stand placement question..

[Brian Krebs]

I have a spot I can hunt in; that I have seen plenty of trophy whitetails. Couple reasons; one is that the area has not been hunted in 10 years or longer; and the other is that it is attached to land where no hunting has been allowed for much longer.

 It is a bedding area for whitetails. It is a staging area for elk.

 I am trying to figure out the best place for a stand; be it tree or ground.

  Situation is this: there is a fairly well traveled dirt road; that on the north side is an open field; a field that has grass in it; and horses. I have seen many bucks in that field 'no hunting' signs there; but there are three that are p&y material there often in the evening; and they will run accross the road; and into the brush on the south side of the road.
 
 That is where I have permission to hunt.
 
There is the road; and running along next to it; there is a creek; set off the road about 25 yards.  There are open areas; but it is mostly aspen and brush and tall grases etc. on both sides of the creek.
 I have a 1/2 mile long strip I can hunt- to the east it gets swampy; there are cattails in there; and its thick. Past that is a no hunting allowed alfalfa field - bucks there almost every night.  I cannot hunt to the edge of the alfalfa; nor to the edge of the swamp at the edge of it.
 
 So from the road going south there is about 25 to 50 yards of aspen and thick brush; the creek; some more aspen and brush for another twenty yards.
 
 In that space there are deer beds; and one pesky young buck that beds there for certain; he runs maybe 15 yards and stands until I start moving again.

 I figure him as a spoiler if I don't consider his actions.

 Then past the aspen to the south of the creek there is a sharp steep incline. That goes up probably 50 feet to an open field with horses in it on the east end; and brush and a home on the west end.

 I have permission to hunt the area from both land owners.

 The deer can and do- bed on the far west end; but I think the patch I am trying to hunt; for the whitetails- is pretty much all a bedding area.
 Thing is; there are elk that pass from a high timbered area to the west; along the higher ground; then they slip down one trail that then splits into 6 different trails; all headed down to the south side of the creek; where they quickly cross a fence into the area I cannot hunt; and then of course into the swamp and the alfalfa.

 The elk bed up high to keep cooler and out of the bugs.
 They walk downhill; then along the top of the south end of where I am hunting. When they get to a high spot; they go down the trail about ten yards -to where it splits up.
 This trail has elk tracks and deer tracks going both directions...

 As the elk trail comes down to where it splits; it is timbered.  There is a Pinetree below it ten yards- that overlooks that spot- if there was a treestand in it; and I can put a treestand there- that I think will work wind wise.

 I am not though 'wind wise in this spot' myself. The wind in the evening; when the elk come down to feed; will ~probably~ be headed downhill; and then hit the creek air and not alert the elk. ?? In the morning; if the elk use it to go up to the bedding area; the wind ~might be~ perfect.

 But to get there- I will have to go through the whitetail bedding area. The big bucks- too though- often follow the same trail as the elk.
 
 I found a stand tree that is about five yards from the creek; and on the road side of the creek. There is also a couple spots where I feel the deer would be forced to walk within 20 yards; a pinch area between the road and the creek. Perfect for a ground blind.

So basically you walk from the road; through some brush and aspen ( and deer trails) across the creek ( knee deep) to more aspen and brush; and deer beds; and then hit the elk trails. Up through thick timber to an open field- private - but with horses.

 We are talking p& y deer; and elk of all various sizes and sexes. Right now its cows and calves and small bulls; but big bulls are quite safe there-- when the cows come into heat.

 The season starts on the 30th. I had planned to put up a stand today; after a 'scouting it out trip' - but I am a volunteer fireman; and we had a 330 acre fire to deal with.

 So today was my one day scouting trip - don't want to overdo it; and just got the permission.

 So; tomorrow I plan to set up a stand over the elk trail 'split up' area.

 But there is the middle ground area- and a nice spot where the border fence- on the east end ( 5 strand barbwire) has a pinch with trails and a tree that would work.

 I am thinking I might be able to screw up once or maybe twice - and everything will change.

 What seems like the simplest plan for success?

There is a log I can walk over the creek; and go directly up to the elk trail split up.

 I have been hunting mulies and stalking and using ground blinds; and seeing does and small bucks in other areas over the last 6 years.

 I have seen 7 different trophy bucks either in the area near the road in the last weeks; and there is no spot un walked by deer from the creek to the elk trail split up.

 I have a concern over walking through the bedding area; but what else stupid can I do to screw this up; that I haven't already done in my one day of scouting...??

 What would you be looking for in this situation - stand wise? Would you put up the treestand over the elk trail;or on the road side of the creek which has more deer sign; or would you sit the ground and not cross through the creek bedding area and hope for the best?

 I am no stranger to hunting; but this is a finger licking good spot; and I feel like a golden opprotunity - but.... I am no stranger to deer snorts and cow chirps.

 How would you approach this? I have it all to myself - and one distant tradganger that is already packed and filling his gas tank.......

[Whump]

Whump Sez; I know you wanted someone to hunt with but you are now twice as likely to spook trophy whitetails than if you had hunted it by yourself for at least one season.As for the elk I can't say about them. Nothing against your pal but facts are facts--2 people leave twice as much scent--make twice as much noise and make twice as many mistakes. If you 2 fellows invest in a pair of hip boots  each and can use the creek to approach your stand areas[wade up or down the creek]     that is what I would do--you can sling your hunting boots over your shoulder and put them  on at the stand. If that creek is wadeable -- then you 2 can set up right on 2 different crossings as close to the water as possible to avoid scenting up the place. You and your friend can hunt this area by dropping off at different creek crossings without leaving scent as long as you remember; moving water moves air"so walk on water accordingly. I wish both of you the best of luck and post your pics of your trophy kills on this site. Hunt safe.

[SL]

Personaly it sounds like you have found a security area the animals are using.As long as you do not give them a reason to move they won't. I would hunt them going in and coming out of that area if possible. Not in the area they are using as a refuage.
Most of the better mature animals will have you patterned in 3 days if you hunt the stand every day.Don't hunt to close to the trails.Good luck.
SL

[Brian Krebs]

whump- your probably right that two of us is twice as much scent etc. - but he will not be missing if he shoots ...and I come with no such guarantee    
 He can sit in one spot where he will not be winded; as the road turns; and its perfect in that way ; and he can reach out and tap an elk or deer from it.
 I have an average 8 coming into my alfalfa patch; and other deer and elk spots; so yes SL I will be hunting it once every three days at most- because although they are not hunted in this spot- I know your right about them patterning me.
  I figure I will only get a couple chances.
I will have a month to succeed or fail.
  Whump - I can in one spot walk a fallen tree over the creek. That though is predictable... waders...hmmmm
  Thanks guys !