Ethan Givan Posted July 5, 2009 Report Share Posted July 5, 2009 Ok Im asking for some advice from you guys who have been deer hunting for years and have alot more knowledge than me. The area I hunt is almost nothing but woods, and im talking about 250 acres of nothing but woods, with no fields or anything to speak of. I keep looking at ariel maps but i cant pick out any funnels, or pinch points because there really isnt any openings or fields to create an obvious pinch point or funnel. My question is how do you pick a good spot to hunt in a big chunk of timber with no obvious pinch points and funnels? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 Do you have any heavy brush areas? Try to locate some bedding areas and trails leading to and from them. Try and locate oak trees and monitor the mast if you can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion_70 Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 Are the woods mixed, or are the hardwoods and pine separated? Deer like to travel edges so the areas where the two types of woods meet are good places. Other areas would be a saddle, an area in between two ridges where deer like to cross. Also look for ravines/creeks/water drainage with heavy cover around. Bucks will travel these areas for security. If there are any trails in the woods look for crossings then follow the tracks back in each direction. Find the trees with the most mast production. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan Givan Posted July 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 The woods are mostly just hardwood trees, and the oaks are spread out everywhere so its hard to pinpoint an area where mast would draw the deer. There is a decent size creek running through the property and it is really thick on either side of it. Maybe thats the best place to start. There is also a small cedar thicket on one side of the creek. Visibilty is the only problem with this spot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 If you can find where a couple ridges come together that usually causes a natural funnel. Look for spots that transition from high creek banks to lower spots where deer may be more likely to cross. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zambo Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 The creek is a good place to start. Also what is the property like around yours? Are there crops on one side or a field? Maybe a funnel a third mile from you that could send them into your woods from that direction. Look at all the land around you and that may give you a clue as to the direction they may come from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 Take your best guess, but try to "guess" a spot that allows you to see well. That way you'll have a greater chance of finding a travel route and moving your stand to that location the next day. Sticking a stand in thick cedars wouldn't be what I would do until I knew where the deer entered/left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 Take your best guess, but try to "guess" a spot that allows you to see well. That way you'll have a greater chance of finding a travel route and moving your stand to that location the next day. Sticking a stand in thick cedars wouldn't be what I would do until I knew where the deer entered/left. Exactly what I was thinking Fly. When all else fails, just find a place that looks good and gives you good visibility. There's always a point around on a ridge somewhere that will let you look down both sides of it. Just be willing to move around till you learn which way the deer move and from where. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirage Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 I would invest in a good scouting camera Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 Any water? If there is a creek or water source, might look close at the edges for travel. The deer got to feed somewhere, figure out where they go to to feed, try to pinpoint the most likely used routes to that food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion_70 Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 Wouldn't be a bad idea to walk that creek and look for crossings. A good place to start would be on the opposite side of that cedar thicket and see if that's where they are bedding. You'll also be able to tell if they are walking the creek or where they are crossing. You'll still have different trees and/or species of trees producing varying amounts of mast every year. Take a pair of binoculars in and see which oaks are loaded. If you find a good white oak with lots of acorns, they usually drop first and deer congregate to those early in the season. Also if there are any fruit trees in the area, they are worth checking out. If you find a loaded persimmon tree, hang a stand close Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowJoe Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 Plain and simple... scout, scout, scout. Take a buddy along if you are hunting with friends. If not, take a gallon of water and a gps. Spend all day if you have to and follow trails for as long as they go. Mark the Trails, rubs and creek on your GPS. Also mark the trails entering your woods and where they exit. The more information you have, the more clear a picture you will paint with it. For even more help from us, find your place on Google Earth and save a couple snapshots of it. Post it in this post and we'll see what we can come up with. Good luck and remember, scout. