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Super spooked deer. What would you do?
12/28/2011 12:34:48 PM
I'm the only hunter on this section of private land, just over 10 acres. I've been trying for that buck in my other topic but can't seem to catch him in the daylight.
Today I got to my treestand around 4:10, and in the process bumped 3 does in the field (I have to cross 50yds open field to get to my stand). They kind of trotted/walked into the woods, not an all-out run. I got settled in, and around 4:30am the deer began moving about. I heard a lot of bleats and some grunts, there was a ton of communication going on. It was still pitch black in the woods so I couldn't see where they were, but I stayed perfectly still.
Around 5am there was some blowing at 90* to my right (West). First there were 2 blows followed by a minute or two of silence, then a few bleats from the field to the East. Roughly 2 minutes after that, there was a stream of 5 blows (snort/wheeze?) possibly 40yds or closer to the West, followed by the deer moving away. A minute or two later I hear it come back and start blowing again, 7 more times. It was clearly agitated, so I gave a quick bleat on my hardwood grunter. All was quiet for about 5 more minutes, then the blowing started again, followed by a ton of stomping and more blowing. I gave another bleat and the deer settled down for a 10-15 seconds, only to resume blowing even more frantically and at an even closer distance. This time the deer gave a dozen blows one right after the other before finally moving away, and I could hear the other deer follow it. I checked my watch and the time was 5:35.
I was seated facing South, ladder stand about 13' above ground in a cluster of 4 large oak trees on the side of a slight depression by a water runoff. Wind was from SW. Before I left for work at 10:00 I bent over a broken branch to break up my profile (it has dead leaves on it).
The only thing I can think of is that the deer somehow winded me from a crosswind through all my scentlock and buckbombs, or (more likely?) saw my silhouette against the sky.
I've got 2 more days to hunt before the end of the season and I'd really like to take home a second deer this year, so what would you do on your hunt tomorrow?
Change location?
-There is another stand set up about 80yds away. It is a 20' climbing sticks with a seat up top that faces due North, but to get there I would either have to cross the runoff where they feed or force my way through a 2 acre thicket.
Increase cover?
-Scents, branches, etc
Go for elevation?
-I could bring an extra stand that is 15'
Get there even earlier?
-Should be about 24* tonight
Bring a big spotlight and a bow, or a spotlight and suppressed rifle?
Today I got to my treestand around 4:10, and in the process bumped 3 does in the field (I have to cross 50yds open field to get to my stand). They kind of trotted/walked into the woods, not an all-out run. I got settled in, and around 4:30am the deer began moving about. I heard a lot of bleats and some grunts, there was a ton of communication going on. It was still pitch black in the woods so I couldn't see where they were, but I stayed perfectly still.
Around 5am there was some blowing at 90* to my right (West). First there were 2 blows followed by a minute or two of silence, then a few bleats from the field to the East. Roughly 2 minutes after that, there was a stream of 5 blows (snort/wheeze?) possibly 40yds or closer to the West, followed by the deer moving away. A minute or two later I hear it come back and start blowing again, 7 more times. It was clearly agitated, so I gave a quick bleat on my hardwood grunter. All was quiet for about 5 more minutes, then the blowing started again, followed by a ton of stomping and more blowing. I gave another bleat and the deer settled down for a 10-15 seconds, only to resume blowing even more frantically and at an even closer distance. This time the deer gave a dozen blows one right after the other before finally moving away, and I could hear the other deer follow it. I checked my watch and the time was 5:35.
I was seated facing South, ladder stand about 13' above ground in a cluster of 4 large oak trees on the side of a slight depression by a water runoff. Wind was from SW. Before I left for work at 10:00 I bent over a broken branch to break up my profile (it has dead leaves on it).
The only thing I can think of is that the deer somehow winded me from a crosswind through all my scentlock and buckbombs, or (more likely?) saw my silhouette against the sky.
I've got 2 more days to hunt before the end of the season and I'd really like to take home a second deer this year, so what would you do on your hunt tomorrow?
Change location?
-There is another stand set up about 80yds away. It is a 20' climbing sticks with a seat up top that faces due North, but to get there I would either have to cross the runoff where they feed or force my way through a 2 acre thicket.
Increase cover?
-Scents, branches, etc
Go for elevation?
-I could bring an extra stand that is 15'
Get there even earlier?
-Should be about 24* tonight
Bring a big spotlight and a bow, or a spotlight and suppressed rifle?
12/28/2011 7:09:20 PM
are you gun hunting or bow hunting?
Ease up on the scents and calls....unless you want a dumb yearling, I would to go the extra stand as quietly as possible, then just sit there quietly, without moving much. No calling, no buck bombs, nothing.
wait for a deer to appear in range, then slowly raise your weapon when it is not looking at you.
Pull trigger or release arrow. Done.
You are disturbing the woods too much.
oh, this time of the year with bare trees, I would try to get up higher, say 20 feet and use a ghillie suit or 3D camo. If you don't have 3D camo, be especially careful to sit there quietly as possible, don't move at all....especially if you've been busted by a deer...don't let them know that they busted you.
Its a little late in the season to be hunting rubs, but you might get lucky.
option 2 is to set up a new stand during the middle of the day closer to where you enter the woods. near a corner of the open field or along the stream bed would be a good choice.
