Deer Hunting Advice

[FireRanger]

Okay here's my situation. I have been hunting the area I have available for 5-6 years now. I know it fairly well. My problem is, is that I only get one weekend usually to bag a deer. I'll have 2 1/2 days to do what I can. I never have time to scout, usually show up Friday at around lunch and take a look around. The trails and stands on the property are maintained by the owners and their families. Some of them have trail cams out and provide info about deer movement and such and what might be hanging around.

What would/wouldn't you do to try to increase your chances of bagging a deer in this situation  . Once life slows down in future years, I'll be able to devote more time to this but as of now, time and distance are not on my side. It is 3.5 hours from home. I have drawn a doe tag so I will have a choice at what to shoot. All stands are raised about 10ft off the ground and I also have a ground blind I can bring. The area is surrounded by farms, homesteaded land and full on heavy timber, sloughs and water sources. I understand this may be too broad and vague but there's gotta be some advice out there!! Thanks in advance my resourceful friends!

[FireRanger]

Attractants/scents? Bother even looking around before the morning? Stay on stand all day? Rattle? Grunt? Push/drive? Stalk bedding areas? There will be 2 of us as well. The stand I use is in timber but I have fields about 100yds beside me that are ploughed. Hit fields in the evening to see more area?

 

[BigDog]

My advice would be to put out some doe scent and sit all day. With the rut starting something will come by sooner or later. Good luck.

[Dstark5625]

If you're just trying to get some meat in the freezer I'd say try a doe bleat can call.  It should attract any sex of deer.  A good scent trail or a "buck bomb" certainly won't hurt either. 

[9MM]

I'd stay away from the area the day before season opener.  You should already be pretty familiar with the area having hunted there the past 5-6 years.  Stay in your stand all day, particularly be alert if there are other hunters in the surrounding area.  Hunters moving to or from their posts are likely to kick up a deer.  Often times groups of hunters will make a drive after they loose patience in their stands.  Let them kick up the deer for you.  

[lentz]

Try a drive before you leave and sit all day on a scrape or a natural pinch point

[deadeye]

You didn't say how much property you have to hunt on.  If it is somewhat pressured, that is, lots of local hunters, find the most inhospitable spot on the property.  Hard to get to and thick as dog hair.  Lots of brush and grass.  Maybe an island in a swamp.  Camp out there and see what comes in.

[FireRanger]

Your right deadeye, I forgot that point. There will be two of us (my father in law and I) on this parcel that is about 120-160 acres I believe. There is pressure on adjoining properties but it is all private. There are fencelines to the south and they have been lined with hunters every 150yds the last couple years. No deer makes it passed that line moving north. Deer do have ample oppurtunity moving in from every other direction though. Thaks for all the advice so far guys, it has been real helpful!

[beeker]

don't forget to get out early.. before everyone else.. and stay out late.

[FireRanger]

So, if I were to sit all day long on stand what advice can you guys give me to not go out of my skull..lol. Sometimes I go stir crazy!!

[corny13]

I always put out a hanging suet feeder about 30 yds from my stand..gives me something to watch if there is a lull.  Make sure you wear your safety harness...if in a ladder or stand you might fall out of if sitting all day..

[beeker]

man gonna go sit in the box he's gotta get right in the mind.. or he gets himself a new set of chains..

something like that.. luke never learned. but I heard he ate 50 eggs.

[kenhuntin]

hunt where the deer are

[MNRealtree]

Download a card game on your phone! And dress warm

[FireRanger]

I always put out a hanging suet feeder about 30 yds from my stand..gives me something to watch if there is a lull.  Make sure you wear your safety harness...if in a ladder or stand you might fall out of if sitting all day..

hunt where the deer are

Got yer point Ken! LOL, I've shot a bunch of deer here but I just don't want to end up with the problem we had last year of scrambling to get some meat for the freezer.
Corny, would the odor of the suet cake bother the deer?

[deadeye]

Being I have yet to sit all day on any deer hunt, I can't give you any advise on what to do if you are going to spend 11 straight hours on a stand.  I'm usually good for 3-4 hours on a sit.  Now, maybe if I only had one or two days to hunt that might make a difference.  My feeling is there's always tomorrow. 

[ray634]

An option to going early is to wait till you can see then still hunt your way to the stand. Stop every few steps to glass the area even if you think nothing changes. You would be surprised how many deer just lay low till you pass.
I once had a deer lay stretched out in the swamp while I walked a ridge above it. I thought it was a log but could not make up my mind so I decided to go down and kick the log. Three steps down the hill resulted in one of the biggest deer we have seen exploding out of the swamp and over the ridge without giving the guy on stand a shot.
Once you get to your stand make sure to stay the rest of the day. Other hunters going to lunch and back for evening stand are likely to move deer.
Good luck. I hope you find a good one this year.

[The General]

I always put out a hanging suet feeder about 30 yds from my stand..gives me something to watch if there is a lull.  Make sure you wear your safety harness...if in a ladder or stand you might fall out of if sitting all day..

hunt where the deer are

Got yer point Ken! LOL, I've shot a bunch of deer here but I just don't want to end up with the problem we had last year of scrambling to get some meat for the freezer.
Corny, would the odor of the suet cake bother the deer?

Could a warden consider the suet feeder as baiting deer (a crumb might fall on the ground you know)?

[corny13]

Ive put suet feeders up for quite a few years to keep myself intertained.... never have seen a deer pay attention to them.  Yah in Minnesoat a ya might get pinched for it though...haha  come on deer dont eat suet!

[FireRanger]

 

Might give it a try then, just don't want any odors and such that might spook em. I might have to go in as the sun comes up as my father in law isn't the get up and go type anymore. Hopefully, I'll be able to sit quietly for tha duration. My stand is situated 100yds off the fields in Heavy timber with numerous trails. I'm hoping staying put for the day and catch them deer going from A to B.