What do you think of this land?

[westonwhitetail]

What's your guy's thoughts on this piece of land? It's 76 acres with a mix of woods and field that I like. One larger 15 acre field and five 1-2 acre openings for plots, native grasses, or tree planting. I also like the ridges and points for bedding and travel. Access is not great but I can hopefully improve that. It's only 30 minutes from me. There are good deer in the area too. There is a 750 acre DNR swamp to the north that has produced large bucks in the past. This land doesn't border it though which is nice, there is a 40 between me and the public land.

 

[S.T.Fanatic]

If it were me I’d plant the large field into a 4 season destination plot and leave the other areas alone.


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[S.T.Fanatic]

I would also without a doubt be a line sitter on the north east edge of the property.


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[westonwhitetail]

I should also mention this property is for sale that I’m interested in buying. I’m going to look on Friday.

Yeah Fanatic, that looks like a pinch point up there between the big woods and it’s on the downwind side of the food. I thought about planting that property line in a strip of cover (pines and grasses) to encourage travel on what would be my side


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[S.T.Fanatic]

Hope it works out for you!


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[SD51555]

If your access point is on the SW corner, I wouldn't even go look at it. You'll never be able to get in there without alerting every deer in that system you're there.

Access is #1 in my book. Don't matter how good it is if you can't get to your stand without alerting every deer to your presence.

 

[TenPoint]

If your access point is on the SW corner, I wouldn't even go look at it. You'll never be able to get in there without alerting every deer in that system you're there.

Access is #1 in my book. Don't matter how good it is if you can't get to your stand without alerting every deer to your presence.

Yup, any kind of west wind will blow into the woods. Not sure what state this is in but west (or some variation of west) winds are common here in the upper Midwest.

 

[westonwhitetail]

It’s hard to see but there is a power line clearing along the south edge of the triangular piece for alternate route. The NE 40 could be tough to get to. I talked to the farmer to the west and he see like a nice guy, maybe he would let me walk his field across so I don’t have to walk the edge of the woods


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[westonwhitetail]

How far do you think a deer would typically smell you from your entrance? If the wind was blowing from the NW, they would generally bed on the opposite side of the ridge from my entrance, so sight would not be an issue. I'd be about 200-300 yards away though. Do you think that is too close and they'd wind me?

 

[bwoods11]

Anytime you have 80 acres or less, access issues will exist. We bought 52 acres and a so called “hunting expert” told me that you will struggle with access and blow out deer. We have shot multiple 130-155 inch bucks on it, since 2005. Roughly a good buck every other year.

You learn how to hunt it. I’d look at the habitat and how it lays first and foremost, and the food situation... neighbors factor as well.

 

[westonwhitetail]

Anytime you have 80 acres or less, access issues will exist. We bought 52 acres and a so called “hunting expert” told me that you will struggle with access and blow out deer. We have shot multiple 130-155 inch bucks on it, since 2005. Roughly a good buck every other year.

You learn how to hunt it. I’d look at the habitat and how it lays first and foremost, and the food situation... neighbors factor as well.

Yeah, I think I could get creative on my access routes and meet some neighbors to try to gain other access points. I think there are stand options for all winds here, it just may limit my hunting options on certain winds if I can't get another access point. I'd be happy as hell to have your success!

 

[westonwhitetail]

Anytime you have 80 acres or less, access issues will exist. We bought 52 acres and a so called “hunting expert” told me that you will struggle with access and blow out deer. We have shot multiple 130-155 inch bucks on it, since 2005. Roughly a good buck every other year.

You learn how to hunt it. I’d look at the habitat and how it lays first and foremost, and the food situation... neighbors factor as well.

Yeah, I think I could get creative on my access routes and meet some neighbors to try to gain other access points. I think there are stand options for all winds here, it just may limit my hunting options on certain winds if I can't get another access point. I'd be happy as hell to have your success!

 

[S.T.Fanatic]

When hunting the North end of the property, especially if its a late season hunt over food, there is a big block of timber to the North that you would be pulling deer from. If you go out on a hunt just get to stand an extra hour or two early so If you booger deer on "your property" they have time to settle down and see that the "coast is clear" before entering the field. I would use the 80 as a sanctuary where the deer can feel safe and concentrate on drawing deer off of the neighboring property.

 

[westonwhitetail]

Thanks for the input everyone.

After touring the place, it looks to be what I want. There's some existing good cover on the ridges and a decent amount of deer sign. A few open fields for plots, tree plantings, and stands of grasses to develop for additional cover. That field on the north end may become a prairie or a large food source. We will see if the property needs more food or cover in the next few years before I decide that...

We close on it tomorrow!! Going to be doing some hunting the remainder of WI gun hunting.

Here's hoping for many good years of improvement projects, hunting, and family fun out there! Also thanks in advance for all the input and advice I will be asking for!!

 

[bwoods11]

Congrats to you and good luck!

 

[S.T.Fanatic]

good luck. Cant wait for the property tour.

 

[gwm]

Congrats and good luck.

 

[westonwhitetail]

Thanks guys!

 

[ProcraftMike]

Congrats on the land purchase! I remember when we bought our back in late 2007 and how exciting it was.

 

[westonwhitetail]

Yes so exciting. I hunted it yesterday and really had to remind myself i was hunting because I would catch myself just standing there with a million ideas circling in my head. Trying to figure out where to start might be difficult!


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