2019 deer stand/spot

Been working this area since the spring. I have over 100 videos of bucks n does. Come in during morning, afternoon and evening. I enter from the west and face the east. Wind always blows north to south and vice versa 95 percent of the time. I have hardwoods to the left and swamp to the right and I’m sitting in the funnel in between them. I have found old rubs all coming from the hardwoods to the swamp direction and have millions of tracks. I’m very excited and hope are high for the season. Have a look.

Certainly looks like a great spot... good luck !!

It does look like a promising ambush point, but you need to be aware of a few more things...

- Wind direction might be slightly different by October, if you are planning to do an archery hunt. It might change again for November's gun season, or simply be different than "north-south" on the specific day that you get out.

- Your stand looks well protected and you will not be that easily detected if you are shooting a gun or a crossbow, but they might see you moving if you have to pull back the string of a bow.

- If you are facing east, the sun will be in your face in the morning, and you will be more visible yourself.

- You mention a "swamp" nearby and that worries me a bit. Many deer have been lost because they ran deep into a swampy area after getting shot. Tracking a wounded animal in thick, swampy terrain can be challenging.

You need to walk around more and get as big a picture as you can from that whole area. Map it, take notes, mark trails, and be ready for "surprises" because deer can be full of surprises! ;)
By mid-September you should be done walking around and spreading your own scent everywhere. If you're hunting where I think you are, then look into buying additional tags because they are available.

GOOD LUCK and I look forward to seeing your successful hunt report.

Hawkman!! Great points.

During the fall hunting season Majority of times it is a North-south vice versa wind. When it does change I have a back up Stan always for that wind set up.

As for the sun coming up in the east, you’re absolutely right. I purposely put up the stand in the morning so I could position it accordingly. If your looking at the stand head on like the pic, the left side of it I left “ sun blockers” for that reason. Completely blocks it out. So I’m golden there.

That bush, swamp, etc I literally have been balls deep in. Lol I know every inch of that damn place. Good and the bad lol. If and when a deer goes in there, you best believe I’m going in there after it. Fingers crossed on they go the other way.

As for surprises, this is the first season myself or anyone will hunt this area of our farm. I’m excited, nervous, full of I hopes and we’ll see’s. I’m looking forward to posting some success this fall.

You ARE golden then, just like you say!
It's your own private property so it should remain un-disturbed and you will have control.
Having multiple options is also great.

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Originally Posted by Hawkman

- If you are facing east, the sun will be in your face in the morning, and you will be more visible yourself.

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VERY good point !!!!

Same for facing west for the evening hunts.....I have no choice becasue the winds are predominantly from the west ...so there is about 45 minutes that the sun is in my eyes and limits my shots to about 20 yds until it sets below the tree line. Not a biggy as it's usually about an hour before last light.

I limit myself to once a week or once every two weeks just to check cameras there. Going to throw a feeder on a tree shortly and put some big n j feed in it. For rest of July-beginning of September. Then I’ll transition over to the corn for the fall season. Once September rolls around I’ll go in one time at the beginning to load up the feed. Then one more time week before season starts just to top it up. Then it’s game on. September will be quiet time at the farm. No gun shooting, going through the bush frequently, nothing. Till that time it will be quick refills at all the stands and that’s it. Slowly start to limit the visits so they get more and more comfortable, calm and natural in there.

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Originally Posted by marky.mark

I limit myself to once a week or once every two weeks just to check cameras there. Going to throw a feeder on a tree shortly and put some big n j feed in it. For rest of July-beginning of September. Then I’ll transition over to the corn for the fall season. Once September rolls around I’ll go in one time at the beginning to load up the feed. Then one more time week before season starts just to top it up. Then it’s game on. September will be quiet time at the farm. No gun shooting, going through the bush frequently, nothing. Till that time it will be quick refills at all the stands and that’s it. Slowly start to limit the visits so they get more and more comfortable, calm and natural in there.

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Hmmmm...Interesting.
What do you suppose Alberta Fishn Feathers would think of your blatantly illegal baiting itinerary?

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Originally Posted by Grinr

Hmmmm...Interesting.
What do you suppose Alberta Fishn Feathers would think of your blatantly illegal baiting itinerary?

