Help me game plan this hunt!

[Yornei Bor]

I hunted this public land for the first time last weekend. Saw pretty good deer activity and I would really appreciate some insight on strategies I should think about in order to make the best of my next trip out there. 
 

The hunt went like this… I started hiking in around 1:30 PM, by 2 o’clock I spooked a few deer where the yellow star is marked on the map. We saw each other about the same time, they ran off, but weren’t wheezing or doing anything like that. I hadn’t got to the spot I planned on hunting, but I made a gametime decision. The wind was in my face, from the west, so I backtracked about 150 yards to a nice clearing and set up my hunting platform. Over the next three hours , I saw a few doe come down the hill where the left red arrow is. A little later I saw a small spike chasing a dough and a fawn around. And after that, I saw a nice sized buck and another two doe that sort of showed up in between the two red arrows on the map, then made their way up following the red arrow to the right.  I grunted a few times and had the buck looking, but none of them got within 60 yards. They disappeared around 5:30 back up towards the star on the map, I came out of the tree a little before six and hiked out in the dark. 
 

 

Like I said, any advice or insight would be much appreciated! Is the star area likely their bedding? What should I make of the time of day that I first spooked the deer and then the subsequent movement through that area? Should my follow up be a morning or afternoon? Etc., etc.. Thanks for looking!

Edited October 31, 2024 by Yornei Bor

[Nomad]

Some good action. I think I’d try the same thing again, get in a little earlier set up where you saw the bucks.

[Devil Horns]

I think you are in them. I would back off slightly to that flat spot between the 880 and 860 contour along the creek. Your thermals should pull down and the creek will help your thermals pull down in the evening. 

[Boykin Runner]

Your seeing deer and your not spooking them ,get in there early and dont move to much , see what happens. Keep the wind in your face and stay 30yds off their trail .

[Yornei Bor]

18 minutes ago, Devil Horns said:

I think you are in them. I would back off slightly to that flat spot between the 880 and 860 contour along the creek. Your thermals should pull down and the creek will help your thermals pull down in the evening. 

The dotted blue line is my line tracker for the route I walked,  not a creek. There is a creek bed down to the bottom of the map shown, but I haven’t made it that far yet 

[Rusty]

The topography looks relatively steep.  Is it rocky, does the landscape form any natural funnels?  Is it all forested and what are they eating?   

[Yornei Bor]

2 minutes ago, Rusty said:

The topography looks relatively steep.  Is it rocky, does the landscape form any natural funnels?  Is it all forested and what are they eating?   

Yes, it’s steep. There are good size rock outcroppings and boulders. Probably some funnels that I haven’t had time to recognize. Everything I saw was forested. I guess they’re eating acorns…What other food source should I look for in thick forest? 

 

[Rusty]

3 minutes ago, Yornei Bor said:

Yes, it’s steep. There are good size rock outcroppings and boulders. Probably some funnels that I haven’t had time to recognize. Everything I saw was forested. I guess they’re eating acorns…What other food source should I look for in thick forest? 

 

It depends on how healthy the understory is.   With the drought the best browse is probably down in the wet areas along the stream. Up on the hill they are probably feeding on acorns.   

[Rusty]

Just based on topography, I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a commonly used crossing over the ridge right where your star is.   

[Nomad]

I wouldn’t go too much higher on that hill. I’ve got a couple stands up there.

[Michael Britt]

Be careful posting a map like that, should not be too hard for someone to piece it together with your other posts...

[Yornei Bor]

1 hour ago, Michael Britt said:

Be careful posting a map like that, should not be too hard for someone to piece it together with your other posts...

I guess I should give the disclaimer I’m a first year self taught hunter and probably don’t know a grunt from a bleat, so I might not even be looking at deer !

[Michael Britt]

3 minutes ago, Yornei Bor said:

I guess I should give the disclaimer I’m a first year self taught hunter and probably don’t know a grunt from a bleat, so I might not even be looking at deer !

You are asking good questions, just don't drop your hand where I can see your cards. Want proof, read 11-point thread! 🤣

[Deerslayer21]

15 hours ago, Michael Britt said:

Be careful posting a map like that, should not be too hard for someone to piece it together with your other posts...

i was thinking the same thing..... He's never been burnt before so he doesnt know any better. When he pulls up to one of his spots and there are 3 other trucks there he will learn.. Sucks it has to be that way. 

[bucky]

If it were me at my age, I would hunt the 25 ft contour line, thank god I'm a flatlander..lol Keep at it you will figure out GL