2019 deer stand/spot

[Grinr]

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.

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

[marky.mark]

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.

[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.

[Big Jack]

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.

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.

[MikePal]

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.

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...

[marky.mark]

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.

[smitty55]

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.

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

[marky.mark]

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.

[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.

[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..