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WTF....are you just here to stir the pot ??? Who gives a rats arse what Alberta thinks ?? Have at it guys....too hot to make popcorn !!
Keep at it Marky.mark....

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Originally Posted by rick_iles

WTF....are you just here to stir the pot ??? Who gives a rats arse what Alberta thinks ?? Have at it guys....too hot to make popcorn !!
Keep at it Marky.mark....

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Oops my bad.....must be a different marky mark,not the know it all from Edmonton with a million posts on AB forums,my apologies.
FWIW though,baiting deer is illegal in Alberta....as it should be.We actually need to learn how to hunt deer here,not just feed em n shoot em with their head in a bucket. :P

Funny you are calling other people know it alls.............what’s your deal? You get kicked off all the western forums for trolling?? Don’t worry keep it up and It won’t be long and you will be searching for another forum to post your dribble ............ please watch your step when getting off that horse.........be a real shame for you to break your neck on the way down.........

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Originally Posted by Grinr

Oops my bad.....must be a different marky mark,not the know it all from Edmonton with a million posts on AB forums,my apologies.
FWIW though,baiting deer is illegal in Alberta....as it should be.We actually need to learn how to hunt deer here,not just feed em n shoot em with their head in a bucket. :P

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Omg. Lmao.
Can you still use deer urine out in Alberta?

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Originally Posted by duckslayer

You get kicked off all the western forums for trolling??

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He needs 50 posts so he can try and sell stuff...so he trolls and hope to get run up his count with his nonsense.

Reminds me of the other simpleton we had on here from out in Alberta..Blackwolf...maybe it him in disguise :)

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Originally Posted by onelessarrow

Omg. Lmao.
Can you still use deer urine out in Alberta?

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Yes,but good luck finding any real organic urine and/or tarsal based lures (Code Blue etc)on any store shelf here,only synthetics that I’ve seen......too much panic over CWD?
I collect my own real stuff from roadkill and doe harvests.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

He needs 50 posts so he can try and sell stuff...so he trolls and hope to get run up his count with his nonsense. Reminds me of the other simpleton we had on here from out in Alberta..Blackwolf...maybe it him in disguise :)

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Well that really wasnt my intentions when I signed up here,but kinda neat how it’s working out that way. :D Big thanks and shout out to the crossgunner crowd for making it so easy,being as they are always on the defensive trying to convince themselves and everybody else that they are bowhunters.

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Originally Posted by Grinr

Yes,but good luck finding any real organic urine and/or tarsal based lures (Code Blue etc)on any store shelf here,only synthetics that I’ve seen......too much panic over CWD?
I collect my own real stuff from roadkill and doe harvests.

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I knew you could, just wanted to see if you were going to hit the pot off the kettle on attractants.

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Originally Posted by onelessarrow

I knew you could, just wanted to see if you were going to hit the pot off the kettle on attractants.

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Yea a lot of hypocrisy...

I’m happy to see 1 or 2 deer a year and that’s with some corn out from bass pro or a mineral rock lol these deer have unlimited natural food and are free ranging. My small little pile that happens to be in the right spot and I say right spot because I been scouting since January first ( day after deer closes) putting endless Kms on my feet, cameras, etc. I love this sport more then anything and will do all the work involved to put the odds as beat in my favour possible. If my two by two bait pile of 12 dollar corn is your issue with me or how some of us here in Ontario hunt then buddy you best be leavin now cause you’re gunna catch it from all angles. I promise you everyone you meet on here I can personally guarantee they bust their as well. Years of reading their hunts and stories and preparation...tread lightly or be on your way.

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Originally Posted by onelessarrow

I knew you could, just wanted to see if you were going to hit the pot off the kettle on attractants.

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Originally Posted by MikePal

Yea a lot of hypocrisy...

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Apples to oranges comparing urine and masking scents to a bait pile.:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Grinr

Apples to oranges comparing urine and masking scents to a bait pile.:rolleyes:

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Well aren't you making a good show of yourself. NOT! First you cut someone down for baiting, something you obviously know nothing about and consider those that do poor hunters. I take it you don't agree with baiting for bears as well, something else you don't know anything about. Then you turn around and say that crossbow hunters aren't real archers. So I have two compounds and a crossbow that I use, I guess I'm only a part time archer
So why did you even bother to join this group? All you done is prove to everyone how much of an ahole you are with no credible contribution to this forum. What a jerk!

