heavy pressure-just don't get it

[wtnhunt]

So this year had the makings to be one of the best ever for us. Food plots look great, leading up to the archery season had good deer activity on our property even during daylight. We had at least 8 different bucks I considered to be shooters back before the season opened coming through our property or using the minerals, then something happened. Beginning with the archery season we had some guys riding dirt bikes all over right behind our property and also riding 4 wheelers in for a short time then leaving. Seems every time I was out there with the bow so were these guys, hard not to hear them when they get so close to the property lines. I could hear them talking, cussing and carrying on on several occasions and one afternoon watched a group of does come across my field on the opposite end looking really spooky the whole time while the guys were talking. The does kept looking back. Seems they would learn to avoid that property, but instead our activity is where it seems it is being hurt and the deer are actually flocking back to that side of the river for whatever reason which has me absolutely dumbfounded.

These guys were back there last year with the bikes some too, but no where near as much riding during the season and I don't recall them riding at all during the beginning of the rifle season, this year they are still riding the bikes back there in the afternoons some then coming right back in the very next morning and hunting the same area riding 4 wheelers just about to their stands. We get in our stands early and I have watched or listened to these guys come in right before legal shooting light several mornings and seems the deer would get bumped towards our property and sure some have, but they go right back to where the 4 wheelers come in. Guess the bright side if there is one is that one of the "brown its down" boys who from what I have been told was likely on property he did not have permission to even be on did kill a monster 8 pointer, maybe with seeing what potential is there maybe these guys will start letting more of the little ones walk, time will tell.

Last year saw 15-20 different bucks by this time, saw 4 or 5 in one sit on two different occasions. Had a lot of fun last year even though I ended up for the first year in many not killing a deer. Got some good video and figured it would pay off holding out for better deer and from looking at trail cam pics leading up to this season it looked like it was certain it was going to pay off. This year have seen a total of 3 bucks from the stand here at home, one of those was on the youth hunt. Have not seen a single decent deer, the wife has seen 2 good bucks though, both of those were back during the ml season at the beginning of Nov. At this point this year it does not even seem to be fun going out anymore, just don't have a lot of confidence although not doing anything any different than what I have done in years past where I have had great results. We have put a lot of time in and should be seeing more, just cannot figure it out.

I did have one grunting and clicking down by the river before it was light that I suspect was probably a mature buck pushing a doe around Friday morning, those deer went to the 4 wheeler that morning after the guy made all kinds of noise and the deer were even downwind of him just in time for it to get light enough for him to shoot. Little doe which I am sure was hot came across looking lost, and after dude rode out on his 4 wheeler the doe went right back across the river where her love struck buddy had just gotten whacked. Makes no sense. Why would the deer go where they are getting so much pressure? With talking with a few other people around here, they seem to think it is likely that they are baiting, still don't understand the deal with the bikes though, would it make sense that the deer get conditioned to bikes or are maybe associating them with getting fed?

[Ravin R10 man]

if baiting is legal there and thats what they are doing..deer do get conditioned to a 4 wheeler and associate it with food..kinda like logging equipment..shut it off they come running

[wtnhunt]

if baiting is legal there and thats what they are doing..deer do get conditioned to a 4 wheeler and associate it with food..kinda like logging equipment..shut it off they come running

Baiting is NOT legal here Martin. Yeah our cows will follow the tractor and 4 wheeler around, kind of figured deer might too if in fact they were feeding them.

Maybe we should start riding the 4 wheeler to the stands too.

[ruttinbuc]

Baiting will condition the deer. Never gave that a thought when talking with you, William. There used to be a guy in my club that took a little toy whistle with him when he baited up a spot. He'd get set up in his stand and then blow the whistle. He shot quite a few that way.

I remember a rifle hunt in WV one time where the secret to bring in the deer was to lift the lid on the feeder and slam it. These deer can certainly relate to the 4 wheelers as the dinner bell. Maybe those guys are up to no good. Might want to take a little walk over there after the season and "check"....

