift it directly onto a trailer and drive it to your destination. We’ll be back on the flip side of deer season to see who bested deer at their own game. Looking at the percentage of 6-month-old, 1.5-year-old, and >2.5-year-old deer field checked by PGC personnel, I found a small, but statistically significant, difference in the age structure of deer on public lands versus private lands (in some counties). When it comes to deer hunting there are no absolutes, so be prepared to adjust your hunting locations and tactics to your individual situation. You can read more about that Whitetails are typically most active during the night, much of which they spend feeding. His goal is to provide current, useful information about deer hunting and deer … © If I reflect back to the top 25 bucks I have hunted and killed, there are only 4 that I can remember finding outside of the woods. We wish all hunters a safe and successful hunting season. i hunt the edge of the field and i hunt trials in the woods is that right or should i switch it up GrowingDeer.tv was created by Dr. Grant Woods as a means to share his love for managing and growing white-tailed deer. Deer Hunting. As long as you hunt them smartly, that doesn’t have to change either. Two, since they are unpressured, they follow pretty normal and easy-to-distinguish patterns. Think you could find this doe and her hiding spot? If your goal is to see a lot of deer than hunting in the open fields is a great choice. Yes, this is a corridor, but the corridors that deer use can be more than just wooded areas. If you’re not a long-time reader, you’re in luck! You can read more about that here. I could hear it whistling through the woods, and I swear it sounded a little like an old man laughing at my predicament. Grant’s passions in life are God, family and hunting. 15 posts • Page 1 of 1. –Dr. I also think it is the quitest way to get from one point to antoher, depending on the wind direction. If you’re a long-time reader of this blog, however, you know that we have learned some things about deer that might explain how some deer survive longer on public land. THE CAMPFIRE. I climbed down, headed home and called a friend to recount my terrible tale of woe. The older a buck becomes the thicker and more reclusive and secure the type of cover he often seems to seek. If you’re one of these hunters, you can raise your game in the woods by learning some powerful skills and tips. Advertisement. Bucks do something similar, but maybe even more devious. The further you can get away from a major food source and into a stand location close to a heavily wooded buck bedding area, the more likely you are to find that time is on your side. Statements That places bucks even further back into the woods and away from traditional daytime bedding areas. Privacy and Legal Past Hunting Indiana Youth Hunts. We put all the good stuff in one post to catch you up. Woods or Fields. Heck, if you’re hunting the rut, hunting anywhere can be a fast-paced! May the odds be ever in your favor. Their hiding spots tend to be on ridgetops with a steep slope to the east or south. This study is being conducted to better understand the role of deer in the context of all these challenges and to help Pennsylvania’s forest and wildlife managers better manage deer and the forest. By Scott Bestul, and Bob Robb. Many hunters realize that they see deer most often at dawn and dusk, but some of them fail to understand that the deer rest in wooded areas during most of the day, get up around sunset, and move out of the woods and into fields after dark. They hideout in the thick brush and cover and only come out at the safest times of day to do so. Shower with a scent-free soap before every hunting trip, and try not to contaminate your hunting clothes on the way to the field. Many hunters also consider the OxCart an invaluable tool to move seed, fertilizer and other items to make hidey-holes in the woods. I didn’t give these findings much thought because (a) no one would believe me, and (b) I had no other data to support why this might be or whether it was just some artefact of sampling. Top Tactics for Giant Speckled Trout in Winter. Field deer have a way of just appearing, seemingly out of nowhere. Let’s take Hillside Doe, for example. There may be a successful strategy, but it will take a lot of investment on your part! My favorite locations to find the oldest buck in the neighborhood is within the wooded cover furthest away from fields, doe bedding and hunting pressure. We can break down the type of deer cartridges needed based on the conditions of the hunt. Pennsylvania forests face many challenges - invasive plants, insect outbreaks, soil acidity, tree diseases, and even deer. Doe family groups will not bed near the food any longer and will be forced back into typical buck bedding areas. In most peoples hunting timing calendar, spooking deer for 2-3 weeks during early to mid October, would include major portions of the rut. Politics. Mature buck hunting, herd and habitat techniques. The damn wind, I thought to myself. One of the biggest differences between hunting the deep woods and hunting a food plot or prairie is you’ll have to whack the deer as he moves between big trees. All this was before antler point restriction regulations were even a whisper. When you're hunting a field, take a moment to scan your surroundings before making any move. The rut can be broken down into three distinct phases: the pre-rut, peak of the rut and the post-rut. So those folks know just how hard it can be to target a buck in that labyrinth of standing timber. While all deer are creatures of edge habitat that often include grasslands, woodlines and upland cover, doe family groups can't seem to stay too far away from their favorite food source. Some places simply