ladydiehard Posted November 10, 2005 Report Share Posted November 10, 2005 Its a tad early for this question but it was on my mind so here goes... Gun season opens here a week from this Saturday. I hunt an area that is heavy pressure for opening weekend, drops to virtually no pressure the following Monday through Wednesday and then is heavy pressure again Thanksgiving day and fairly steady pressure for the remainder of the season. During this "lull" in the action, Monday through Wednesday, it can be pretty boring. The deer are spooked out of their minds from the weekend banging and its not unusual for few or no deer to be seen at all. Sometimes I crawl in the cedar swamp during this slow period. This swamp is a safe haven and the deer seem to always move in the swamp. The shooting is miserable, at best, even with shooting lanes cut. The deer seem to often appear elsewhere, instead of in the lanes. During this "lull", what type of calling would you recommend, if any, for the swamp and/or the hardwoods? What tactics would you use for such a pressured area during these dead days with nothing but spooked deer to deal with? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUDRUNNER Posted November 10, 2005 Report Share Posted November 10, 2005 Re: Heavy Pressure Gun Hunting I know what you mean.Our shotgun season is the same way.After the first day almost all the deer are off their normal travel routes and feeding and bedding areas have changed.It seems like after a few days of gun season the deer have already heard most calls from other hunters and figured them out.I generally key in on food sources.If I'm hunting a field or food plot I sit back about 40 yards off the field edge,because it seems like the deer will stay off the field a ways to make sure the coast is clear before going out into it.No doubt it makes for tough hunting.Hope this helps alittle bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VtBowhunter Posted November 10, 2005 Report Share Posted November 10, 2005 Re: Heavy Pressure Gun Hunting I don't know what you should do, but I would stay out of the safe haven for the deer. If other hunters aren't going in there then I wouldn't either........the deer feel safe there and that will keep the big deer around a lot longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest generallee Posted November 10, 2005 Report Share Posted November 10, 2005 Re: Heavy Pressure Gun Hunting my family is from wisconsin and i know how crazy it gets up there during the week long rifle season. My opinion is that you dont sit at all. Your right, the deer are spooked out of their minds with all the hunters and all the gun shots. From my experiences, they are not gonna move unless you walk on top of them. Me and my cousins have always hunted out of treestands opening day and a few other mornings, but spend the majority of our time make little pushes and drives, and we have seen lots of deer and have had lots of success. I personally wouldnt worry about calling because i dont think it will do any good at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladydiehard Posted November 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2005 Re: Heavy Pressure Gun Hunting [ QUOTE ] I don't know what you should do, but I would stay out of the safe haven for the deer. If other hunters aren't going in there then I wouldn't either........the deer feel safe there and that will keep the big deer around a lot longer. [/ QUOTE ] Other hunters hunt this cedar swamp "safe haven" too but not very many. Its thicker than hair on a bear in there and 10 times as miserable to get a deer out of there if you shoot one. Mostly its an area in which large groups make drives towards the end of the season. Its a big cedar swamp that runs a long long ways. Different landowners along the way with different groups driving their portion of it. Its so thick that deer often simply circle around the drivers and head right back in. It holds monster deer...both big bucks and wise old does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VtBowhunter Posted November 10, 2005 Report Share Posted November 10, 2005 Re: Heavy Pressure Gun Hunting LOL, notice how a woman refers to a male deer as a "big buck" but a female deer is a "wise old doe".......very interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladydiehard Posted November 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2005 Re: Heavy Pressure Gun Hunting [ QUOTE ] From my experiences, they are not gonna move unless you walk on top of them. Me and my cousins have always hunted out of treestands opening day and a few other mornings, but spend the majority of our time make little pushes and drives, and we have seen lots of deer and have had lots of success. I personally wouldnt worry about calling because i dont think it will do any good at all. [/ QUOTE ] We usually sit in the mornings and then make some small pushes. I suspect you are right about calling not doing any good. I was just curious to see what others thought and if anyone had ever tried it under such conditions. We've been successful too but that "lull" period inbetween opening weekend and Thanksgiving sure is boring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockefeller66 Posted November 10, 2005 Report Share Posted November 10, 2005 Re: Heavy Pressure Gun Hunting For real, I never hunt after our gun season only if there is a hard frost or extreme cold temps cause the deer are so smart and spooky by now it is unreal. We try to keep the preasure down on our land but in your situation I can't say anycalling that I know of would work on highly pressured deer, they are smart by then, but I would try to get in their "sanctuaries" and get in as close as you can to them, they won't move too much in day light this time of year, Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladydiehard Posted November 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2005 Re: Heavy Pressure Gun Hunting [ QUOTE ] LOL, notice how a woman refers to a male deer as a "big buck" but a female deer is a "wise old doe".......very interesting. [/ QUOTE ] LOL! A wise old doe is far different than a young dumb doe. The wise old does hang out with the big bucks...deep in the swamp...while the youngsters run the hardwood hills. What do you want me to say? "Wise old does AND big wise bucks"??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VtBowhunter Posted November 10, 2005 Report Share Posted November 10, 2005 Re: Heavy Pressure Gun Hunting That's better, LMAO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoodOlMossyHorns Posted November 11, 2005 Report Share Posted November 11, 2005 Re: Heavy Pressure Gun Hunting haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reloader Posted November 11, 2005 Report Share Posted November 11, 2005 Re: Heavy Pressure Gun Hunting [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] LOL, notice how a woman refers to a male deer as a "big buck" but a female deer is a "wise old doe".......very interesting. [/ QUOTE ] LOL! A wise old doe is far different than a young dumb doe. The wise old does hang out with the big bucks...deep in the swamp...while the youngsters run the hardwood hills. What do you want me to say? "Wise old does AND big wise bucks"??? [/ QUOTE ] Nah...Big Buck is by deffinition wise. With the does you never know so you have to specify... not that this generalizes into the human species or anything though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ladydiehard Posted November 11, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 11, 2005 Re: Heavy Pressure Gun Hunting [ QUOTE ] Nah...Big Buck is by deffinition wise. [/ QUOTE ] Yup, generally big bucks don't get big by being stupid. Same for the big does that specialize in busting hunters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted November 12, 2005 Report Share Posted November 12, 2005 Re: Heavy Pressure Gun Hunting Not too sure how or of I would try to call in that type situation. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HuntnMa Posted November 12, 2005 Report Share Posted November 12, 2005 Re: Heavy Pressure Gun Hunting i would wait it out in the swamp and hope they push one to ya......just make sure you get there while it's still dark so you dont spook anything or lead them in another direction...i'd bleat if i felt the need to call ,but i like the silent but deadly way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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