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan Givan Posted July 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 OK i took your advice and got a pic from google earth. I outlined the area I hunt. THe little areas on the right that look like small little fields are grown up with weeds as high as your chest. THe field at the bottom is within sight of the house and the deer dont come out there much in daylight. THe blue lines are creeks running through the area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 The area just below where that creek meets sure looks good to me. I would have a stand hung somewhere between the field and where the creeks intersect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 How about that big field to the north? Even though it's not on your property, if it has something to attract the deer, you should be able to set up close to it and see some activity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flintlock1776 Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 Can you load up a photbucket of the Topo for the 250 acres? Then tell us what surrounds the land i.e. water, farms, concrete areas. Then we could narrow it down a lot. I hunt heavy timber all the time but before I can give you some insights having more detail about your situtaion would help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stinger-Hunter Posted July 6, 2009 Report Share Posted July 6, 2009 Can you send a link from Google Earth? This would be the best way to really get a good idea of how the area is set up. Also, if you haven't looked on Google Earth, there are usually trails to and from the woods. I have usually been complimented for my strategies when looking at maps and I usually max-out in Minnesotta based on my strategies. If you want to send the link or post it here, that would help. [email protected] Hope I can help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan Givan Posted July 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 7, 2009 http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=37.614509,-86.100989&z=15&t=h&hl=en Alright here is the link to the google earth map of the area. You can change it from satelite view to terrain view which is kinda like a topo. I dont know how to get a topo map of it. All the surrounding area is mostly cattle farms, so all the fields and open areas are pasture or hay fields. THere are no roads close to the area. And there is a small creek running down about every holler so water is not an issue for the deer. Hope this is what you guys were asking for. THanks for all the help and advice. you guys are great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stinger-Hunter Posted July 10, 2009 Report Share Posted July 10, 2009 http://www.storiale.com/huntingspots.png Here you go. I wasn't sure exactly how to place the spots I think will work. If you are looking for strictly woods, then i would set up along some of the routes (marked in orange lines). The little nooks that exist are the best spots if you can set up in a tree 20-30 yards inside the woodline. The orange squares (I set the transparency low so you can still see the map) represent where I would set up, if possible. Either way either set up along the routes I drew or as close to the open fields as possible where the orange squares are located. As far as routes to take to get in. Morning - suck it up and walk through the woods. Evening - you might get away with cutting through open fields. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted July 10, 2009 Report Share Posted July 10, 2009 (edited) Funnels aren't always narrow strips of trees or hedge-rows. They can also be strips of high ground, a bit of high fence that cause the deer to walk around, an old trail, a small valley, or something as simple as 2 or 3 deer trails intersecting. Personally, I always look for those intersections and set up right there, down-wind of whatever the prevailing winds in that area are. Then I go and find another spot, and set up for those off days when the wind isn't in my favour. Good visibility is important, so you'll want to make sure you have it, or clear some shooting lanes. Edited July 10, 2009 by buckee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunter109 Posted July 11, 2009 Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 you would have to go and find the oaks or any knid of food sours for early season but in the rut just find a funel to set on thats why i use a climber most of the time i can move were i need to be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treeinwalker Posted July 13, 2009 Report Share Posted July 13, 2009 (edited) 3-pronged attack you would have to go and find the oaks or any knid of food sours for early season but in the rut just find a funel to set on thats why i use a climber most of the time i can move were i need to be In this area, I would find the spot that meets these 3 criteria, if there is a homogenous mix of any 2 of these everywehre else. 1.) Oak trees 2.) THICK cover 3.) Water If there is a small opening for both visibility and shot opportunity between any of the 2, all the better. The oak trees wil slow down for you later in the year. Focus on them when they start dropping acorns, but THICK cover will help you more when the acorns are gone. Stay on the creek. I had a simliar situation a few years back. Getting between the creek and the thick cover was the key for me as the oak trees were everywhere. If the creek is between the thick cover and the oaks or one of those fields (as long as it's planted with a feed crop) that would be the best spot. Edited July 13, 2009 by treeinwalker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nastynissan4487 Posted July 13, 2009 Report Share Posted July 13, 2009 The area just below where that creek meets sure looks good to me. I would have a stand hung somewhere between the field and where the creeks intersect. I agree with this for the most part but also you may wanna check the fields to the southwest and north.. Like was said they may not be on your property but there are bound to be trails going to and from them.. Hope this helps and good hunting.. PS:also I agree with the acorn thing. Deer love acorns and whereever the most acorns are in early season the deer will be there as well.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamphunter Posted July 14, 2009 Report Share Posted July 14, 2009 Hunt along the edge of some heavy cover with the sun at your back. Maybe find a good water source? Find a place they cross the water source. Set up trail cams, scout and find trails... apple trees, acorns... access to neighboring farmers corn fields.. think like a deer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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