You ever drive yourself crazy looking for a new spot .....

[WTNUT]

I know my main farm better than the back of my hand. I have walked every single inch of it time and time again. I have hunted it for 15 years. I have had great success there, but here I am looking for new stand locations. Some place that I have overlooked. I just don't think there are any. The main farm has about 850 acres of timber and 150 acres of plots. With that much timber there are lots of trees for stands, but really unless I try to start hunting down in the valleys there are not spots as far as I know. I don't like the valleys because wind kills you in hilly terrain. How about you, you still looking for new spots on old ground ?


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[Bill]

Not really ever looking for a new spot. But I have about a zillion places I know I could make a good spot if I had the time.

 

[yoderjac]

I recently got a new perspective on this. We've been doing a lot of large scale habitat improvements. Clear-cuts, thinning pines, controlled burns, etc. This changes how deer relate to our farm. I've been using ESRI ArcGIS as a GIS to manage our farm. A few years ago, this software which costs in the 10's of K, was made available for personal use for $100 a year. I was fairly proficient with it from work, so I got a copy for the farm when it came out.

Recently, I was able to download a DEM terrain model that covers the farm. I was able to extract the latest imagery from Google Earth. I was able to georectify the Google Earth exported jpeg. I was then able to use ArcScene (part of the 3D analyst extension available with the ArcGis license) to drape the latest imagery over the DEM terrain model. This results in a 3D view of the farm. When I can see both terrain and vegetation at a macro level (not really possible to see the big picture when I'm on the ground at the farm), you can much more easily see local sanctuaries, funnels, pinch points, and such. This really seems to help me in finding new stand locations to check out.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[kabic]

I recently got a new perspective on this. We've been doing a lot of large scale habitat improvements. Clear-cuts, thinning pines, controlled burns, etc. This changes how deer relate to our farm. I've been using ESRI ArcGIS as a GIS to manage our farm. A few years ago, this software which costs in the 10's of K, was made available for personal use for $100 a year. I was fairly proficient with it from work, so I got a copy for the farm when it came out.

Recently, I was able to download a DEM terrain model that covers the farm. I was able to extract the latest imagery from Google Earth. I was able to georectify the Google Earth exported jpeg. I was then able to use ArcScene (part of the 3D analyst extension available with the ArcGis license) to drape the latest imagery over the DEM terrain model. This results in a 3D view of the farm. When I can see both terrain and vegetation at a macro level (not really possible to see the big picture when I'm on the ground at the farm), you can much more easily see local sanctuaries, funnels, pinch points, and such. This really seems to help me in finding new stand locations to check out.

Thanks,

Jack

Mr Yoder,

Was that a "Yes" you are looking for new spots?


Personnel, I am also looking for new spots, sometimes just to get a scenery change.

 

[yoderjac]

I'm always looking for new spots on my land. The habitat is not static and it becomes even more dynamic when we manipulate it. Deer relate differently to the land as the habitat changes (not just on my land but as it changes on surrounding land as well).

Thanks,

jack

 

[chummer]

I love new spots because without fail I see deer when I hunt new spots. With a climber and a riffle I figure I have a couple mile radius.

 

[bueller]

The drive to "explore" and find new areas is what drives me to hit up public land each year even though I have private lands available to me. It's part of the "hunt" to me.

 

[Tap]

Finding new spots is almost always a struggle for me.
I bow hunt with traditional equipment and I limit myself to a shooting distance of 18 yards or less. That alone eliminates so many potential spots. Add to that, I'm very picky about not educating deer, so approach routes to stands can reduce stand sites even more.
I've only hunted hilly terrain, so, wind that is tricky is always a consideration.
It seems like when I find a tree in the perfect spot, it's either leaning the wrong way, or a dying ash, or covered with poison ivy...sometimes all of those.
Finding a great tree with lots of concealment cover, in the right spot is difficult.
But when it all comes together the rewards are sweet and I treat the spot like gold.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

I agree 100% Tap. If I find a good tree (s) with good surrounding cover, I BABY that spot !! I have several such locations at camp and on state land where I keep ladder stands locked in place to minimize disturbance. I use topo maps frequently to locate stand sites. Deer like terrain changes - even slight ones. Surrounding cover, when combined with good deer sign / trails, seals the deal.

 

[j-bird]

Every year I hang stands in the same spots, but I also leave my climber ready to go. I tend to have a few trees picked out for one reason or another. Some have led to some luck, others have led to some funny stories, while yet others have just been a change of the view.

