What to do on multi-day white-tail hunts

[Rich M]

When I travel hunt it is about finding the animals, and then hunting. First morning would find me watching what i think is a good area til 10:30 and then covering ground to find deer til about 3:30 and then setting up shop in another good looking area. Scouting might be as easy as walking backwoods roads/2 tracks looking for a big track or two in order to know where to focus your energy.

You've already spent hours looking at aerials and topo maps - you should be at least near the zone. If not, find it quickly and then hunt it.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I would still hunt all day. The idea of sitting in one spot all day makes me start getting bored already. The only time I stay in one spot is when I can count on other hunters pushing deer past me.

Still hunting would be the last thing I would do down here.
I would find fresh buck sign and hunt it.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Still hunting would be the last thing I would do down here.
I would find fresh buck sign and hunt it.

How would you hunt it? Sit there and stare at it?

 

[N2TRKYS]

How would you hunt it? Sit there and stare at it?

That’s the more productive way.

 

[Macintosh]

I guess my question is more how would you find the sign to sit on--regardless of what you do with fresh buck sign, you still have to find it first. You can do that while hunting, or not. Your choice. Sounds like very high deer density if sitting is more productive. For sure if deer density is high you can sit on sign and see deer. If its an area you are unfamiliar with or your scouting is from summer as the OP mentioned, you can hunt as you are scouting (ie still hunting), and then decide if sitting or moving is more productive based on the sign. Concentrated area freshly torn up--sure sit on it. Sparse sign, relatively evenly distributed along transitions in bigger woods, ime still hunting is every bit as productive and usually more so. Obviously going in with a preconcieved notion of how to hunt it, rather than letting the sign tell you how to hunt, isnt the best way. But for the OP who said they have a hard time thinking they to want to sit for 9 days straight, I'm not sure why someone would shy away from moving around even if they plan to do a lot of sitting. How else are you going to find the fresh sign to sit on (or still hunt)?

 

[Macintosh]

If you’re in the spot…I would sit. If you’re looking for the spot…I would scout. If there is no spot I would still hunt

IMO this is the way. The only thing I would add is that often all three happen in the same short time period, and get mixed as needed. ie head out "scouting" hiking without moving super slow...then slow down (hunting) based on sign, terrain, vegetation, etc...find really good fresh sign and REALLY begin to slow down (still hunt)...then get into a area that's really freshly torn up, so you sit on it for a bit...etc. Sometimes a "spot" isnt a spot, its a linear area such as a wet run or vegetation transition that could be miles long--often has a concentration of sign along it in big woods, but odds of bumping into a deer are better if you cover more of it, ie still hunting can be really productive here.
Regardless, totally normal and good practice IMO to mix and match all three (scouting, still hunting, sitting), all day, depending on what you find.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I guess my question is more how would you find the sign to sit on--regardless of what you do with fresh buck sign, you still have to find it first. You can do that while hunting, or not. Your choice. Sounds like very high deer density if sitting is more productive. For sure if deer density is high you can sit on sign and see deer. If its an area you are unfamiliar with or your scouting is from summer as the OP mentioned, you can hunt as you are scouting (ie still hunting), and then decide if sitting or moving is more productive based on the sign. Concentrated area freshly torn up--sure sit on it. Sparse sign, relatively evenly distributed along transitions in bigger woods, ime still hunting is every bit as productive and usually more so. Obviously going in with a preconcieved notion of how to hunt it, rather than letting the sign tell you how to hunt, isnt the best way. But for the OP who said they have a hard time thinking they to want to sit for 9 days straight, I'm not sure why someone would shy away from moving around even if they plan to do a lot of sitting. How else are you going to find the fresh sign to sit on (or still hunt)?

It’s pretty easy to understand, if you think about it at all. If you actually know what you’re looking for when scouting, which seems to be a very foreign concept out west, it’s easy to find a place to sit. Moving around down here typically spooks more deer, especially mature bucks, than you’ll get shots at. Also if you move around very much down here on public land, you wind up ruining other people’s hunts, as well.
However, I guess if you don’t know what to look for like your post suggests you don’t, then walking around maybe your jam.

 

[Macintosh]

Way to be classy, kid. Grow up.
(Not a westerner)

 

[N2TRKYS]

Way to be classy, kid. Grow up.
(Not a westerner)

It was a general statement, but doesn’t mean that you’re one. Didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. Just answering your questions/concerns.