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Originally Posted by marky.mark

Been working this area since the spring. I have over 100 videos of bucks n does. Come in during morning, afternoon and evening. I enter from the west and face the east. Wind always blows north to south and vice versa 95 percent of the time. I have hardwoods to the left and swamp to the right and I’m sitting in the funnel in between them. I have found old rubs all coming from the hardwoods to the swamp direction and have millions of tracks. I’m very excited and hope are high for the season. Have a look.

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Good luck with that Mark, it looks like a good area. If I can make one suggestion it would be to stay clear of the swampy area as much as you can, the deer will be bedding in there and if you bump them out of there they just may never come back. You want to catch them on their travel routes to and from there.
Cheers

Absolutely and that’s why my ambush point is dead centre of a funnel 60 yards from hardwoods and 62 yards from swamp. I predominantly have a nw or a sw wind. Any other winds e or w I have another stand set up specifically meant to catch them
Coming off and going into another neighbouring field. I’ve learned very quick about that swamp. Get to close to it especially during the rut and it switches them nocturnal fast!

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Originally Posted by Grinr

Apples to oranges comparing urine and masking scents to a bait pile.:rolleyes:

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Sure HaHa..you keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel good, the rest of the hunting world knows better...

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Originally Posted by marky.mark

Come in during morning, afternoon and evening.

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Great set up Marky; I love hunting deep back in the bush, as you have found deer move all day back there. Most of the deer I've shoot around 2:00 in the aft, a good 2-3 hrs before the rest of the guys in camp who hunt on fields along tree lines. You're up high and if you play they wind you should have successful hunt.

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Originally Posted by smitty55

So why did you even bother to join this group? All you done is prove to everyone how much of an ahole you are with no credible contribution to this forum. What a jerk!

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Ahhhh it all makes sense now HaHa..

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Originally Posted by Grinr

Last week I was working out of town,and against my better judgement and breaking my vow to NOT give Turdo one extra cent of my hard earned money then he already takes every week,I stopped in to local weed shop..

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Originally Posted by Grinr

Been medicating for recrational purposes for almost 40 years now.....

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Originally Posted by MikePal

Ahhhh it all makes sense now HaHa..

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Hey, don't blame the weed, it mellows most people out and keeps them from fighting :P

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Originally Posted by marky.mark

Absolutely and that’s why my ambush point is dead centre of a funnel 60 yards from hardwoods and 62 yards from swamp. I predominantly have a nw or a sw wind. Any other winds e or w I have another stand set up specifically meant to catch them
Coming off and going into another neighbouring field. I’ve learned very quick about that swamp. Get to close to it especially during the rut and it switches them nocturnal fast!

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Wind in tight areas swirls, are you planning to get up into a tree stand or sit on the ground? Sorry if you said this before, got lost in all the BS off topic stuff, ha ha.

I was nailed by the wrong wind on a hunt last year, another piece of evidence to putting 2 stands/blinds, or even more, around a spot you want to hunt so that you can best deal with the wind on that particular day.

The more you are out there during the season the more you will learn, we have 2 seasons under our belts on a new property with the first deer shot last year, adjustments are in the works to stand locations and yes bait and feeder sites.

Fox.

I’m going to hunt this spot only on north and south winds strictly. I will be up in a stand ya. Like you said it’s going to be my first season in this section of woods so trial and error is on the menu for this season.

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Originally Posted by Grinr

Apples to oranges comparing urine and masking scents to a bait pile.:rolleyes:

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Apples and oranges are still fruit, just like corn and urine are still attractants. I've been chasing whitetails for over 30 years. There is NO better attractant then real deer urine! I had so much success with it, as a joke, I use to call it cheating.
But just like baiting, you need knowledge of where to place the best location to maximize success. Or to stereotype it, "be a hunter".

I see that Father Time hasn't humbled you yet in the world of bowhunting.
Rest assured, he's coming for ya.

Mark, just to add to your thread rather than responding to grindr.

