GMMAT

So you would hunt every property this way? My hunting land this way?

Rory/MO

i try to hunt heavily used trails, dont care if its does, or bucks that come by. i also hunt bedding areas, staging areas, funnels, etc. i know this tactic would work on one farm i hunt, but another one, it would be counter productive, we dont see many does there, in fact, the 3 years ive been hunting there, ive seen many more bucks than does.

mobow

I very rarely hunt destinations anymore, even if I am targeting does. Every once in a while I will, if I know they are using it heavily. I used to hunt destinations most of the time, and since I've stopped that, I see, and kill, more deer.

I hunt travel corridors, almost exclusively. I'm still learning which are being used by does and which by bucks, and obviously sometimes by both. I've honestly gotten to the point where I can look at a topo map of ground I've never set foot on and put myself in good position. Do I kill 'em every time, or even have a shot every time? No. But it's been HIGHLY effective.

A fellow HNI'er told me....DON'T HUNT THE SIGN!! That's where they've been, not where they will be. Well, I don't always know where they will be, but I do know how to recognize terrain features they will use to get there.

LouisianaTomkat

Very good info mobow. Thanks for your input.

GMMAT

I agree with this, Mobo....by default. I don't have a destination that I feel comfortable sitting in. There's too many mast producing trees to begin setting up on just a few.

I dont know who that was,,,,,but I agree with him.

mobow

Well that would be none other than our very own buckeye. I used to be TERRIBLE at that. Oh man! Look at all the deer sign here!! I'm setting up right oooovvveeeerrrrrrrrrrrrr......THERE! Yeah, not very effective. But the problem is, it's effective enough for a self taught deer killer such as myself to employ all too often.

It took him 2 years of pounding that in my brain, but now....I pay VERY LITTLE attention to deer sign anymore. He told me, and I've since learned he is spot on, that a mature buck will leave very little sign around. But if you can recognize funnels and travel corridors, and can hunt them w/out being detected....You'll kill 'em.

Damned if he wasn't right. Like I just mentioned, EVERYTHING I know about deer hunting is self taught. Positive reinforcement. I've killed does hunting over sign, so I'm gonna look for it. I had to completely reprogram my brain, and that program is still being written. I sometimes fall back into old habits. Though sometimes they work.

If anyone hasn't read it yet, get Mapping Trophy Bucks by Brad Herndon. That book is a WEALTH of information. I've read it twice, and will again this summer. I pick up on something everytime I read it. I don't know much, and I'm no expert by any means. But I'm tellin ya, hunt the terrain and your success will go up. But it's damn hard to walk right past a truck load of deer sign and hunt somewhere else. Hope this doesn't sound arrogant, because I've got so much to learn it's not funny. Killing one buck certainly doesn't make me an expert.......as of now, I'm just a one hit wonder, sort of like the band A Flock of Seagulls. [&:]

magicman54494

The idea is to get GREGH drunk, not yourself.

magicman54494

Last year I decided to try something a little different. Instead of spending countless hours watching doe areas I decided to hunt for a doe in heat and set up there. I should be showing you guys a pic of a 150" 10 pointer. Maybe next year I will hit what I'm aiming at!

MeanV2

LT, What I meant was I don't worry myself over why the methods and places I hunt work for me. I've got better things to worry about.

I'm an aggressive Hunter and if something is not happening, I usually try to make it happen

I've always hunted to Kill! I can sit on the deck and watch the Squirrels, birds, and Deer play, andI do enjoy watching, but when I grab my Bow I'm out to Whack something. I pass tons of Deer, but I still hunt to Kill!

Dan

Schultzy

Awesome post Magic!! This right here is what others have got to do when there not having luck there previous way. I'm not saying do exactly what Magic is doing but try and switch it up a bit and try something else if what your doing isn't working. You don't know until you try. Great info Magic.