Yeah I was thinking a climber or stake blind, I don't want to leave it out there and want the option to move based on their behavior at the time i'm hunting. I now understand where they are will be is dictated by the time of my hunt. How often have you been able to spot and stalk or still hunt while getting into range for archery? It seems tough to be quiet enough in those approaches with the kind of terrain in this area.
In the book Mapping Trophy Bucks, it really focuses on terrain features that will funnel movement. Whenever I find a spot that forces movement, there isn't a place to put a stand or the cover is so thick I would have to be right next to the trail. Thanks for all the answers.
i have had good success stalking, and more often if you can spot them, stalk into a spot to cut them off where they are going rather than stalk all the way to bow range... like you mentioned, it's thick and noisy in most good habitat, so if you can see them and get ahead of them without getting close enough to get picked off, then let them come the rest of the way.... works really good for elk too.
since it rains a lot during deer season (late archery season is way better than early for deer) i like getting out when it's raining or just stopped (preferable for many reasons but often not an option) and look for fresh buck tracks... you will be able to age those tracks pretty easy if it's raining or has just stopped, then figure out where that buck is likely going and make a play that way... late season you will see bucks working back and forth often too, and you'll see his tracks going both ways... may want to hang out right there.
late season have had success spotting a buck and rattling to him. the biggest buck i have killed was on an old overgrown powerline road, set up on the trail i had seen that buck cross on more than once, saw him cross 2 days in a row before season, and was on my knees under a hemlock waiting.... it sucked, my feet were asleep and knees hurt, but there wasn't really another more comfortable option, but he came out with his nose up a doe's butt on Dec 3rd, and i shot him just over 20yds. it was pretty open but too thick on both sides, so that was what i had to do..... not my style of hunting, but i wanted to kill that deer and it was the only place i knew i could hunt him without running him out.
still hunting mature timber (think national forest type big 2nd growth) can work too, especially on a nasty day with good directional wind. i like staying mobile unless i find a reason not to be. most consistent blacktail killers hunt stands and blinds, it's a good way to hunt them, but i have killed my share on the ground being mobile, just adapting to the current scenarios. i have killed bucks with my bow about every way you can besides a tree stand or blind, but i do plan on getting a climber and adding it to my arsenal... mostly for calling lions, but i will use it to hunt bucks and bulls too.... there are scenarios i wish i had a tree stand
