Big Woods Hunting

[Dstark5625]

Just wondering how many people here hunt "Big Woods" areas.  Places not near farms or even food plots for that matter, away from highways and paved roads.  I hunt between Virginia and Lake Vermillion, 176.  It is made up mostly of pines, poppels, birch and some maples.  Swamps and clear cuts.  I have hunted there for 15 yrs with m family who has hunted it longer.  I have my own theories for where to set up stands or what "tricks" might work.  Curious to know what kinds of things other Big woods hunters do or where they like to set up.  We've also had a ****load of logging this past year, more than I've ever seen.  Between that and the wolves it seems to get tougher all the time.

[Mayfly]

Transitions.... swamp to hardwoods, oak to pines, low land to high land. If your land has no natural defined funnels I would look for these transitional areas.

[FireRanger]

I agree! Transitions is what I'd hit too. Hunting up in Canada, that's all I ever did. We actually had cut-overs from timber harvesting by us too. You'd be surprised how often deer like to come out and take a look/walk/browse out in the open. If your talking about rifle season, I'd scope the edges of the harvested areas for sign/trails and set up accordingly. Deer take advantage of natural corridors too. Big conifers always made the best spots for us, especially if you can find one by flowing water or standing water too. The bucks always seemed to like it wetter or the ridgelines for us. My .02.

[Buckslayer Bob]

I hunt 118 off of 24. The woods don't get much bigger than up there. Most everything has been logged in our immediate area in the last 14 years and is taking it's sweet time growing back. Kind of a bummer. I really miss how it was before it was logged. Also hear you on the wolves. Had them howling about a hundred yards from my stand last year and heard them last weekend while sitting around the campfire at the shack.

I have found that setting up on the edge of the woods and clear cut is a good strategy. I've never had luck with funnel areas in the big woods. Another thing about hunting the big woods is you aren't going to see many venison parades going by your stand. You are LUCKY to see one deer. And even LUCKIER if it's a big brute. But I wouldn't have it any other way.

I'm glad you posted this thread. I was thinking the exact same thing the other week.

23 more days!

[Dstark5625]

Thanks for all the advice.  That has more or less been my technique so far, transitional areas, edges of clear cuts, ridges and swamps.  I've had a bit of luck in the past few years with the old can call.  I'm pretty sure it brought 2 deer my way but who can say for sure.  I'm thinking about hitting the swamps this year in search of the big one.  Might try a little rattling but we'll see how it goes.  No one in my party has ever had any luck rattling, but then again I don't think they've given it much effort.  I'll probably only have about 6 days to hunt this year so I want to make the best of them.     22 more days....

[Go Big Red!]

In MN:  We hunt a mix of birch, pine, etc with some swamp area and tall grass.  We all sit off of main travel routes.  We will drive in circles and circle each others stands to funnel deer back and forth.

In WI:  We hunt the big woods, mainly hardwoods or stands of pine trees.  Focusing on ridgelines and clearings.  I also sit on the path where they cut a natural gas line through the woods.  On top of a hill to be exact.  I can see to the west approx 400 yds to the river and approx 800 yds to the east.  The path width will vary between 40 - 60 yds wide.  Usually catch them crossing that gas line on the ridges.