Deer hunting help please!!!!

[deacon]

OK guys I'll begin by saying that I have been deer hunting for 15 years and have never killed a buck bigger than a spike. I have killed my share of does and spikes but never that big one. I guess you could say I'm an idiot when it comes to hunting deer! I can kill a limit of turkeys but when it comes to deer I'm bad luck!
I know how to scout and what to look for but just never seem to be in the right spot or something. Now I have scouted my cousin-in-laws land and have found 2 possible spots-
1) Ridge top that they are traveling good, trail is worn down, scat all over the ridge top and acorns starting to drop all over it. This spot is hardwoods bordered by pine thickets on 2 sides.
2) OLD road bed that has no trail leading in and no poop. Does have a good fresh rub, good tracks and also has acorns starting to drop. This spot is open hardwoods all the way around.
Question is which to hunt come the archery opener in a week and half???

[Dcoleinpa]

if you have acorns near thick cover. that would be a good start i would think especially if there are only  a couple oaks producing because then the feeding is concentrated. where are they heading on the ridge top?

my number one advice would be find as many pinch points or funnels or whatever you want to call them where deer travel. set trees up and hunt them as much as you can in november. just my advice

[Porter]

I'm not much help here... but let me tell you those MO boys on here have some nice ones on their walls!!  They'll help you once they notice the thread.  It's been years since I've harvested a buck. Then it was more being lucky than anything else!

[deacon]

if you have acorns near thick cover. that would be a good start i would think especially if there are only  a couple oaks producing because then the feeding is concentrated. where are they heading on the ridge top?

my number one advice would be find as many pinch points or funnels or whatever you want to call them where deer travel. set trees up and hunt them as much as you can in november. just my advice

The oaks are all pretty much producing. The deer seem to be moving from one thicket across the top and around the side of the ridge to another thicket. The top of the ridge is pretty open and is kind of a in the corner of the open hardwood bottom. There is also a trail that leads from the thicket down the side of the ridge from the thicket into a creek bottom. The trail going into the creek bottom almost looks like a horse trail.

[ronmexico]

if you have acorns near thick cover. that would be a good start i would think especially if there are only  a couple oaks producing because then the feeding is concentrated. where are they heading on the ridge top?

my number one advice would be find as many pinch points or funnels or whatever you want to call them where deer travel. set trees up and hunt them as much as you can in november. just my advice

i agree.  concentrate on the heavy mast areas now.  if you can get out there and try to pattern them a little, that would be helpful.  are there any ag fields nearby on surrounding properties and if so, what is planted?  and lastly, i agree about the funnels.  great place to hunt the big one's, as well as draws.

[Dcoleinpa]

thats what i am wondering too ron. what crops are planted and how far away are they? if they are bedding in the thicket then using the ridge to get to the crops at night the oaks would probly be a sweet morning and evening place because they will probably stop to snack to and from bedding.

just thought of something else  if you can find where multiple trails merge into one trail thats always better

[deacon]

The nearest fields which would be just normal horse pastures would be at least a half mile in either direction. This property is situated about equal distance between the two. One side of the property is bordered by a river that is about 100 yards straight down a cliff. One side is a road with a small development across the road. the other two sides are open woods. Mostly rolling hardwood ridges. The only thick thicket is actually on the property I'm hunting.

[Dcoleinpa]

that thicket may be the ticket!!

[ronmexico]

that thicket may be the ticket!!

i'd stay out of the thicket, but try and find a good trail leading to it.  that thicket might be the sanctuary for a mature buck.  another thing to consider is the wind, especially having a river so close.  i'd pay close attention to how the wind acts on all parts of the property and hang/hunt stands accordingly.  it also sounds like you have somwhat of a natural funnel, having the river right there.

[deacon]

I can definitely tell you that there are alot of deer on this piece of property from turkey hunting. I don't know what they were due to no racks but I know they're there! Big, little and in between they are there! The biggest problem with this place is the guys that hunt the next property over kill em all! By that I mean spike, 4 pt, 10pt etc...it don't matter to them! There is a BIG buck there that noone has been able to kill so maybe I can accomplish it!

[ronmexico]

I can definitely tell you that there are alot of deer on this piece of property from turkey hunting. I don't know what they were due to no racks but I know they're there! Big, little and in between they are there! The biggest problem with this place is the guys that hunt the next property over kill em all! By that I mean spike, 4 pt, 10pt etc...it don't matter to them! There is a BIG buck there that noone has been able to kill so maybe I can accomplish it!

i have dealt with that scenario in the past as well.  with as much pressure as the neighbor's are putting on the deer, that would give me more reason to stay out of the thicket.  if a mature buck is living in there and he has enough browse, his home area (at least during daylight hours), is probably fairly small.  i wouldn't get too close to that area, as you will likely push the deer as you walk in.

[Dcoleinpa]

i guess i should not have phrased it that way but it rhymed so i had too . i mainly focus on the last 3 weeks of our bow season. ive never had much luck with bigger deer earlier then that. there are enough yahoos and poachers around here too.to me scent control is a biggie . good luck this fall gentlemen

[Bulldogmikey]

Opening day find aplace close to the acorns. As season progresses get into the thicker bedding area's or inbetween their pattern and bedding pattern. There is a lot of Good info above. One thing. The two biggest bucks I have ever taken were at the edge of a swamp during a driving rain and catching a big one feeding about 1:00 in the afternoon while most hunters are back at the camp eating. I would sometimes stay in my tree from an hour before sunup till sundown.

Mike

[Dcoleinpa]

Opening day find aplace close to the acorns. As season progresses get into the thicker bedding area's or inbetween their pattern and bedding pattern. There is a lot of Good info above. One thing. The two biggest bucks I have ever taken were at the edge of a swamp during a driving rain and catching a big one feeding about 1:00 in the afternoon while most hunters are back at the camp eating. I would sometimes stay in my tree from an hour before sunup till sundown.

Mike

right on the money

[muddpuppi]

i would agree with everythin posted...if there is alot of pressure nearby and the only thick cover is on your property i wouldnt intrude to close...like said set up on trails an whatch the movement s and adjust acordingly...if a big boy is there he is likley feedin at night...but it just a matter of time cause when the rut kicks in he'll be on the hunt for a girlfriend and that may be ya chance...