All the talk of "sign" hunting...
06-29-2008, 04:31 PM
#11
Super Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Southeast Central Illinois USA
Posts: 6,969
RE: All the talk of "sign" hunting...
I don't necessarily hunt where the majority of the sign is, but use it mainly as finding out what is in the area. As Duke says it depends on the time of season. I do hunt some sign and have been successful particularly hunting scrapes.
06-29-2008, 04:45 PM
#12
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Deer Country
Posts: 2,244
RE: All the talk of "sign" hunting...
I try and hunt funnels that lead into or out of bedding areas, this type of area is golden during the rut, the bucks will use these to access the bedding areas looking for that hot doe.
06-29-2008, 04:56 PM
#13
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Jackson,MI
Posts: 819
RE: All the talk of "sign" hunting...
ORIGINAL: solocamcan
I try and hunt funnels that lead into or out of bedding areas, this type of area is golden during the rut, the bucks will use these to access the bedding areas looking for that hot doe.
I try and hunt funnels that lead into or out of bedding areas, this type of area is golden during the rut, the bucks will use these to access the bedding areas looking for that hot doe.
06-29-2008, 06:07 PM
#14
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: St. Louis, MO
Posts: 4,487
RE: All the talk of "sign" hunting...
ORIGINAL: PABowhunter4life
My favorite place to hunt is a funnel. If I can find a funnel in my area the stuff on your list will show up on its own. I used to spend all my time stomping all over the woods looking for rubs, scrapes and everything that we were "supposed" to be hunting over. Like I said though, ever since I started hunting funnels all of these things seem to come to me
My favorite place to hunt is a funnel. If I can find a funnel in my area the stuff on your list will show up on its own. I used to spend all my time stomping all over the woods looking for rubs, scrapes and everything that we were "supposed" to be hunting over. Like I said though, ever since I started hunting funnels all of these things seem to come to me
06-29-2008, 07:02 PM
#16
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Millboro, Va
Posts: 1,134
RE: All the talk of "sign" hunting...
I agree with Duke.
I very rarely hunt over sign, but like duke said, I use the sign to get valuable answers that are going to help me pinpoint the location of the deer making the sign.
I very rarely hunt over sign, but like duke said, I use the sign to get valuable answers that are going to help me pinpoint the location of the deer making the sign.
06-29-2008, 08:53 PM
#17
Typical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location:
Posts: 509
RE: All the talk of "sign" hunting...
To answer your question, I'd go with rub lines. They're deer highways. More so than scrapes, in my experience. Scrapes are good. Real good. Just trying to prioritize. Kind of like what's your favorite song
06-30-2008, 05:50 AM
#18
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location:
Posts: 21,043
RE: All the talk of "sign" hunting...
For you guys who hunt sign.....
How (if you're NOT using trail cams) do you determine if a buck is making this sign in daylight hours v. night time? Or....do you just take a chance?
Thanks.
How (if you're NOT using trail cams) do you determine if a buck is making this sign in daylight hours v. night time? Or....do you just take a chance?
Thanks.
06-30-2008, 06:15 AM
#19
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 7,208
RE: All the talk of "sign" hunting...
I wouldn’t call it so much as taking a chance, as it is an educated guess. And since our mature bucks are very nocturnal, it’s pretty easy to assume 90% is made at night. If it’s a field edge, or non-secluded area, I just assume night time activity and don’t bother to hunt it, but certainly like to know it’s around. Now if it’s back deeper in the woods and tight to a bedding area, I’ll take my chance that it could be day or night activity. If it’s in a travel corridor, I don’t care if it’s made day or night, as once the seek phase kicks in,(when I will actually start hunting that location) I feel that if they were traveling those areas during the night time, they will probably travel them during the day too (especially if it is a “safe” corridor).
06-30-2008, 10:37 AM
#20
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Southwest Ohio
Posts: 2,849
RE: All the talk of "sign" hunting...
ORIGINAL: jmbuckhunter
Exactly, only hunt the sign if it's in the right place.
Exactly, only hunt the sign if it's in the right place.
Most of the places I hunt have intersections of MAJOR trails or are on distinctive funnels. If it is a good funnel, then there will be an abundance of tracks, a worn path, something. It isn't a good funnel if the deer aren't using it
Find one in/out of a thick bedding area and you could be in for some fun.