Scrapes off the highway

[cofen380]

I have access to a 37 acre property close to my house that runs directly next to the highway (highlighted in green in the screenshot). I walked part of it today and found several scrapes and a couple newer looking rubs, lots of well used trails through ankle and knee high grass, along with a little 3 point deadhead. Didn’t jump any deer while I was there (late afternoon). The part that I walked is a mix of younger pines with no underbrush that turns into hardwoods with thicker underbrush with some more “open” areas mixed in where you can see 50 yards or so in a couple directions. My question is what are the chances that deer are actually checking these scrapes or using these areas in daylight? I know that’s a broad question, but what other things can I be looking for to determine this other than just sitting it for an evening or morning? Any advice on trying to figure out a property like this would be welcome.

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[Taudisio]

I have access to a 37 acre property close to my house that runs directly next to the highway (highlighted in green in the screenshot). I walked part of it today and found several scrapes and a couple newer looking rubs, lots of well used trails through ankle and knee high grass, along with a little 3 point deadhead. Didn’t jump any deer while I was there (late afternoon). The part that I walked is a mix of younger pines with no underbrush that turns into hardwoods with thicker underbrush with some more “open” areas mixed in where you can see 50 yards or so in a couple directions. My question is what are the chances that deer are actually checking these scrapes or using these areas in daylight? I know that’s a broad question, but what other things can I be looking for to determine this other than just sitting it for an evening or morning? Any advice on trying to figure out a property like this would be welcome.

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This property would take 4 seconds to find, as you didn’t cross out the property name to the north. I suggest you edit it!

As far as helping you, I would definitely put at least 3 trail cameras out to find out when and where they are on the move. Amazon deal days starts tomorrow, should be some on sale for cheap.

 

[cofen380]

This property would take 4 seconds to find, as you didn’t cross out the property name to the north. I suggest you edit it!

As far as helping you, I would definitely put at least 3 trail cameras out to find out when and where they are on the move. Amazon deal days starts tomorrow, should be some on sale for cheap.

Haha thanks for the heads up. I went ahead and edited it. Cameras might have to be the way to go


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[KenLee]

I'd climb off a trail that is along or close to rub/scrape line. Not alot to lose

 

[cofen380]

I'd climb off a trail that is along or close to rub/scrape line. Not alot to lose

True I could always just do a late evening sit to see if anything’s moving before dark


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[Cedarsavage]

Ever see a deer cross a road in daylight?

 

[Macintosh]

cameras are the obvious way. or hunt it or observe it if possible, and see. Or check those scrapes and trails a specific time after a good rain and see if they are opened since the rain, and use that to infer if it was during daylight or not. To me, suburban and semi-rural deer "live" in the overlooked little pockets, and hard up next to a highewy is almost always an "overlooked little pocket"...so zero surprise to me that you found sign there. If the sign points to it being a road crossing, it may be nighttime...but if the sign points to it being a bedding or staging or feeding area by virtue of very few people going there right next to a busy road..., it may very well be daytime movement. I have a love/hate relationship with a couple spots next to roads...good sign, can be good hunting, but I hate the road noise. Pick your poison.

 

[KenLee]

Ever see a deer cross a road in daylight?

Almost every day

 

[cofen380]

cameras are the obvious way. or hunt it or observe it if possible, and see. Or check those scrapes and trails a specific time after a good rain and see if they are opened since the rain, and use that to infer if it was during daylight or not. To me, suburban and semi-rural deer "live" in the overlooked little pockets, and hard up next to a highewy is almost always an "overlooked little pocket"...so zero surprise to me that you found sign there. If the sign points to it being a road crossing, it may be nighttime...but if the sign points to it being a bedding or staging or feeding area by virtue of very few people going there right next to a busy road..., it may very well be daytime movement. I have a love/hate relationship with a couple spots next to roads...good sign, can be good hunting, but I hate the road noise. Pick your poison.

That’s helpful thank you. I was surprised I didn’t jump anything while walking around given some of the areas being more dense, but that may not mean deer aren’t bedding there still. I didn’t walk the whole thing yet. Those were my thoughts too though: if they’re bedding close by I feel like the chances of them moving in that area in daylight are higher. No one else goes on that property so they’d be pretty protected just staying in that one lot.


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[dtrkyman]

I used to have some major debates about clients I was guiding hunting a stand next to the highway, I usually would just say one of you is hunting there so if you would like you can fight over who gets to hunt another spot and then help drag out the buck from along the highway!

One of the best spots I have ever had, I could park a 1/4 mile away and glass bucks coming through the pinch across the highway and crossing under my stand on my side, had a client shoot a buck on the shoulder once!

I understand not really wanting to hunt next to the road and watching cars drive by, but you gotta hunt where the deer are.

 

[cofen380]

I used to have some major debates about clients I was guiding hunting a stand next to the highway, I usually would just say one of you is hunting there so if you would like you can fight over who gets to hunt another spot and then help drag out the buck from along the highway!

One of the best spots I have ever had, I could park a 1/4 mile away and glass bucks coming through the pinch across the highway and crossing under my stand on my side, had a client shoot a buck on the shoulder once!

I understand not really wanting to hunt next to the road and watching cars drive by, but you gotta hunt where the deer are.

That’s pretty awesome! I definitely have no qualms with hunting near a highway, houses or whatever else. Way more concerned with getting on deer as a struggling stickbow hunter. In my mind at least places like this seem like they would be easier to use the wind in my favor being how small they are and being able to cross off certain areas where you know they’re probably not entering from. I could be off on that though


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[dtrkyman]

Access is typically really good as well, I would pull onto the shoulder and drop guys off, they walked 50 yards and never set foot where I deer does for the most part.

 

[cofen380]

Access is typically really good as well, I would pull onto the shoulder and drop guys off, they walked 50 yards and never set foot where I deer does for the most part.

Hard to beat that


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[flathead#2]

I have a place very similar to this.
At the entrance to the lease, right off the main paved rd maybe 100 yards.
The trick is getting in and out without the other guys knowing where I'm hunting.

 

[bridgerbenson]

All the biggest bucks get hit on the highway so that place should be money! Good luck


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