Need Your Advice

[Dawg]

For the last 3 years my father, brother and I have leased roughly 135-140 acres of land. The first year I saw lots of deer movement, missed a good 9 with my bow, ended up shooting a doe later in gun season that same year. Saw plenty of other deer as well. The second year we leased it, I hardly hunted as I was living in MS that year, but the deer sign was still good and my father and brother hunted it. Last year, I hunted it as much as I could, almost every Saturday and week day I could. It was the slowest season I have seen. Hardly any sign and deer movement. We planted food plots and use sack corn, but it didn't seem to matter. Scouting is hard to do as the undergrowth on most of the land is ridiculously thick. I scout what I can, when I can. We don't have the land covered in stands, there are 5 stands total (3 box, one ladder and one hang on). So I am not sure why it seems the deer have vacated this tract of land.

We were going to try and find another tract of land to lease this year but we didn't find any that we could afford to lease. So we are kind of stuck with this tract we have had.

My question is, what do you suggest we do to help the deer herd on this tract of land?

[hunterbobb]

It is hard to say for sure but it sounds like the deer are feeling to much pressure on your land. The way you approach your stand is more important than the number of times you go there. If you have given the deer a major fright they have likely moved on to an area that they feel safer in. I would consider if you activity in the woods has made them seak shelter somewhere else.

Another possibility is that you and your neighbors have killed all the deer in the area. But Thats not likely.

[Rhino]

Last year a lot of hunters in the midwest were singing the blues because the wet weather had farmers cutting corn a whole lot later than normal. Some was never cut. A lot of deer were staying in the corn so deer sightings were way down compared to the norm. That could have been your problem on the tract you hunt too.

[redkneck]

Don't feel like the Lone Ranger Corey, we didn't see squat last year on our 1500 acre lease either, and it sure wasn't due to pressure. Give it another year, do what you know to do already and see what happens. I don't think you need help, just some years are just crappy. Keep supplying the food and cover and they'll be there.

[Dawg]

Thanks guys.

I don't think pressure was an issue on our lease. Corn fields and such aren't the norm for around here as in the mid west so that couldn't have been it. There was some logging going on all around our lease all season so that could have had something to do with it.

I hope your right John, maybe if I stick with what I am doing now this year will be better.

[rhine16]

You're not going to like my advice, but I would say it's because of the bait. If they can come in and get all the food they want in the safety of darkness, then why would they come to your piles during daylight? Especially if they pegged you hunting those stands a couple times...

[wtnhunt]

Was a slow year here too in the way of deer numbers and activity. I saw less bucks here at home than I have in a long time.

[Rhino]

For what it's worth...last year one of my best friends drew and archery tag for SE Iowa. I didn't draw but I went with him to video his hunt. Overall it was the slowest for deer movement that I've ever experienced there. We were in the woods from Nov. 5th through Nov. 11th which is about the best time IMHO to be there. I've bowhunted in SE Iowa 5 times now and tagged along with my video camera 3 other times including last year's hunt. Last fall was by far a lot slower than I've ever seen in Iowa before. I keep a detailed hunting journal. I bowhunted the same property in Nov., 2007 and saw 3X the number of bucks as we saw last year.

Initially I wrote it off to just being a bad year with corn being cut late. They actually started cutting the corn on the property we were hunting the 2nd day and finished the 3rd day we were there. They cut the beans while we were hanging our stands the 1st day. There was still a lot of corn standing in the generally area when we went home though.

To be perfectly honest, I was wondering if the state starting that late antlerless season 2 or 3 years ago and letting hunters break out centerfire rifles had something to do with the deer numbers being down. A couple of friends of mine live in SE Iowa and one told me about 1,700 bucks (most had already shed antlers) had been killed during the late antlerless season in the area that's open to center fire rifles. Makes you wonder how many had been getting killed since they made that law. I honestly believe they made the law because of the pressure from the insurance companies. One of my friends there actually wrote a letter to the Iowa DNR expressing his disapproval of the change expressing his opinion on how much this late antlerless season's impact was ruining the resource with the number of bucks being killed. He emailed it to me to review before he sent it.

Not trying to stir the pot, just telling you what we've been talking about since last fall. Not sure if he ever got a response from the DNR.

[Ethan Givan]

It was slow here last year as well. I dont how many hunts it took before I even saw a deer. I only got pics of two shooter bucks on cam, and I never saw either of them while hunting. The year before I had 3 good bucks within bow range throughout the season, but this past year I cant recall having a buck with visible antlers inside bow range period. I did kill a doe late in the season but I was almost out of time. I hope this year is better for everyone.

