JFC1 Posted September 17, 2022 Share Posted September 17, 2022 I've got a new property this year that's basically a large, raised field a little over 20 acres with a bedding area on one side and then a steep drop off of about 20-30' on the other three sides, all into deep, rocky hardwoods. There are a lot of deer in the area. They seem to use the shadowy woods below the drop off as a staging and snacking area, since there's a lot of beech and oak. The landowner won't let me hunt the field and its edges directly. So I have to approach and hunt from below. If I sneak in in the dark and sit below the lip in the woods waiting for them to come in out of the field, AM thermals are going to take my scent up to them as they approach the field edge. The same spot in PM would alert approaching deer, lower down in the hardwoods, to my presence as the day cools down. Yet the path into the field is heavily used, and there's a perpendicular trail that branches from it and takes deer around the field edges, maybe 30' below the field edge. How would you guys deal with this sloping, hardwood and boulder-filled field lip in order to hunt deer in their travel patterns, but not by baiting? I've found both a finger on one side of the field and then a bent down section of the field's fence that have game trails like highways. How far deeper into the woods would you set up in the hopes that you get deer funneling up to the bent fence and finger? Times of day? I'm thinking of putting up a stand in the hardwoods between the bedding area and the opening in the field fence, but again, this is kind of staging area and they seem to be out in it in the middle of the a lot of the time. Any advice and observations would be appreciated. Maybe my questions are basic. But I haven't figured out good answers to them, yet. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archer36 Posted September 17, 2022 Share Posted September 17, 2022 (edited) I hunt a similar situation at the area by my house. A large Orchard that drops off into swampy, brushy, woods. If standing on the ground, you can't see 20 yds. In early season I hunt the Orchard with a ground blind. When leaves start to fall, and the Orchard and the woods start to open up, I switch to my tree stand in the woods. It is located just below the ridge/drop-off. I do not enter the woods at all. I am restricted to accessing the woods only from the orchard and fields. The other two sides are developments of houses with no access. I don't know if this helps. Edited September 17, 2022 by archer36 JFC1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD48 Posted September 17, 2022 Share Posted September 17, 2022 23 minutes ago, JFC1 said: I've got a new property this year that's basically a large, raised field a little over 20 acres with a bedding area on one side and then a steep drop off of about 20-30' on the other three sides, all into deep, rocky hardwoods. There are a lot of deer in the area. They seem to use the shadowy woods below the drop off as a staging and snacking area, since there's a lot of beech and oak. The landowner won't let me hunt the field and its edges directly. So I have to approach and hunt from below. If I sneak in in the dark and sit below the lip in the woods waiting for them to come in out of the field, AM thermals are going to take my scent up to them as they approach the field edge. The same spot in PM would alert approaching deer, lower down in the hardwoods, to my presence as the day cools down. Yet the path into the field is heavily used, and there's a perpendicular trail that branches from it and takes deer around the field edges, maybe 30' below the field edge. How would you guys deal with this sloping, hardwood and boulder-filled field lip in order to hunt deer in their travel patterns, but not by baiting? I've found both a finger on one side of the field and then a bent down section of the field's fence that have game trails like highways. How far deeper into the woods would you set up in the hopes that you get deer funneling up to the bent fence and finger? Times of day? I'm thinking of putting up a stand in the hardwoods between the bedding area and the opening in the field fence, but again, this is kind of staging area and they seem to be out in it in the middle of the a lot of the time. Any advice and observations would be appreciated. Maybe my questions are basic. But I haven't figured out good answers to them, yet. Thanks Sounds like a challenge, but bright spot is, sounds like you got the place to yourself, good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bucky Posted September 17, 2022 Share Posted September 17, 2022 Set up new jersey style... JFC1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pathman Posted September 17, 2022 Share Posted September 17, 2022 3 hours ago, JFC1 said: I've got a new property this year that's basically a large, raised field a little over 20 acres with a bedding area on one side and then a steep drop off of about 20-30' on the other three sides, all into deep, rocky hardwoods. There are a lot of deer in the area. They seem to use the shadowy woods below the drop off as a staging and snacking area, since there's a lot of beech and oak. The landowner won't let me hunt the field and its edges directly. So I have to approach and hunt from below. If I sneak in in the dark and sit below the lip in the woods waiting for them to come in out of the field, AM thermals are going to take my scent up to them as they approach the field edge. The same spot in PM would alert approaching deer, lower down in the hardwoods, to my presence as the day cools down. Yet the path into the field is heavily used, and there's a perpendicular trail that branches from it and takes deer around the field edges, maybe 30' below the field edge. How would you guys deal with this sloping, hardwood and boulder-filled field lip in order to hunt deer in their travel patterns, but not by baiting? I've found both a finger on one side of the field and then a bent down section of the field's fence that have game trails like highways. How far deeper into the woods would you set up in the hopes that you get deer funneling up to the bent fence and finger? Times of day? I'm thinking of putting up a stand in the hardwoods between the bedding area and the opening in the field fence, but again, this is kind of staging area and they seem to be out in it in the middle of the a lot of the time. Any advice and observations would be appreciated. Maybe my questions are basic. But I haven't figured out good answers to them, yet. Thanks By the “path into the field” you mean from the bedding area directly? How big is the bedding area? if the trail is coming from the bedding area, I would use a climber (too soon to set up a stand, you have no knowledge of how the deer will react to it yet) get on the down wind side of the trail, and get as close to the field edge as possible. See what you see, see when/how the deer move, then you can gradually move yourself incrementally closer to the bedding area if necessary. If you go in too far too soon, and the deer are alerted to you, they’ll simply walk around you and you’ll waste your time there. There are a lot of variables you mentioned, so it’s hard to be specific with a method for you. But what I mentioned above is typically a good way to venture into a new area and scout/hunt your way to learning the new property. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamprat Posted September 17, 2022 Share Posted September 17, 2022 If they know you are there they will disappear. I'd set up a scrape line that will work in your favor (the wind). Might as well have a food/water source adjacent too it. Whatever you decide watch your wind. You can fool their eyes and ears but not their nose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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