Just a thought on successful hunts

[Eship]

So after a somewhat frustrating rut, although I was fortunate to have quite a few close opportunities, I got to thinking about the places that I have been able to actually kill deer. The majority of my hunting is on a few thousand acre section of public land surrounding a lake near where I live as well as a very small bit of private that I can hunt at my house (5 acres).

I have been hunting all my life, but I really had no idea what I was doing, and until getting out of the military a few years back, the extent of my hunting experience was usually just one or two weekends per year during rifle on my small section of private land when my grandpa would take me or my brothers. I was never able to get a deer because the fact of the matter is, deer learn very quickly to avoid a 5 acre section of hunted woods when there are hundreds of acres surrounding them that they can go to instead. After the military, I basically taught myself (and am still learning) how to hunt, and after some luck and learning, I’ve steadily gotten more successful each year. Big mature bucks have mostly alluded me other than maybe one sighting per year, which I have not been able to capitalize on yet. But, I understand that is largely a result of just limited access to land that holds big bucks.

All of this back story is to say, I have never once killed a deer while hunting the same spot that I had previously hunted in the same season. I may have scouted a spot prior to or during the season, but it has always been my first sit in that spot in which I get a deer. If I sit a spot and don’t get one the first time, I can usually count on the deer being completely gone by next visit. I have heard others say that the first hunt in a new area is likely your best opportunity. That was proven multiple times while I hunted the rut this year in which every good buck I saw was on my first time sitting a spot.

 

[Beagle1]

The hardest buck to kill is the one that knows he’s being hunted.

 

[AlphaK9]

We should give them credit- there is a reason the big ones get big.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

To me, the key to successful hunting is to not sit on a stand or spot unless you have a unique vital resource (e.g., the only spring around), can see a really long way, or you have other hunters or people supplying pressure. If you don’t have those, then you have to still hunt. Just my opinion.

Before my brothers and I were old enough to hunt, my dad would go sit on a chokepoint (the easiest place to cross the mountain for about 600 yards in either direction) and then my mom would take us for a walk in the woods along a specific route. That usually resulted in enough noise to stir up the animals and get something moving past my dad. This past Sunday, I sat on that same spot while my friend still hunted his way along that same route. We didn’t get anything, but he did push six does past me, while seeing six does and two wild turkeys. The next time I have a hunting partner, I’ll be there again.

If I owned a 5-acre island, I’d look really hard for game paths across it and then I’d set up there. Animals are creatures of habit. If they get pressured, they are going to follow the paths to escape. I’d also see what I could do to make at least part of it prime bedding down location. If even 1-2 does moved in, I would do everything I could to keep them around. The bucks know the location of every doe for at least a mile in every direction.

I would also see what I could do to create a chokepoint or funnel if one didn’t naturally exist.

I’ve killed deer on the same spot on consecutive days. Hell, my dad and my younger brother have each killed a second buck while gutting a buck at our chokepoint.

PS - deer are where you find them. I have killed them in all sorts of spots on my farm. Sometimes it makes sense. Sometimes it doesn’t. Time in the woods is the most important factor for success.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

Yes, hundreds of elk pile into private land…like clock work every year about the same time.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Yes, hundreds of elk pile into private land…like clock work every year about the same time.

This thread isn’t about elk.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

This thread isn’t about elk.

No, I get it…just commenting on how they know when it’s hunting season…deer or elk.

 

[TSAMP]

Interesting observation. While I dont disagree, the first sit is USUALLY the best. Ill share all recent example of a situation where it wasn't true.

Private cattle farm with about 40 acres of timber. A tough wind had me scratching my head so I hunted a new spot to try and optimize for the wind. I wasn't all that excited but I knew id be able to observe a long skinny corn field and id be on the 1 yard line of it. I deployed a decoy to try and help my odds the deer would come down to me. It was high winds and warm and despite being the rut. Deer didn't come out until 15 min before end of shooting light. I had to climb down. Pack up a decoy and stand ( decoy is stupid loud going back into storage). I saw a mature deer in the field in the dark on my way out. I was bummed, as i had made so much noise and "ruined" the maiden sit.

After a cold beer or 3 that evening. I decided the next day id go back. Conditions were better and frankly it was the first mature deer I saw with eyeballs in a few days. I went back. Adjusted my decoy a little but same exact tree. Killed a diff mature buck .