[Dawg]

You're not going to like my advice, but I would say it's because of the bait. If they can come in and get all the food they want in the safety of darkness, then why would they come to your piles during daylight? Especially if they pegged you hunting those stands a couple times...

I won't say I don't like it, just don't agree with it . None of that bothered them the first two years. I also don't "pile" my corn, it's spread out, half a bag (20 to 25 lbs) every 5 to 6 days, so they aren't getting a lot of "bait". Thanks for the input tho.

The late anterless season here is 2 weeks long, that could have had something to do with it, but who knows. I'm hoping it was just an off year and the deer will return this season.

[Doc]

There are so many different possibilities that could be responsible for herd deterioration, or lack of movement, or herd relocation that it would be impossible to guess the right one here on a forum. But I think a good bunch of the possible reasons have been listed here.

On the question of baiting, is it possible that someone nearby is doing a better job of baiting. That's one thing I have always wondered about legalized baiting. The idea of baiting wars between neighbors is kind of like food-plot wars. Each one competing against the other ....... not to hunt, but rather to pull and hoard as many deer from their neighbors as possible.

Any possibility that is what is happening there?

Doc

[Dawg]

On the question of baiting, is it possible that someone nearby is doing a better job of baiting. That's one thing I have always wondered about legalized baiting. The idea of baiting wars between neighbors is kind of like food-plot wars. Each one competing against the other ....... not to hunt, but rather to pull and hoard as many deer from their neighbors as possible.

Any possibility that is what is happening there?

Doc

Could be Doc. I did see a slight increase in traffic on the leases that surround ours so they could have had an increase in membership and that could have led to them providing more food for the herd. Very good point.

[simpzenith2]

I can tell you one thing. If there were deer there before, then there are deer there now. As long as the habitat is suitable, deer will find it and use it. They may have been more nocturnal or have been using areas away from your stands. Maybe try different stand locations or if there is a stream or creek flowing through the property, walk the length of it and you'll find crossings. Then find out where those trails come from or lead to. If there is good bedding near a creek crossing, I would hunt that crossing. You may catch a deer heading to water in the evening after rising from their bed, especially early in the season when the weather is still warm. Just some things to consider.

[sskybnd]

There are so many different possibilities that could be responsible for herd deterioration, or lack of movement, or herd relocation that it would be impossible to guess the right one here on a forum. But I think a good bunch of the possible reasons have been listed here.

On the question of baiting, is it possible that someone nearby is doing a better job of baiting. That's one thing I have always wondered about legalized baiting. The idea of baiting wars between neighbors is kind of like food-plot wars. Each one competing against the other ....... not to hunt, but rather to pull and hoard as many deer from their neighbors as possible.

Any possibility that is what is happening there?

Doc

unfortunatley that might be whats happening, every one tries to find out what the other lease's are feeding the deer, if we use corn they use sweet potatoes and so on, they best you can do is hope your feeding what the deer want and keep the supplied with it.

[Stinger-Hunter]

Give it another year, brother. Mix it up - go in earlier, at different angles. Switch up the spots you hunt. Remember, 50 yards makes a HUGE difference.

Scope out the roads and review when the deer start moving. Use Google Earth to look at worn patterns in the landscape. This is an excellent approach to your problems since your scouting time is limited.

Google Earth can tell you exactly where the best paths are located. I say, give it one more try this year. Mix it up, do your online research and see how it goes.

Lou

[dm66]

have you thought about your neighbors hunting your property and walking your property while your not there also you said you saw increased traffic around your property they could be putting a lot of pressure just off your property lines and shutting the deer down during daylight hours.

[Stinger-Hunter]

Also, morning of hunt, have someone go upwind to neighbors part (if they don't hunt it) and put out some cologne or dirty socks and walk the far end of the property - get that scent out there. Then wait about 10 or 15 minutes. They'll be arunnin' toward you.

[wtnhunt]

have you thought about your neighbors hunting your property and walking your property while your not there also you said you saw increased traffic around your property they could be putting a lot of pressure just off your property lines and shutting the deer down during daylight hours.

Yep. This has been an issue here, posted about some other suspicions of funny stuff going on back during our season here http://www.realtree.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93982. Really impacts the deer activity on a small property when folks crowd the lines.

[Tyler Stroh]

Dont give up on your lease. Last year was the slowest deer season I have ever seen as well. Try putting up some game cameras on some trails and see what you got and what time they are moving.