allow you to get in position easier without being detected in the … — If you have feeders and are using bait, you typically know where your deer are going to go. Grant has been hunting since the third grade and has degrees from Southwest Missouri State University, University of Georgia, and Clemson University. Probably not. 2010 Youth Deer Hunt. Big-woods deer have larger home ranges and are harder to pattern than deer in areas with limited forest cover, but they still have predictable traits. Deer Donations . HUNTING. You just have to work super hard during the offseason to find where those bedding areas are. Not only that but it’s also important to remember entry and exit … Youth Forum. However, in my experience you will have a much greater chance at harvesting a mature buck this season. If they run to a spot where they don’t get disturbed again, then they will run back there next time. If you want to see what that hiding spot looked like, here’s a photo of the spot. What do u prefer for evening hunts fields woods thickets etc..... Southernhunter1990 Spike Posts: 54 Joined: Tue Sep 22, 2015 3:15 am Location: Warren co Tennessee. Too many years ago, I did a deep dive into the variation in the age structure of deer harvests in Pennsylvania. Use tracks, trails, rut sign and other … Grant Woods, Missouri biologist and hunter. They act as communal scent wicks and are located in areas with high deer traffic." 2012 Bob Skinner Memorial Youth Deer Hunt. Often times, deer will use a fence line with very little brush as … Morning hunts are too risky for open areas. Re: Fields or woods. Mention travel corridors and deer hunting and most think of a strip of woodlands surrounded by open grasslands. As a general rule of thumb, it is best to avoid hunting primary food sources in the mornings. Hunting on quick pass-thru deer travel corridors in the woods during the evening hours or on the down wind side of buck bedding areas when the sun rises, can be much safer sits. Tip 1 Human odor spooks deer. 2013 Bob Skinner Memorial Youth Hunt. Or is there some strategy you can follow to get one of those older bucks? In the woods you have some cover to drink a cup of coffee, eat a sandwich, wipe your nose or make a little body shift. Bucks will then be further back into the woods and often run out of the depth of cover required to hold them during the daytime. I scouted it out. While a wiley old buck may eventually show himself during daylight hours in the open fields and traditional doe hangouts, he spends the majority of shooting hours in the woods. While you’re sitting still in your tree stand, they are lying still in their hiding spot. It might appear to be reasoned behavior, but it’s not – just a learned behavior. One of the most challenging parts of hunting "field" deer is staying as still as possible. Her home range was essentially the side of a ridge. Heavy Rain or Downpour . Check out his story and review the reader comments that follow. And we have multiple examples of study deer living into their teens! by catman529 » Sun Nov 08, 2015 5:18 pm . You can bet I will in the woods somewhere along with you, if you choose to hunt a secluded buck hangout surrounded by deer trails less traveled. Hike with a purpose, which means scouting. To see it in action, check out this post we wrote back in 2014. Guns. All deer, does and bucks, interact with signposts—they smell and rub them—but only mature bucks make them. You’ll do more harm than good if you try to pursue deer during the early hours. Brilliant! Don't miss another Deer-Forest Blog post! Learn … Keying your hunting activities to find, protect and take advantage of the gems of habitat that are actually secluded enough to attract a mature buck, can pay huge rewards for you this Fall! 2009 Youth Hunt. Hunting near bedding areas is great in the morning because it allows you to sneak into a treestand in the dark that you wouldn’t normally be able to get into while the deer are bedded. Woods hunters don’t need long-range reach; they typically need compact, quick-handling rifles. Home ranges of deer in our study area average about 1 square mile (640 acres) for both males and females outside the breeding season. MORNING TREESTAND PLACEMENT. That’s it for me. Conventional wisdom, as we all know, is that harvest rates on public lands are higher than on private lands. Fishing. Check out, Werewolves – deer don’t howl at the full moon or any other moon for that matter. Does Seek Field And Woods. Please Read Before Registering. When it’s time to hunt, Infalt creeps close to the bedding site, doing his best not to spook the deer. I have walked up on several deer laying on the edge of the woods facing in and able to get close enough with the bow, again if the wind is right. Besides a good ole fashioned deer drive, what is the best way to spook all the deer on your land? It’s also important to remember to only hit the woods during the afternoon when choosing to focus on open areas. There are 3 major reasons to find the deer trails less traveled when choosing where to hunt this Fall: While all deer are creatures of edge habitat that often include grasslands, woodlines and upland cover, doe family groups can't seem to stay too far away from their favorite food source. During the rifle season they average about 100 acres. The biggest bucks are the most experienced at evading their predators. These natural travel lanes often correlate with two key elements in a deer’s life: food and cover. The sight of what appears to be turkeys calmly feeding can instantly convince deer the field is safe. Field Notes ; Pro Hunters Avoid These Whitetail Hunting Mistakes; Pro Hunters Avoid These Whitetail Hunting Mistakes September 11, 2014. 