first time land

[hunterfisherman]

Just got permission to hunt about 75 acres of woods surronded by corn fields on three sides. Not been there, making the first trip in two weeks. What do you all start of with on a piece of land you've never been too. How do you norrow the search on a small tract like that

[Jeramie]

Re: first time land

Start looking for travel routes and sign such as hair on fences, paths, droppings, etc. Keep in mind that deer travel different routes (does v's bucks). That will make a wonderful stageing area.

The does will rush into the corn while bucks will hang back and watch for trouble before taking the leap. They will do that pretty much all year. Look for heavily traveled routes along the edges of the timber.

[Guest tyshe17]

Re: first time land

I would go ahead and get some topo maps and areial photos of the land. With these you should be able to find funnels and pinch points where you stand a good chance of having the right wind before you even set foot on it. This pre scouting will limit the impact you have on the land this close to the start of bow season. Also, spend an afternoon watching the fields to find out which are being used by good bucks, and where they are accessing them

[hunterfisherman]

Re: first time land

Good advice guys. I do have an ariel and across about a 400 acre corn field behind this piece is about 1000 acres of woods. Not sure if this will impact them or not. The big woods does get hunted but not sure how much. I will use this information though

[123 4/8 P&Y]

Re: first time land

Hopefully the hunters in the big woods will push the deer into your woods. If you see any deer running across the field from the big woods toward your woods, pay attention to where they enter the trees. Maybe you can set up on their escape route. I would also hunt the does during the pre-rut and rut, because that's where the big bucks will be.

[dg]

Re: first time land

From my experience last year hunting Illinois, and you having only 75 acres: Get near the thick stuff when the corn is gone. Figure where that is and stay out until the corn is gone.

[GWSmith]

Re: first time land

I recently got permission on 184 acres of new land to me.

Step 1...First thing I did was ask this question to the landowner:

"Where would you put a stand if you were guiding someone on their very first hunt"?

(we walked around the building and he pointed to the corner of the field and told me to go back in the woodline about 15-20 yards..."that's where all the deer cross")

Step 2...The second thing I did was get an aerial photo of the land with Google Earth and mark the spot where he told me to put the stand:

Step 3...is happening in the morning..."Ground Pounding"(which may turn into Mud Sloshing if it keeps raining like it has all evening). Gear is already loaded up in the truck, including the GPS and extra batteries, hip boots, and I'll put the whole day in walking and looking for travel routes, old rub lines, thick security cover, and hopefully see some Live 4 Legged Sign

Step 4 will be to upload all the Data from the GPS to my computer topo map program I have and label the waypoints if I have not done so already while in the woods. Hopefully I'll get enough information to have the begginning of an idea on the how, when, and where they move through the area.

I'll go back the second time after that and explore further with a copy of the Topo I'll print out to get an even better idea of where to setup an observation stand.

[Bownarow]

Re: first time land

The first thing to do on any piece of new property is this.

Start by walking the edges of any and all fields that border any kind of timber. Look for old scrapes and especially old rubs and see if they continue back into the timber. Follow each and every one of the trails that extend back into the cover and try to follow the "rub lines." Some lines are subtle and other are obvious but they should exsist in some capacity. Once you have found a good rub line, setup approx. 50-100 yds off the field edge on these trails. In the early season bucks will be late showing up to the field and thus will be further in the timber on these trails during shooting hours. Adjust as necessary based on the deer you see and as the season progresses.