Edited November 29, 2009 by ruttinbuc

[wtnhunt]

I remember a rifle hunt in WV one time where the secret to bring in the deer was to lift the lid on the feeder and slam it. These deer can certainly relate to the 4 wheelers as the dinner bell. Maybe those guys are up to no good. Might want to take a little walk over there after the season and "check"....

You know Mike I may just give the landowner a call and ask if it would be ok for me to walk around, those landowners have been to our place a few times before and are pretty nice people. I used to have permission there on the one directly behind us, but that was several years ago and have not talked with them lately.

Not been any corn in anywhere around here for quite some time, would be interesting if we manage to kill a deer before season end to see if they have been eating corn. Hunch has me thinking it very likely.

[ruttinbuc]

You know Mike I may just give the landowner a call and ask if it would be ok for me to walk around, those landowners have been to our place a few times before and are pretty nice people. I used to have permission there on the one directly behind us, but that was several years ago and have not talked with them lately.

Not been any corn in anywhere around here for quite some time, would be interesting if we manage to kill a deer before season end to see if they have been eating corn. Hunch has me thinking it very likely.

Makes sense when you think about it. A lot of places out in the midwest don't allow the use of 4 wheelers because of the noise factor. Place I had a trespass fee hunt in Illinois let me take the Honda to beat the climb up the bluff. I had to park it and walk in to where I was hunting. I was forbidden to go any farther.

These guys might not be using corn though. They could be using a myriad of the stuff that is out there today. It is funny how PA is a non baiting state and they sell bags of corn and everything else at Cabelas and Walmart. NJ allows baiting and there is nothing available at the Walmarts...Go figure!

[wtnhunt]

These guys might not be using corn though. They could be using a myriad of the stuff that is out there today. It is funny how PA is a non baiting state and they sell bags of corn and everything else at Cabelas and Walmart. NJ allows baiting and there is nothing available at the Walmarts...Go figure!

Yep, any bait here is supposed to be removed 10 days prior to season open, however you can go to our local wal mart right now and they will have "deer corn" bagged that they keep stocked, also have "c'mere deer" and other baits. Minerals here are allowed, supplemental food bait is not.

[Rugermk2]

Am I doing something wrong???

Hey everyone,

I've been hunting for about 5 years now, and every year I have tagged out the opening day of 1st gun season. I don't shoot little bucks, and this year I only saw 2 bucks on my property, a tiny six, and a small eight. I also saw 3 does and a fawn first season but no big bucks. I put out my trail camera in july, and since then I caught 10-12 really nice bucks on my place. I took the camera down about 2 weeks before our 1st gun season, and I haven't seen one big buck since. Nothing around my stand where they had been, and pretty much nothing on the property that I have seen or know of. Could anyone give me advice on what to do, or what I am doing wrong? I'm always in my stand at least a half hour before sunrise, and haven't bumped any deer on my way in that I know of. I have a ladder stand (2 months), and i just put out a pop up ground blind today. Please help!!! only 3 days left of gun season and I need to tag a Buck!!!!!!

[wtnhunt]

Hey everyone,

I've been hunting for about 5 years now, and every year I have tagged out the opening day of 1st gun season. I don't shoot little bucks, and this year I only saw 2 bucks on my property, a tiny six, and a small eight. I also saw 3 does and a fawn first season but no big bucks. I put out my trail camera in july, and since then I caught 10-12 really nice bucks on my place. I took the camera down about 2 weeks before our 1st gun season, and I haven't seen one big buck since. Nothing around my stand where they had been, and pretty much nothing on the property that I have seen or know of. Could anyone give me advice on what to do, or what I am doing wrong? I'm always in my stand at least a half hour before sunrise, and haven't bumped any deer on my way in that I know of. I have a ladder stand (2 months), and i just put out a pop up ground blind today. Please help!!! only 3 days left of gun season and I need to tag a Buck!!!!!!

Given the way this season has gone for us, I am probably the wrong person to answer this.

Honestly though I think sometimes it is not about anything you are necessarily doing wrong, all about how things happen to work out. Sometimes it seems there are other factors out of your control too, still scratching my head about our situation.