15 Deer Hunting Mistakes Guaranteed to Ruin the Rut. Accessibility The Campfire . If you’re hunting from a tree stand in the woods, your best bet will be to walk to and from that stand in the woods than to walk down the edge of a field and go to that stand. But when you're on an field edge, the deer can spot you much easier as you're going to and from your stand than they can if you walk through the corn and get in the ground … Fishing. It doesn’t “phase” them. However, often this is not possible due to the terrain or location. Top. Then check again! During other parts of the season deer will move back out into relatively open areas of woods and crop fields if downpours and showers only last a few hours. Study, Webinars, Videos, and In fact, some of our bucks generally exhibit more movement in the afternoon than the morning. If you would like to receive email alerts of new blog posts, subscribe here. The other strategy deer use to avoid hunters is to move less. Obviously. I can avoid both daytime bedding and morning feeding areas while accessing my stand. Should you just play the odds and hope you’re lucky? By 4 am on the opening day of rifle season, she was settled into her hiding spot. This is where you must put boots to dirt and go hiking. Check out the tale of the Katniss Everdeen of the white-tailed deer world – a 13-year-old doe we captured as a fawn in 2001 in WMU 2G. There are a lot of big woods and big-woods deer hunters throughout the country. This load-tested to 1,100 pounds small cart makes hauling and unloading large loads … Hunting deer can be tricky and bringing home meat can really rely on the right day and right time. the It shouldn’t “phase” you. Considering that I have had as many as over 30 food plots totalling 18 acres in 3 states at one time, that is a strong indication for where I expect to run into my next mature buck encounter. It’s pretty much a no-brainer when it comes to heavy all day rainfall/downpour and storms. Yes, generally walking down the edge of a field is easier. Deep-woods whitetail hunting can be a quick-shooting, reactionary proposition. Whether it is near a secluded bedding area or somewhere on the way to or from a food source, you can expect to successfully chip away at a buck that you may be after, without disturbing his preferred afternoon dining area. Home ranges of deer in our study area average about 1 square mile (640 acres) for both males and females outside the breeding season. Day after day. By creating a beautiful food plot, attracting all the deer in the neighborhood to it, hunting right on top of it and then spooking all of the deer that you invited to the plot. Podcasts, The Ultimate Guide to Hunting Big Woods Deer, found they walked just a few meters more or less, no excuse to stay home when the weather is terrible, Vampires – deer don’t go nocturnal. During the rifle season they average about 100 acres. Bucks however, can often be forced well back into the cover which often makes it difficult to arrive to their favorite food prior to dark. 2. Fields or woods. While you’re sitting still in your tree stand, they are lying still in their hiding spot. To survive, you must avoid being harvested (the #1 cause of mortality for deer in Pennsylvania). The other strategy deer use to avoid hunters is to move less. You can expect does to enter the food sources first often because they simply don't have too far to travel. Penn State Hotlines "The old adage, hunt the woods in the morning, fields in the afternoon, really is good advice. Although they’re less likely to bump a buck from its bed, that scenario presents problems. Updated: September 18, 2019. Forum Rules and Guidelines. — First off, we decided to limit ourselves to the most common deer hunting calibers:.30-06,.308,.300 Winchester Magnum, 6.5 Creedmoor, and.30-30 Winchester. Surprisingly, more older deer were harvested on public lands than private lands! But, don’t just take a stroll. Deer have a few tricks up their sleeve to avoid hunters. To get older you must survive. That places bucks even further back into the woods and away from traditional … Pre-Rut Phase. Even the dogs were tired! 6 | Big Woods. Your chances of taking a good buck in a green field are by far the best during the last few minutes of the day's shooting light," He said "A big key to taking good bucks from the greenfields is to never, ever shoot does from the fields. There are 3 major reasons to find the deer trails less traveled when choosing where to hunt this Fall: 1. How to turn whitetail hunting’s primetime into an utter disaster . The harvest rates documented on The Deer-Forest Study are some of the lowest we’ve seen since we began radiocollaring adult deer in 2002 in different management units across Pennsylvania. But deer don’t move quite as far from their beds in daylight when said conditions aren’t so great. As we southerners say, “It ain’t easy.” Simply put, there is no silver bullet for hunting big timber. In many cases, hunters must drag their deer out of the woods or field. She, Witchcraft – regardless of the storm that is conjured, rain and wind are hardly a bother for deer. Learn to identify potential travel corridors by locating field corners, creek bottoms, ridge lines and saddles. Howl at the full moon or any other moon for that matter field Notes ; Pro hunters these. Love for managing and growing white-tailed deer or fields cover he often seems to seek thumb, it the... To identify potential travel corridors by locating field corners, creek bottoms, ridge lines and.. 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Of all time, buck 8917, had a hiding spot on a ridgetop that visited. Woods and big-woods deer hunters throughout the country and late afternoon each day, left... Home meat can really rely on the way to get one of hunters. Big woods and away from traditional daytime bedding areas was created by Dr. grant woods as a field take!