Your first 4 or 5 hunts in that stand early season will be your best opportunity to take one of the bachelor bucks in that area. They're undisturbed and unsuspecting. Be invisible, scent, sound, movement, everything, as best as you can. After that, the deer traveling that area will soon come to know who you are by smell, your routes you take and times you come and go. They will adjust themselves accordingly, don't be predictable. Change entry routes, bring a stool/chair and change locations for a day or two. I use a scent drag and try to imitate a buck heading to bed in the morning.
Out of all of the synthetic scents out there, I find that dominant buck urine is by far the most successful in getting a response during early season and into the rut.
Love the look of the bush you're hunting.
Best of luck.

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Originally Posted by Fox

Hey, don't blame the weed, it mellows most people out and keeps them from fighting :P

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Also dumb as a post!!

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Originally Posted by rick_iles

Also dumb as a post!!

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Depends on the person, some very brilliant people smoke weed and lots of it.

Lol let’s get back on track here.

Mike pal.

I didn’t consider that being this deep in the bush now will allow me all day movement as opposed to just dawn and dusk. Hopefully it stays the same way into oct-nov

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Originally Posted by Fox

Depends on the person, some very brilliant people smoke weed and lots of it.

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Yes I do thanks

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Originally Posted by MikePal

Sure HaHa..you keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel good, the rest of the hunting world knows better...

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Ah yes,and of course by “the rest of the hunting world” I will presume you mean yourself and your getalong gang clique of bolt flinging,corn can rattling,apple sack lugging Master baiters,yes?
Surely you jest PAL?You can’t seriously believe that applying a good tarsal masking scent to my pant legs en route to stand or misting deer piss in the wind when rattling is the equivalent of lugging bushels of apples and corn to a stand location for months prior to the season.....gimme a break rookie. :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by marky.mark

Lol let’s get back on track here.

Mike pal.

I didn’t consider that being this deep in the bush now will allow me all day movement as opposed to just dawn and dusk. Hopefully it stays the same way into oct-nov

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Sure does! Deer begin to move towards feeding areas, staging in cover until almost dark for obvious reasons. Setting up well back from field edges on good runs has produced lots of deer over the years.
Closer to the rut, bucks pretty much roam all day.

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Originally Posted by marky.mark

Lol let’s get back on track here.

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Sorry for the the hijacking of your thread Mark.......lead astray by a troll :)

When at camp , we head back to camp for lunch after the morning run with the dogs. A lot of guys take the opportunity to take a nap, I head back out about 1:00. The bucks are moving mid day and I have shot many and had them back at the camp and up on the pole before the guys have even left camp for the evening hunt.

Same during the ML and late bow season in Dec...usually back at the barn before the sunsets.

Your set up looks perfect for that kind of scenario...wish you luck !!

Attachment 38625

Here’s the set up. Hardwoods to the left, then swamp and bedding to my right. I’ve seen rubs coming from hardwoods straight to swamp. Always facing same direction. Rubs are always made from hardwoods to swamp. I have 60-70 videos of bucks and does since June 1 until last weekend.

Looks like a great early morning stand if you can slip in undetected on a N/NE wind and catch him using that rubline on his way to bed.

I walk in from the main road, have a pre cut trail to the base of the stand. All the action I’m expecting is from directly in front, my 11 o’clock position and my 1-2 o’clock.

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Originally Posted by marky.mark

I walk in from the main road, have a pre cut trail to the base of the stand. All the action I’m expecting is from directly in front, my 11 o’clock position and my 1-2 o’clock.

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Perfect!
....presuming your prevailing winds there are northerly in the fall,NE ideally?

North, north west. Then south west which is perfect. When I get a east wind or south east I hunt my other side of the farm where an east wind is ideal. Rare to get winds in the fall other then the north and south ones.

Looks like a great stand good luck and keep baiting. I think you will find great success!

GINR- this isn’t Alberta. Terrain is much different. No wide open spaces. Different tactics for different places. Respect our laws just as we respect yours.
I personally will bait my stands if I feel like it and won’t think anything of plugging a buck coming in for a bite. It is simply about putting meat on the table for me. I have a gun, deer don’t. Let’s not romanticize it.

This whole “purist” and “better than you” attitude doesn’t fly.

The key to being a successful hunter is to figure out what works in an area and doing it.

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Originally Posted by marky.mark

I walk in from the main road, have a pre cut trail to the base of the stand. All the action I’m expecting is from directly in front, my 11 o’clock position and my 1-2 o’clock.