I also like to draw from the sign from late last year and prep a "hail Mary" type spot - I have also just taken a bucket to sit on and sat and "hunted" while I lean up against a tree in the sunshine and try not to alert the deer with my snoring!

On limited property I can see running out of options, but with 850 acres......I think that would keep me busy for a while!

 

[Boll Weevil]

In response to the original question, no not really. Several reasons I can think of:
1) We've already got more "good" spots to hunt than we can actually take advantage of depending on wind, stages of the rut, crops, over-hunting, acorn production and what the deer are doing from one year to the next (or week to week).
2) For managing does I could probably throw a dart at an aerial of the farm to choose a spot and successfully close the deal. Clearly, mature bucks are altogether different so we choose and reserve these locations for the right time (and often individual bucks). Again, we currently have more of these spots than we can realistically hunt because of the factors listed above.
3) We've discovered (and are still learning) what works and once we do, we stick with it. Maybe I don't have as much drive to explore new stand spots as other folks; my focus is to find and kill mature bucks. I've found that oftentimes that means the same scenery year after year but if it also means old deer/big racks, fine by me. At the same time if we aren't seeing mature bucks like we expect, no problem shifting gears if it's time to re-evaluate.

Good topic and thanks provoking some thought.

 

[Davewp70]

All the time. Moved stands again this year. Sometimes 20 yards, sometimes more. Have been cutting trees, opening canopy, food plots, climbers vs ladder stands vs fixed. new trails placed...and always hope. Hope to see more, hope for close encounters, hope for that next big trophy.

 

[Nova]

Yep, every single year I do. Been hunting the same 240 acres for 30 plus years. Have walked every inch of it countless times, but there is always a new spot. I just found one a couple weeks ago. Actually last year during the rut I got enough info from sightings and trail cams that I made a mental note that this year I needed to check it out. I have hunted within 50 yards of either side of it, but never on the "X". I put up a cam and just checked it last weekend. Of the 8 cams I had out this one was by far the best for mature bucks. I hung a stand and can't wait until the bow opener next weekend to try it out. I guess it doesn't really drive me crazy, I like the anticipation and the hunt for a new spot, but it is on my mind a lot of the time.

 

[yoderjac]

Finding new spots is almost always a struggle for me.
I bow hunt with traditional equipment and I limit myself to a shooting distance of 18 yards or less. That alone eliminates so many potential spots. Add to that, I'm very picky about not educating deer, so approach routes to stands can reduce stand sites even more.
I've only hunted hilly terrain, so, wind that is tricky is always a consideration.
It seems like when I find a tree in the perfect spot, it's either leaning the wrong way, or a dying ash, or covered with poison ivy...sometimes all of those.
Finding a great tree with lots of concealment cover, in the right spot is difficult.
But when it all comes together the rewards are sweet and I treat the spot like gold.

You are absolutely right. That is exactly how I felt for many years. Fortunately (for me, not him), a very experienced archery buddy of mine fell of a ladder and had to have a hip replacement. After that, he couldn't use a climber for a long time but just couldn't keep from hunting. I thought I was doing him a favor when I volunteered to set up ladder stands for him. It turned out it was one of the best learning experiences I ever had when it comes to bowhunting. He could pick a spot like now one I've ever seen. He would pick the tree, and identify a precise stand orientation. He would tell me that how deer would approach, and exactly where his shooting lanes would be. I thought he was full of himself at first, but over time, I was amazed. I would hunt one of the stands and sure enough, deer would approach exactly how he predicted 90% of the time and I'd get a good shot just where he said. He was very picky and a minimalist when trimming shooting lanes. He had the discipline to let deer walk if everything wasn't perfect. I'm sure he has killed well over 1,000 deer in his life and he has only had a handful of deer not recovered. He would kick himself for weeks over each of those losses.

At any rate, after a couple years of setting stands for him, I started to get the hang of it. It really isn't something I can quantify and describe. It is kind of like porn, hard to define but you know it when you see it. I'm no where near as good as he is at it, but I've improved over time.