Short version. All things being equal, first sit is the best sit. But dont discount weather conditions on making a good spot look bad.

 

[aks]

Shot my deer this year, my biggest buck. After going into a completely new area just randomly. It was random luck, but my friend I was with is convinced it's because he brought bush light that day and we had Pantera playing on the way to the hunt.

 

[LostArra]

I think you need to separate buck behavior during the rut from early and late season hunting.

Early and late season: feed, bed, travel corridors. First sit in a well placed stand is probably the best.

During the rut I think the "first sit" theory is not valid or at least not as valid. Assuming there are deer, especially does, in the area, time in the woods and luck are the major factors for success. Bucks are on their feet more in daylight and traveling greater distances into areas they may not be familiar with. Hormones also make them a little stupid. Just because there were no deer sightings on the first sit doesn't mean they won't show up tomorrow.

(you also might try the Busch Lite and Pantera tactic)

 

[Eship]

Interesting observation. While I dont disagree, the first sit is USUALLY the best. I’ll share all recent example of a situation where it wasn't true.

Private cattle farm with about 40 acres of timber. A tough wind had me scratching my head so I hunted a new spot to try and optimize for the wind. I wasn't all that excited but I knew id be able to observe a long skinny corn field and id be on the 1 yard line of it. I deployed a decoy to try and help my odds the deer would come down to me. It was high winds and warm and despite being the rut. Deer didn't come out until 15 min before end of shooting light. I had to climb down. Pack up a decoy and stand ( decoy is stupid loud going back into storage). I saw a mature deer in the field in the dark on my way out. I was bummed, as i had made so much noise and "ruined" the maiden sit.

After a cold beer or 3 that evening. I decided the next day id go back. Conditions were better and frankly it was the first mature deer I saw with eyeballs in a few days. I went back. Adjusted my decoy a little but same exact tree. Killed a diff mature buck .

Short version. All things being equal, first sit is the best sit. But dont discount weather conditions on making a good spot look bad.

Maybe I should start drinking beer.

I plan on trying my property again this Sunday in hopes that bucks aren’t locked down anymore. I know that anything can happen and despite all my feelings that the first sit is better, I know that deer don’t abide by my feelings, so maybe I’ll get lucky. Saturday I plan on trying a mixed approach of scouting until I find 3 good reasons to sit a spot (saw this mentioned from another rokslide post, and liked the idea of it for an evening hunt), then waiting there for the evening.

 

[Eship]

I think you need to separate buck behavior during the rut from early and late season hunting.

Early and late season: feed, bed, travel corridors. First sit in a well placed stand is probably the best.

During the rut I think the "first sit" theory is not valid or at least not as valid. Assuming there are deer, especially does, in the area, time in the woods and luck are the major factors for success. Bucks are on their feet more in daylight and traveling greater distances into areas they may not be familiar with. Hormones also make them a little stupid. Just because there were no deer sightings on the first sit doesn't mean they won't show up tomorrow.

(you also might try the Busch Lite and Pantera tactic)

Yes I completely agree with you, and honestly, I am still learning so much including the specific dates of when bucks start to daylight, when the rut is, and when to focus on bed to feed/feed to bed. The toughest part is that at this early stage in my hunting career, I’m learning these key things just in time for them to no longer be relevant for the season, so I need to wait all the way until next season to implement it. With that said, I saw more bucks during the rut this year than all of last year, so I am learning.

 

[LostArra]

Yes I completely agree with you, and honestly, I am still learning so much including the specific dates of when bucks start to daylight, when the rut is, and when to focus on bed to feed/feed to bed. The toughest part is that at this early stage in my hunting career, I’m learning these key things just in time for them to no longer be relevant for the season, so I need to wait all the way until next season to implement it. With that said, I saw more bucks during the rut this year than all of last year, so I am learning.

Depending on your location the "food-bedding- travel corridors" spewed by the experts can be pure hogwash. An Iowa farm? Sure. But some of the areas I hunt have zero ag fields. Nothing but browse and acorns and rocks. During a good acorn year I've watched deer feed then bed right under the oaks. Travel corridor can be about 10 yards until sunset.