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Don’t laugh at this but sometimes if the ground has a lot of twigs and leaves I will actually rake a path in to my stand.
It is hard to do but has paid off for me once or twice in certain areas.

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Originally Posted by Big Jack

Don’t laugh at this but sometimes if the ground has a lot of twigs and leaves I will actually rake a path in to my stand.
It is hard to do but has paid off for me once or twice in certain areas.

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Excellent advice, doesn't take much to alert a dear you're coming. Carry a call of some sort ( I use my rabbit call) in your mouth and give a toot if you make a crack.

I have a great trail in...except when he have a wet fall and I have to wade thru 6-8" of water. I have never mastered how to do that quietly, rubber boots and mud make funny noises. Then once it freezes over...it's even worse. You can hear ice cracking about 6 miles away HaHa...

So this bring me to my next dilemma...the trail in from the road is manageable, not the most ideal BUT, if I don’t rush I can get in very quietly. Then when I get about 50-60 yards from my stand the ground gets very quiet and soft and I cleared a nice path right in. Nothing’s perfect but I am quiet confident to get in without issue.

On another note...Saturday I put up a moultrie hang on feeder from bass pro and filled it with some of that big n J stuff for the first time. I dunno if will help or screw it up. The cameras keep showing bucks and does showing up so it’s still early enough to take a risk. If we keep seeing them then awesome it’s like a Buffett for them. If they don’t show for a bit then I know where my issue is.

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Originally Posted by Big Jack

Don’t laugh at this but sometimes if the ground has a lot of twigs and leaves I will actually rake a path in to my stand.
It is hard to do but has paid off for me once or twice in certain areas.

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I have often taken my Stihl leaf blower and cleaned out trail to my stands and other trails for still hunting once all the leaves are down. Works great

So this bring me to my next dilemma...the trail in from the road is manageable, not the most ideal BUT, if I don’t rush I can get in very quietly. Then when I get about 50-60 yards from my stand the ground gets very quiet and soft and I cleared a nice path right in. Nothing’s perfect but I am quiet confident to get in without issue.

On another note...Saturday I put up a moultrie hang on feeder from bass pro and filled it with some of that big n J stuff for the first time. I dunno if will help or screw it up. The cameras keep showing bucks and does showing up so it’s still early enough to take a risk. If we keep seeing them then awesome it’s like a Buffett for them. If they don’t show for a bit then I know where my issue is.

If You can not manage how to get to the spot quietly,there is still a good chance You can make it.
You just have to be there "well before the deer comes by",and sit quietly and wait for their move.Now if You are close to the bedding site,You have to sit all day to wait for them to come out late afternoon.
Go in early-let them pass by(likely they will do this in the dark)then wait.If they pass by in daylight-You may catch them.You need to be ready to sit.All day.

If the wind changes on You-bad lack for the day.

When you walk in......sound like a deer! Unless they smell you, they have no idea what is walking, if you do it right. Walk slowly and stop frequently. I have had deer literally follow me to my stand. I have to walk through a cut corn field to get to the stand. There’s no way of being quiet in the dark, especially when it starts to freeze. Walk in......sound like a deer ! I’ve had deer snort right under me before I can get safety gear hooked up.....scares the begeezus out of you !! Up in NW Ontario I walked in to a stand after an ice storm once. Did the same thing. I nicely got sat on a rock and I hear a deer coming, making as much noise as I did. The same sit, I had another buck come straight across the cutover towards me. Both are pictured in my avatar!! So, if you can’t be silent, try to sound like a deer walking..

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Originally Posted by Big Jack

Looks like a great stand good luck and keep baiting. I think you will find great success!

GINR- this isn’t Alberta. Terrain is much different. No wide open spaces. Different tactics for different places. Respect our laws just as we respect yours.
I personally will bait my stands if I feel like it and won’t think anything of plugging a buck coming in for a bite. It is simply about putting meat on the table for me. I have a gun, deer don’t. Let’s not romanticize it.

This whole “purist” and “better than you” attitude doesn’t fly.

The key to being a successful hunter is to figure out what works in an area and doing it.

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Not much for open spaces in my area,I’m in west-central/NW Alberta foothills where the agriculture meets the big boreal zone from here to the NWT and beyond.
I hunt Bigwoods bush bucks for the most part,mixed boreal forest mostly spruce and aspen,and big hardwood river bottoms.Most deer I kill are in bow range regardless what weapon I’m hunting with,90% are inside of 100y.

