Cleared out new shooting lanes - how soon to hunt it?


Rem308

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After work this evening, I swung by my hunting area and just went to 2 stand sites that I found while scouting after the morning hunt last Saturday. I ended up cutting several shooting lanes from each, and now they're ready for my climber. I just used a small hand saw and sheers to cut the lanes out, probably 20 saplings at each site.

My question is, how soon should I hunt these sites? I am going to be hunting the farm this Saturday, but should I skip these two sites or just go ahead and hunt 'em? I figured that 4 days time should be enough to wait, but wanted to run it by everyone here.

I know I can't be the first person to clean up some shooting lanes in season, is there any worry in hunting it right after the cutting? :confused:

One of the stands sure looks good, it's overlooking a brushy power line and there are several heavy trails that go by about 20 yards off.

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I've cleared lanes and hunted the same stand later that day. The deer had no idea I was there. However I have also tried this and I had a few big does that new something was wrong. Make sure you carry the brush away from your stand. If you have other places to hunt I would let it calm down for a few more days.

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Yep, sounds good. I have cleared a few shooting lanes here or there and hunted the same day, just never as many trees as this. There were several trees that I'll come back after season and take out with a chainsaw.

I may very well hunt one of the new sites this Saturday, just depends on what our wind is like. One stand is on a nice little oak bench in the woods while the others are much thicker and brushier.

Now I just need to decide on which area is the best for me this weekend! A climber stand is needed for any of the areas.

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I would hunt them as soon as you can. The cool thing is if you were carefull with your scent you actually have just put more food on the ground for the deer. I remember last year hunting in MI i put out a bait pile of carrots and i had to cut the top out of a 3" tree to clear a shot to my bait pile. Well the deer would feed off the leaves before they even hit the bait pile. Good luck and be sure to let us know how you do.

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I have killed deer within hours of clearing shooting lanes. Dont go crazy, just remove what you really need to and try and be careful about making to much noise. We actually used a chain saw to clear lanes over a bear bait 5-6 years ago, and my buddy shot a bear that same evening. You never know............

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6 AM Today

When I owwned tinks Huntign Lodge in West VA we had wooden 16 foot ladder stands built with treated lumber

We put one ladder stand up in that Morning and it was un painted so I went in at noon and spray painted it camo grey green & black with spray can of paint.

After Lunch we has 21 bow hunters and I didnt have a stand so I sat inthe newly painted ladder stand

so I could watch a lady I was seeing.

When I got inthe stand at 3 PM I set out a few 35 MM Film cannister I called Scent bombs...filled with Tinks # 69 doe In rut buck Lure

at 5 PM a little spiked buck walked between the ladder and the tree I shot him of course

Fresh paint and fresh cut shooting lanes & chain saw oil & Smoke didnt bother him

Tink

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