Over-Hunted?

chuckwagon · Rookie Member Joined: Nov 21, 2007 Posts: 2

I hace been hunting the same spot since opening day with very little luck. only slight signs of deer activity. Then I find out that on opening day, there were 6 buck taken out of the area. The are that I hunt isn't very big (maybe 1.5 square miles). I also know that a few more buck have been taken out of there as well this season, and none of that includes what was taken during archery season. So, am I better oof trying top find a new spot with only a week to go in the season, or just sit tight and hope for the best?

Bushmaster · Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 8:55 am Post subject: Re: Over-Hunted?

Do you have another place that hasn't been hunted as hard as that one? If so, go...If not, and I suspect they all have been heavily hunted this year, stay put. Especially if you know this area well enough to understand the deer movements in the area. A lot of bucks range (5 to 10 square miles) and some transit across areas. With that many bucks taken from a 1.5 square mile area I bet a lot of them were ranging or transiting...If you know of a game trail that enters and exits the area place yourself in a good vantage spot and wait it out...Not knowing where you're at and the type of terrain you're in...Just my thoughts...Good luck...

tracker · Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 10:32 am Post subject: Re: Over-Hunted?

Yep, what Bushy said, sounds like some of them bucks are passing through for a reason, other bucks will like the same reason. It also depends on how many other hunters are hanging about still in the same area.

Bushmaster · Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 11:56 am Post subject: Re: Over-Hunted?

By The Way, Chuckwagon...Welcome to this fine sight. Grab a beer and pull up a stump...

Dawgdad · Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 1:14 pm Post subject: Re: Over-Hunted?

After one week of the season the deer are all stirred up and moving or not moving to a new spot may be a crap shoot. If you are in an area that still has fresh sign, stay put. If there is an area that has not been hunted as hard,( that does not necessarily equal the number of bucks taken out of the area, just less traffic through the area) it may be worth a look and it gives you another area to get to know.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over again and expecting a different result.

If I read correctly you are in a ground blind. You may try moving your blind and camoflaging it a bit better by backing it into a thicket or tree trunk or even getting out of the blind and up in a tree in you area.

You can take a lot of precautions and spend a lot of money to try to be more successful but it truly comes down to being in the woods at the same time a deer goes within gun range. The more time you are in the woods the better those chances are. If you can be out and see the patterns the deer have and find where they eat, drink and sleep you will be money ahead. I always try to hunt around oak stands with a lot of acorns here in Illinois. When I go to public ground this is the first thing I look for is acorns near a creek.

As far as scent control, attractants etc. I have seen as many big bucks taken by guys who drink coffee or even smoke in a deer stand as those who have the fancy gear and keep it all in a special box and collect fresh urine from a captive doe in estrus by the full moon on days that have an R in them. Shocked

I took my buck this year while I was in the middle of laying out a snack on a rock next to me and text messaging my son! The buck was much more interested in the acorns than my trail mix and snickers.

OntheLasGallinas · Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2008 7:30 pm Post subject: Re: Over-Hunted?

I know that this answer is after deer season, but here it is. My experience with deer is that after the first two to three days of the season, they will slowly migrate into areas not being hunted. If you don't do a lot of shooting in an area, I think I would be patient. Your neighbors will drive the older, wiser bucks into your territory.

Other than hunting my ranches, I vocationally hunt an area that is located about 26 miles up the Rio Grande River from Laredo. This ranch is owned by a friend who lets family and friends hunt. I think this one pasture is about 3,600 acres of 10 to 15 foot tall brush. I always book the first 3 or 4 days of the season, when the deer are not as wary and the last 3 or 4 days of the season during the rut (the further south you get, the later the rut is). I hunt down there with about 5 or 6 friends. The owner tells me that we must be a group of good hunters, because we are the only ones that kill any deer (to speak of). I don't think its hunter talent, I think its timing.

I also watch the moon, when planning a hunt. The reason for this is that if the moon is bright all night, deer will graze all night and sleep during the day, unless the rut is on. Watch the behavior of cattle in the area (cattle do the same). When cattle are out grazing, the deer will do the same.

Cary