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First Bowhunting season..

4112 Views 12 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  bbd baby, 
B
Hey how's it goin? I am an avid hunter during gun season and thought I would get a bit more time in the woods this year. I went out and bought a Horton Legend 175 crossbow, a groung blind, and a tree stand. (I usually take advantage of the adjacent properties getting "pushed" during gun season, as for not having a blind or stand before...) There is quite a bit of sign around the property I hunt and plenty of does can be seen around the clock. I just really don't know where to set up at for the highest possible results. I know the woods have oaks and their crop is good this year, but there are plenty of corn fields all around for cover and food also. I planned on being close to the water source, but that sends my sent across the rest of the property I hunt so nothing will be coming from that direction. Any advice from a first-timer? If this was your property how would you go about hunting it during bow season without pushing everything away for gun season? And also, any opinions on decoys? I concidered buying one, but not sure which one to get or if it is even worth the money. The property I hunt:

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G
man thats a tough one looking at the map. the only thing i can think of is look for the low spots in the fields along with the hedgerows. i would think they are using the corn to bed. there is just food everywhere. tough one, good luck.
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H
Good old Ohio farm hunting. You got your work cut out. Two things, I would spend more time glassing and try to get a pattern to the deer movement with various winds. As in most small scattered woodlots the deer will move between them going to food. Find a point along the woods, with high brush that they maybe using to move through, or a small creek. Most likely you will spend many stand hours, learning all the time and then set up for an ambush. The deer may stage up just inside the woods edge prior to entering the crops. As ronn said, some will be bedding in the corn, even those need water so they should be seen from time to time. I would fine trails leading from the woods into the corn and set up on them first. Then adjust from there. Good luck
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BruceBruce1959
You're in an awesome location.
If you look at the aerial map, (Bottom right corner) there's a corn field with a block of woods to the left of the corn.
I would place a stand on the North side of those woods on the far left corner that keeps your scent away from all the action.
Also, that area is loaded with good cover for Deer and the deer have good access to the beans over that way.
If you try to setup along any of the other available woodlots you're going to be trapped behind corn.
Good Luck to you and Welcome to the Deer Hunters Club. Don't forget to post pics and enter the site Contest when you tag one. :thumbup:
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East Texas Droptine
Everyone is right....you do have one heck of a set up....but it is going to be tough deciding where to put your stand.....as far a getting a decoy, I don't think that is what you need, you just need to pattern your deer and you shouldn't need anything to draw them in....good luck
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buckfever
The guys above me have 134098750298 more years experience at deer hunting than I do, but I was wondering. Do you think the deer would be hitting the acorns right now while their falling. I would think since the corn and beans are a plenty they may be looking for a different but still one of their favorite meals, acorns. If they are bedding in the corn than you should not spook them moving in from Bakers rd. Plus the wind would be in your favor on the hike in.

Whoever above me said glassing the field is right on. That would be a safe, non-spooking way to help determine their pattern during an early season-deer not spooked yet time.

Tell me what ya'll think about hunting acorn trees from the back side?
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East Texas Droptine
I think buckfever has a great point....the deer might want something other than just corn or beans.....I think that was a very good point.....and glassing the feilds is probably the best to pattern the deer for sure.
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W
buckfever said:
the guys above me have 134098750298 more years experience at deer hunting than i do, but i was wondering. Do you think the deer would be hitting the acorns right now while their falling. I would think since the corn and beans are a plenty they may be looking for a different but still one of their favorite meals, acorns. If they are bedding in the corn than you should not spook them moving in from bakers rd. Plus the wind would be in your favor on the hike in.

Whoever above me said glassing the field is right on. That would be a safe, non-spooking way to help determine their pattern during an early season-deer not spooked yet time.

Tell me what ya'll think about hunting acorn trees from the back side?
Click to expand...
very wise. I do not need to say more>
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S
New to hunting

I live in south eastern Ohio. I am a new hunter all together and have spent the spring and summer watching the deer as well as learning to shoot my new matthew adrenaline bow. I will tell you that I have been out almost everyday and on the ride to the 80 acre farm where i hunt i see massive amounts of deer. I set up on the bottom of the ridge generally out of the field but where i have clear shooting lanes to the field from the tree where my stand is. There are a ton of acorns on the ground and I have seen rubs as well as deer paths all the way around. I send down real good as well as wash my clothes in the scent away soap and shower accordingly as well...Now my question...

Where are all the deer? I dont see 1. I see a ton on the way out but none where i am yet all the signs point that they are here. What am I doing wrong? I am as quiet as i can be. I get in the woods about 530am, and get about 15 ft off the ground. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.
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timberghost
Are they White Oak acorns? If so you are in a kick butt zone.
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S
Since my last post i changed my entry point and came in behind the ridge and walked over...I found their bedding area or at least one of them. The acorns are white acorns and I have repositioned my stand so that I am between the bedding area and the field with good shooting lanes, 20 ft off the ground and I should not get winded. I am excited cause this weekend will be the first to hunt from the new spot. From the signs this should be an awesome hunt!!!!
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J
good luck sounds like your in the right spot.an area like this will have a deer trail that should stand out.deer are lazy and creatures of habit .they will go the easiest route to get to where they want to go.set up along the travel route and you'll fill your tag for sure.go get em
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B
Huh. I guess I've got a few questions for you. You're playing the wind correctly based on thier bedding and main food source other than the acorns? How is your approach to and from your stand? Are you spooking deer on the way in wether it's with your scent or sound? As for some advice. on my am hunts I prefer to set up in the woods or swamp depending property I'm hunting. Closer to the bedding area but not close enough to spoke them and always watching my approach with my scent and sound. In the evenings I like to find where a staging area and buck trails cross running the edge of some sort of food plot. Depending on what the does are feeding on at the time, wether it be, apples, acorns, corn, or whatever. set up 20 or so yrds down wind somewhere just past the middle or at the end of where the they are entering and exciting these areas. You need to really watch your scent though. If you spook him, you'll never see him till sometime in june.
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