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Originally Posted by gbk

If You can not manage how to get to the spot quietly,there is still a good chance You can make it.
You just have to be there "well before the deer comes by",and sit quietly and wait for their move.Now if You are close to the bedding site,You have to sit all day to wait for them to come out late afternoon.
Go in early-let them pass by(likely they will do this in the dark)then wait.If they pass by in daylight-You may catch them.You need to be ready to sit.All day.

If the wind changes on You-bad lack for the day.

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Mark’s diagram and description screams morning stand,all of the rubs are made leaving the hardwoods heading for bedding cover.Sitting all day might payoff,but sounds mostly like a morning route,could be the buck exits the swamp using a different route.....but putting your time in on a stand is rarely a waste of time,can’t kill em from the couch,deer are on their feet mid day every day if only briefly,usually while most hunters are back in camp for lunch and a nap.I normally hunt from dark til dark and I’ve killed way more deer between 09:30-14:00 then I have at first light and last light combined.

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Originally Posted by rick_iles

When you walk in......sound like a deer! Unless they smell you, they have no idea what is walking, if you do it right. Walk slowly and stop frequently. I have had deer literally follow me to my stand. I have to walk through a cut corn field to get to the stand. There’s no way of being quiet in the dark, especially when it starts to freeze. Walk in......sound like a deer ! I’ve had deer snort right under me before I can get safety gear hooked up.....scares the begeezus out of you !! Up in NW Ontario I walked in to a stand after an ice storm once. Did the same thing. I nicely got sat on a rock and I hear a deer coming, making as much noise as I did. The same sit, I had another buck come straight across the cutover towards me. Both are pictured in my avatar!! So, if you can’t be silent, try to sound like a deer walking..

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Great advice!!^^
I learned long ago that you can’t hide from a deer’s ears or his nose,so if ya can’t beat’em,join em.
When stillhunting or hiking in to a stand for a sit,I reek of deer piss and tarsal gland.Crunchy snow or frosty leaves,walk with the cadence of a deer,stopping frequently,throw in the odd grunt,fawn or doe bleat as appropriate.Simply imitating the walk of a deer is an audible deer call in itself,I’ve had deer come over to investigate me many times because I sound like another deer walking.
Walk like a deer,sound like a deer,smell like a deer,because you can’t eliminate your scent despite what the industry that sells a billion dollars annually worth of scentblocker clothes and sprays will tell you,and I can’t move silently on crunchy snow n leaves and I’m too fat to fly.

depending on what your harvest goals are, I wouldn't use supplemental feeding if your after something older than 2.5 yrs old. Not to say it isnt impossible to shoot an older buck on a bait pile, but they are very good at surviving and can most likely recognize the risk. Not to mention mature bucks like to isolate themselves from the social pressure that comes from large numbers of does and young bucks until pre and peak rut. I myself would stick to natural movement definers like a mock scrape (which you can install now)

King of the busch...I been watching a bunch of videos on YouTube from whitetail instincts and even he really pushed the use of an all year round mock scrape and hanging licking branch. I started one up at another spot but haven’t at the new spot yet just because I don’t know where abouts to put it yet. As for age class of deer on my place. I have a lot of 1-2 year olds all year. Over the last couple years I’ve noticed this more and more as I’ve dived deeper into the bush and have educated myself further. Come late October when rut action picks up that’s when I have started really seeing some big guys show up. I’m yet to see them in day light hours though in person but only 1-2 on camera. I’m very confident in this being the main area they will be cruising around and really think I’m in for a good surprise finally.

I dunno.. at the end of the day these are wild animals and maybe it’s going to work and maybe not. Just gunna take it a week at a time and see what comes of it. As we get closer I’m going to spend less and less time in that area...other then the occasional camera check and if need be a top up on the feed pile I’m not going near there. I want it to be as natural and scent free and have them as comfortable possible.

I just find the “ putting the puzzle together “ part of it so fun and almost enjoy the “learning them” and studying them more then the harvest. When I see them it’s just like hell ya my thoughts worked and ideas were right!