Ease up on the scents and calls....unless you want a dumb yearling, I would to go the extra stand as quietly as possible, then just sit there quietly, without moving much. No calling, no buck bombs, nothing.
wait for a deer to appear in range, then slowly raise your weapon when it is not looking at you.
Pull trigger or release arrow. Done.
You are disturbing the woods too much.
oh, this time of the year with bare trees, I would try to get up higher, say 20 feet and use a ghillie suit or 3D camo. If you don't have 3D camo, be especially careful to sit there quietly as possible, don't move at all....especially if you've been busted by a deer...don't let them know that they busted you.
Its a little late in the season to be hunting rubs, but you might get lucky.
option 2 is to set up a new stand during the middle of the day closer to where you enter the woods. near a corner of the open field or along the stream bed would be a good choice.
12/28/2011 9:45:33 PM
Thanks for the tips, I will leave the grunter at home!
CT has a muzzleloader and bow season thru 12/31, I'm using a gun, no scope.
Unfortunately I don't have a ghille suit or 3d camo yet due to budget constraints. Aside from the neon orange vest I am required to wear I have "multicam" pants along with realtree gloves and hat.
I drove past the field tonight after dinner (8:30) and he was standing right in front of the driveway about 10 yards in, with a pose that reminded me of "thou shall NOT pass!"
CT has a muzzleloader and bow season thru 12/31, I'm using a gun, no scope.
Unfortunately I don't have a ghille suit or 3d camo yet due to budget constraints. Aside from the neon orange vest I am required to wear I have "multicam" pants along with realtree gloves and hat.
I drove past the field tonight after dinner (8:30) and he was standing right in front of the driveway about 10 yards in, with a pose that reminded me of "thou shall NOT pass!"
12/28/2011 9:58:56 PM
I would change stand location to some where you don't have to cross the field to get to the stand. Try the corners of the field and set your stands according to the prevailing winds.
12/29/2011 3:08:02 PM
Thanks!
I didn't see or hear squat this morning, we had nasty 15mph winds and it was 17* when I got to my stand at 4:30. I left for work at 11 and moved the stand over to the left side edge of the field, about 1/3 of the way in. I'll try that tonight just before sundown. Unfortunately I can't get any closer to the road (500ft rule with a house across the street).
I didn't see or hear squat this morning, we had nasty 15mph winds and it was 17* when I got to my stand at 4:30. I left for work at 11 and moved the stand over to the left side edge of the field, about 1/3 of the way in. I'll try that tonight just before sundown. Unfortunately I can't get any closer to the road (500ft rule with a house across the street).
12/30/2011 5:30:15 AM
In my opinion you are getting in way to early 4:30am legal shooting time is about 6:45am these days that's 2 hours and 15 minutes before you can even see your scent is blowing all over the place and your spooking them.I have always got into my stands 1/2 to 1 hour before first light.Good Luck I hope you Tag out.
12/30/2011 11:32:51 AM
The only reason I've been going so early is because if I show at 6:00 I bump them out of the field and they don't come back. Maybe with the new location for the stand it will be ok. I'll try and walk on the rock wall to get there instead of skirting the edges of the field. Hopefully the barbed wire doesn't kill me!
12/31/2011 7:05:47 AM
You could try going in around 6:30 or 7:00 and hope to see him still out in the open when there's light rather than going in during the dark, if you have enough cover to sneak to the edge of the field and they are in range. Did this one year with my buddy, both of us took 6 pointers.
We figured we pushing the deer and decided to change tactics. Doesn't always work, but it's a change up on the deer.
We figured we pushing the deer and decided to change tactics. Doesn't always work, but it's a change up on the deer.
12/31/2011 11:37:10 PM
Originally Posted By 15jonshoot:
You could try going in around 6:30 or 7:00 and hope to see him still out in the open when there's light rather than going in during the dark, if you have enough cover to sneak to the edge of the field and they are in range. Did this one year with my buddy, both of us took 6 pointers.
We figured we pushing the deer and decided to change tactics. Doesn't always work, but it's a change up on the deer.
You could try going in around 6:30 or 7:00 and hope to see him still out in the open when there's light rather than going in during the dark, if you have enough cover to sneak to the edge of the field and they are in range. Did this one year with my buddy, both of us took 6 pointers.
We figured we pushing the deer and decided to change tactics. Doesn't always work, but it's a change up on the deer.
The deer winded you, if it came back it was a doe or a very young buck.
1/2/2012 8:28:49 AM
Originally Posted By remlap61:
In my opinion you are getting in way to early 4:30am legal shooting time is about 6:45am these days that's 2 hours and 15 minutes before you can even see your scent is blowing all over the place and your spooking them.I have always got into my stands 1/2 to 1 hour before first light.Good Luck I hope you Tag out.
In my opinion you are getting in way to early 4:30am legal shooting time is about 6:45am these days that's 2 hours and 15 minutes before you can even see your scent is blowing all over the place and your spooking them.I have always got into my stands 1/2 to 1 hour before first light.Good Luck I hope you Tag out.
I tried going for 5:45 and spooked him again as soon as I stepped off the road. While looking at the field the wind was in my face so he must have seen me from his spot inside the tree line as there is no way he could have winded me.
For next season I'm going to build a blind 30-35feet up and camp out in it.