Thanks,

jack

 

[Tap]

This is a thread that could morph into a huge number of posts.
Most of us don't have access to hundreds of acres of private land. Those that do most likely have an easier time finding suitable stand sites.
For the rest of us that have at least an average IQ on whitetails, and hunt on small properties, surrounded by heavy hunting pressure, the concept of stand choice gets extremely complicated. Why are we choosy? (or not?)
The reasons why an experienced hunter may have difficulties choosing a promising stand site are complex. Access, property size, terrain and make-up, herd structure, hunting method, and self imposed limitations pose an unlimited number issues for why we choose the spots we feel comfortable spending hours or days on end hunting. I think that sometimes, we think too much. But then again, with everything I've learned by 45+ years of personal experience or by reading writings from highly successful hunters, I have a hard time not trying or thinking things through. It's like odor control...I feel that what I do to control odor is required and to ignore certain details is an invitation for failure.
Stand choice is just as complicated, or more, as odor control is, and in many ways, they are interconnected.
I'm interested in hearing why a hunter has few or many reasons or difficulties in choosing stand sites. I'm all ears and want to learn.

 

[yoderjac]

This is a thread that could morph into a huge number of posts.
Most of us don't have access to hundreds of acres of private land. Those that do most likely have an easier time finding suitable stand sites.
For the rest of us that have at least an average IQ on whitetails, and hunt on small properties, surrounded by heavy hunting pressure, the concept of stand choice gets extremely complicated. Why are we choosy? (or not?)
The reasons why an experienced hunter may have difficulties choosing a promising stand site are complex. Access, property size, terrain and make-up, herd structure, hunting method, and self imposed limitations pose an unlimited number issues for why we choose the spots we feel comfortable spending hours or days on end hunting. I think that sometimes, we think too much. But then again, with everything I've learned by 45+ years of personal experience or by reading writings from highly successful hunters, I have a hard time not trying or thinking things through. It's like odor control...I feel that what I do to control odor is required and to ignore certain details is an invitation for failure.
Stand choice is just as complicated, or more, as odor control is, and in many ways, they are interconnected.
I'm interested in hearing why a hunter has few or many reasons or difficulties in choosing stand sites. I'm all ears and want to learn.

The example I gave above was well before I owned property and was hunting where I could. I've never had a problem picking a stand site for firearm hunting, but bowhunting is a different story. Setting up where deer will approach within 20 yards and present the right shooting angle while you have enough cover to draw a bow without the deer detecting motion or scenting you is no easy task. There are many cases where I find a great spot, but there is no tree that will support a stand. Other times, the tree is in the right place but there is no mid-story to provide cover. In some cases, I was unable to leave a stand but the tree would not support a climber because of lower limbs. Sometime everything looks good, but the wind drifts you scent right in to the path of oncoming deer. Sometimes the stand is just perfect except that the setting (or rising in the morning) sun is right in your eyes. Then there are places where everything looks just right but for some reason I never figure out, deer just don't pass within 20 yards of the tree.

Bowhunting is a different game. I've been doing it for many years and I still have to have 1,000 little things go right to win and only one go wrong for the deer to win. Stand selection is a critical factor, but just one critical factor as you point out with scent control.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[Tap]

You said it Jack! There are a thousand reasons why a site won't work while there are only a few reasons why it's a great spot. Great spots are few and far between and too often, we over hunt or abuse those stands.
Not a criticism, but new hunters and gun-only hunters just don't understand how difficult bow hunting can be.

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[Bill]

I probably only have a few spots others would think were good locations. Because I have much more manipulation to do to make the others great spots. Most are chosen with that in mind along with access and wind. I agree very much with what Steve B writes in his books. Pick at the edges so they don't feel the hunting pressure like they do at the neighbors.

My theory isn't perfect but once in a while it works.

 

[Turkey Creek]

I am always contemplating new locations, but rarely hang a new stand. I have had stands in the same trees for 10 years or more. Good stand locations are hard to find on the ground I hunt, just because there are a limited number of trees and even fewer that will work for hanging a stand in.

 

[MoBuckChaser]

The way I do it is different than most. I have stands everywhere, some stands we may only sit in once a year, some a bunch, others may be every other year. I think we have almost 55-60 stands out right now. I try and use the wind given that day to my advantage and hunt the appropriate stand. I ain't much on scent killer soap, expensive clothes or boots. Since I bought in a very high DPSM area, I can get away with more crap than a guy with only a 7 DPSM area. If I bump a buck during the rut, 2 more will come by. I hunt the rut, right in the doe's bedroom, not the edges. I trust the morning thermals to carry my scent straight up for a few morning hours, then I may have to change stands, if the wind is not right for the one I am in. Otherwise I stay put all day!

Is my way the right way? For me it is, won't be for the experts, but I have plenty of bucks I let walk on video saying my way works for now!