stand locations

[Eric]

Hello all. I have been bowhunting about 6 yrs and have had success. I usually get a doe everyyear and have got a couple small basket racks. I am kind of a novice in bowstand placement. I hunt in Iowa County, Iowa. Lots of crp with timber creeks sloughs etc surrounded by picked bean and corn ground for the most part. I keep looking for better places to hunt just not sure what makes the best set up. I usually look for rubs, scrapes and decent trails and place them near those but just have not had the big boys come close. I spend alot of time in the stand and don't hunt the same stand to much. Just wanted to see what some of you more experienced bowhunts advice would be. Thanks Eric

[buckee]

Hunting funnels is your best bet, for success.

A funnel, can be anything from 2, 3 or 4 trails crossing near the same spot, A high fence line, that causes the deer to travel along it, instead of crossing it, a main trail heading into a field where the deer feed (good for evenings), a strip of trees, where the deer travel for concealment from one bush to another, a ridge or valley, etc, etc.

This time of the year, hunt where the does, have been ahanging out all season, and you will see your bucks.

[Guest LIVEWIRE]

HI ERIC,

first you'll never get a big boy if you keep shooting the basket racks ,you know that!

that "big boy" is a different animal than the other deer .when you sit on those well used trails the does and little bucks will use those the most.

that big boy will usally be a trail not very well defined.

he will check his grounds downwind of those intersections your sitting on now.

play the wind use glasses alot get him by excuting a plan.

you only get a two to three week window to fool him the easiest if thats possible.

just think of him as another kind of deer ...hope this helps some.

if i could be there with you i could show you more than i can write here .

here's something to think about that big boy sleeps with the red fox thats your first clue ...hang in there you'll get it one day

[Eric]

Thanks for the info guys. I will try some of those tactics. I do understand that shooting basket racks isn't going to help. I have not shot a buck the last 2 years including shotgun for just that reason. I would rather fill my statewide with a doe than a young buck. I encourage the guys in my hunting group to do the same-some do and others are just rack hungery. Keep in mind I have been only deer hunting 7 years now and have been fortunate to have 2 really nice ones with a shotgun I just would really like to get one with a bow b/c that would be a great accomplishment for me, plus it has been 2 years since I have got some horns! As for the wind, I guess I haven't used it that much. I wear a scentblocker plus suit and have not had any issues of deer winding me that I know of. I have had the opportunity to shoot 7 different small basket rack bucks at point blank range this season and let them walk.

[wtnhunt]

I like funnels too, especially along the river where there are good crossings. If there is a creek or stream on the properties find a good crossing and if you can find a funnel or pinch point near that crossing, setup there.

Also like to hunt staging areas near food sources.