I know it’s fun to check cameras and builds excitement for the upcoming season,but a mature buck won’t tolerate you stinking up his sanctuary on a regular basis.He’ll go nocturnal or move out and utilize a different bedding area altogether if you are in their too much.
Now that said,I don’t believe that bucks actually “go nocturnal”....that’s just something that hunters claim because those wise old bucks aren’t showing themselves where most hunters want to see them.... field edges,food plots,bait piles etc.Them bucks still spend a good part of the day on their feet,where they feel safe.Blowing him out of his sanctuary cover isn’t doing yourself any favours.
Load up that cam with fresh batteries and SD card in August and the next time you check it should be in open season when the wind is right,preferably on your way out of your stand after dark.

Marky Mark, I like putting my mock scrapes right in the middle of intersecting deer trails. I use a grape vine that hangs vertically about waist high so that when deer come to an intersecting trail they walk right into the vine which they then deposit glandular scent from their eyes, forehead, and their saliva as well. I rake up the ground to bare dirt about the size of a tire and then pee in it to start it. Ive had pretty good luck with this method.

Good luck with your property, if your looking for a good channel on youtube to watch take a look at this: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm2...IRjrnbqynMjTzQ

This guy has hundreds of videos and is a very accomplished deer hunter

Been starting mock scrapes with my own urine and freshening natural scrapes with same for years......imagine my surprise when I recently learned that this is exact same as baiting,as the entire rest of the hunting world already knew.
:D

Kingofbusch.... that’s the channel I was talking about. This guy is brilliant. Like I was saying in my above post. Because it’s a new spot, all I have been able to go off of to determine directions the deer come from is the videos I grab off my camera. The main action is in for t of me where I’m expecting them to come from. Do I go over there and make a scrape? Risk leaving more scent?

Grinr.... you’re right about frequent visits. I am confident I’m done all of the work I wanted done in the bush and I’m planning on leaving it alone now until August. On the weekend of the 16th we go up with the guys for an annual work weekend to prep for the upcoming season. That will be the next and last time I go in the bush before opening day.

One further question...when the season nears, do I leave my mineral rock out? Should I bring it back inside? Any advantage or disadvantages to either?

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Originally Posted by marky.mark

One further question...when the season nears, do I leave my mineral rock out? Should I bring it back inside? Any advantage or disadvantages to either?

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Leave your blocks out.....they actually work better once they've dissolved and flowed down into the dirt. That is the more natural way for deer to consume the minerals. They actually recommend you bury the block under a bit of soil to use them properly.

Funny you say that mike. On all the videos they don’t ever lick the block it’s always the stump and grasses under it they are going for. I’ll just leave it there then.

A buried block in Sept:

https://i.imgur.com/vtyVXnXm.jpg

Same block in Dec..

https://i.imgur.com/tvOJnMVm.jpg

I agree with MikePal, Leave those blocks out during hunting season, I put out mineral on a fallen down maple tree 2 years ago and the deer are still chewing at the maple tree to get at whatever mineral deposit was left behind. I have been using a quality (although expensive) mineral rock for 3 years now and I have seen the quality of my local deer herd grow in both antler size and fawn production. Im not sure how much the mineral helps, but im happy with the results ive seen

King. The fact that I’ve seen 3-4 bucks at a time at my mineral rock and have deer pics at all sights I’ve set them up around the property including all different deer at the different spots is proof enough for me. For a 10-15 dollar rock I’ll leave them all year round if these results are the norm. Out of all feeds and baits I’ve ever tried the mineral rocks are hands the product with best results.

absolutely, they work wonders for me too. Ive had pictures of multiple bucks using it at one time as well. The mineral I use has upwards of 20 trace minerals that arent normally found in the cheaper blocks like copper, zinc, calcium, bromine ect.. They really hit it hard in the summer months and its great because it gives you an idea of what bucks are in your area and what you can expect during hunting season.

Ya so far it’s been the major deciding factor of me putting up my stand in this area. I’ve always scouted around and have found sign here and there but this has helped me centralize all the action and turn it into I guess the kill zone. There’s enough cover that when it they show face it will be well within range and minimal time to over think it and get buck fever.

i just got notice today that im going to a spot i havent been before.

nice big farm, me my dad and maybe 3 other guys are gunna be spread out in the middle of the potato field using hay as a natural blind.

should be a nice sit .