Guest samueljm Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 HEy guys and gals ive am in need of some advice. I have gotten permission to hunt a new plot of land 42 acres that hold 18 wooded and the rest open. I have hunted hard there the past few mornings but in VA it has been either really really windy of pouring rain. I have yet to see a single deeeeerrr! There are rubs galore all over this place probably ten ive found, some pretty nice ones infact. Ive also seen 4 scrapes, one this morning appeared to have some fresh hoof marks in the mud. Ive found droppings all over but i just cannot find a deer. Do you guys think that Im not seeing them b/c of the bad weather here or what? I hunted it 3 days and havent seen a thing. The sign is everywhere but i just dont know where the deer are? I hunted it right next to a trail which hold a few rubs and the freshest lookin scrape i mentioned above. With this much sign I figure there has to be deer there somewhere but im just getting frustrated....... gosh i mean i washed all my camo in sport wash again, took a shower with scent eliminating soap, and spray down before going in. I know i am not smelling that badddd. Im just so frustrated right now and would love to hear some advice or anything. thanks for reading. -John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest hoythunterbn Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 Re: AHHH.....need advice!!!!!!!!!! Sounds to me like you need to sit down and replan this thing. I would find where the food is and where the bedding is set up between them on a funnel or natural line. Just try to get back to the basics dont over think this thing just set up one or two good stands and pull one or two all dayers to see if they are moving at a weird time or what is going on.. Best of luck man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Gooder Posted November 23, 2006 Report Share Posted November 23, 2006 Re: AHHH.....need advice!!!!!!!!!! I agree with hoytuhnter in that you need to find the bedding area and the food sources and get inbetween. It is possible the bedding area is on an adjacent property and the deer only make it into your bush in the dark. Maybe try a trail camera to see when the deer are actually making the sign you are seeing. I don't think the weather has anything to do with you not seeing deer. Another thing is how are you approaching the bush and your stands. Are you approaching upwind of the bush and alerting the deer long before you even get to your stand. 18 acres is a fairly small piece and the deer may be exiting on your arrival. You should be approaching the bush from downwind and your stands should be in the downwind corner of the bush. This is just my opinion. Good Luck Gooder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMSD5 Posted November 24, 2006 Report Share Posted November 24, 2006 Re: AHHH.....need advice!!!!!!!!!! i agree with bot of the repiles....i have a similar 18 acre parcel i'm hunting on.... i actually hunt where i see the less sign....the deer come on this place from the ajoining property....my grandson and i have taken 7 deer from the property this season....but im only hunting we're only covering about 3 acres of the place all the rest is open field....best of luck to you ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest samueljm Posted November 24, 2006 Report Share Posted November 24, 2006 Re: AHHH.....need advice!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for the fast replies everyone. As for getting in, there is a small drive way that leads to the 24 acre field that meets the woodline. I park at the end of the drive and walk across and into the field. So I know that there not seeing the truck. As for the wind today it was blowing across the field at a diagonal to the woods which really probably ran everyone off this morning. But I was there and decided what the heck. The only thing in the field is just grass. It was a very thick field with saplings but it was bush hogged this past summer and so now its only grass. Much like a powerline thats been whacked down if you know what I mean. The woods are extremely thick not farther than a 30 yard shot available so im sure they have to be bedding in there but i just havent found it yet. The woods are littered with immature white oaks that are just covering the ground with acorns. Its my opinion that the deer prefer acorns over plain ol' grass. theres also a nice creek for watering. I suppose i just need to hunt it a little more like you all said to find out when they are moving. Thanks for the great replies and ill let everyone know saturday when i get back if it was a prosperous day. -John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlriggins Posted November 24, 2006 Report Share Posted November 24, 2006 Re: AHHH.....need advice!!!!!!!!!! Wind and rain I would sit it out and wait for calm cloudy and cool. Check some things like barometric pres. lunar position, and a trail cam might provide some insight to your problems and if you dont have a trail cam a good spotlight can also be of help perhaps a daylight drip for those scrapes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest samueljm Posted November 24, 2006 Report Share Posted November 24, 2006 Re: AHHH.....need advice!!!!!!!!!! "....perhaps a daylight drip for those scrapes? " oh ive been adding a little code blue to each of those scrapes perhaps ill catch a love sick buck on saturday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horst Posted November 24, 2006 Report Share Posted November 24, 2006 Re: AHHH.....need advice!!!!!!!!!! Might sound wierd but Ive hunted places like that before and Id ignore all the scrapes and rubs your seeing.I bet if you have a trail camera and put it out youll find out 99% of those scrapes and rubs are being worked after dark or arent being used anymore at all. Instead of going to a stand take your binocs and a spotting scope, find a place with a good view of as much of the property as you can see and watch it from there for a few hours before dark.Isnt as much fun as being in a stand but itll give you a good idea where the deer are coming and going from and you can relocate a stand accordingly.A lotta sign is fun to find but can often be very misleading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrow32 Posted November 24, 2006 Report Share Posted November 24, 2006 Re: AHHH.....need advice!!!!!!!!!! [ QUOTE ] Might sound wierd but Ive hunted places like that before and Id ignore all the scrapes and rubs your seeing.I bet if you have a trail camera and put it out youll find out 99% of those scrapes and rubs are being worked after dark or arent being used anymore at all. Instead of going to a stand take your binocs and a spotting scope, find a place with a good view of as much of the property as you can see and watch it from there for a few hours before dark.Isnt as much fun as being in a stand but itll give you a good idea where the deer are coming and going from and you can relocate a stand accordingly.A lotta sign is fun to find but can often be very misleading. [/ QUOTE ] Must agree here. We are hunting on my uncles farm and its about 40 to 50 acres also. We bowhunted rubs and such early just to see if they would coe threw not a thing. Then once we just started getting setup about 20 yards from what looked like a good trail or a funnel we were in the thick of the deer every time we got in a stand. Scrapes and rubs arent always the best thing to hunt on during the season. Trailcams would make it easier to find out where there going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted November 24, 2006 Report Share Posted November 24, 2006 Re: AHHH.....need advice!!!!!!!!!! Sounds like my entire bow season buddy. I know I have deer on my property and have several nice bucks on the trail cam. Every picture is at night though... I did not see sqwat all Oct and hardly at all during the rut here in VT the last couple weeks. We had 50s and rain just about every time I went out except for the past few days which I then saw plenty of deer moving, just nothing legal this time of year. I think my situation was weather related. Sounds like yours is as well. However they have to eat sometime and maybe you can catch them during the last few minutes of legal if you set up on a trail heading to food. JMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brianxt Posted November 26, 2006 Report Share Posted November 26, 2006 Re: AHHH.....need advice!!!!!!!!!! I have same thing on my 15 acres were I built my house there is a deer trail 5o yrds from back door .The trail is a foot wide and 3 inc deep goes entire length of property.I wanted to see when the deer were useing the trail and put trail cam out .The first nite I got 18 deer came threw the trail at 1:30 a.m to 3:45 a.m .Same thing the next four nite give or take a deer or two.But the deer just wasnt useing this during legal shooting hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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