Public land managed hunt- what would you do?

[DaveBriner]

Here's the scenario, I've been drawn for a managed hunt in MO Nov 21-23 and can't decide if this setup is right...

-high, high pressure public land
-a spot way off the beaten path has great buck sign
-big, big rubs, lots of scrapes
-good setup for wind, entry, and exit
-FOOD SOURCES (harvested grain fields) ARE ~0.75-1.5 MILES AWAY

In this precarious time after the rut, will I catch big boys back there, or will they hide in rabbit holes closer to the food?  Part of me thinks it's far enough away I may actually see movement because of the distance.  Par t of me worries that I'm too far away from food.

Thx!
Dave

[bloodyarrow]

sounds like a good spot to start

[lpcjon2]

What else do you have to do on those dates? You never know what can happen,You may cross paths with a booner or you may be dragging out a tasty doe.Its a chance worth taking in my book! Good luck

[LV2HUNT]

If it is a really high pressure area I would think they would be late going to the food and early coming from it. You probably have a better chance catching them in daylight closer to the bedding area.

[fredhill]

if i had to guess, you are hunting at Busch Wildlife?

[Buckeye Trad Hunter]

Are you restricted to that spot?  If so, why worry about it?  Just roll the dice and see what happens.  At least you'll be in the woods and if you don't you'll definatly regret it because you'll always wander what if I'd have went.

[DaveBriner]

Originally posted by fredhill:
if i had to guess, you are hunting at Busch Wildlife?

If I told you which area I was hunting, then post a pic of a 200" deer, will you promise not to tell?    


 

Originally posted by Buckeye Trad Hunter:
Are you restricted to that spot?  If so, why worry about it?  Just roll the dice and see what happens.  At least you'll be in the woods and if you don't you'll definatly regret it because you'll always wander what if I'd have went.

Oh, I'm definitely going.  There's a lot more ground to roam, but feel I need to get off the beaten path to observe daytime movement.

Maybe I'm wrong, anyone here have tricks/tips on observing daytime movement in high pressure areas?

Best,
Dave

[ron w]

You drew a tag on a special hunt....so what's the issue. Go hunt the area ,have a good time and if you kill something you did good! If you don't you will probably learn something that may help you next time you are lucky to draw a spot!

[TxAg]

3/4 of a mile isn't really that far away from a food source....especially if it's the rut and he's chasing ladies. Are you able to hunt all day? Are you able to see long ways? You could try it for a day and change tactics if need be.

[buckeye_hunter]

If it is later in the season, further back is better. If it is a good funnel with sign then the deer will be there. Oh... and the rut may be waning, but it will likely still be going.

[Bowwild]

Dave,
I think I understand your question. You are going to hunt the managed hunt. The question is whether you stay with the sign or go closer to food. I lived in MO for 3.5 years (Busch Wildlife Area).  I'd stay with the sign. Weather won't be that nasty yet in MO to make food that high a priority. If several hunters were drawn for the hunt, their scouting, stand placement, and pre-dawn movement into the area will be enough to alert many deer to hunter pressure and they will move away from the easy access points.

[Doug in MN]

Originally posted by Bowwild:
Dave,
I think I understand your question. You are going to hunt the managed hunt. The question is whether you stay with the sign or go closer to food. I lived in MO for 3.5 years (Busch Wildlife Area).  I'd stay with the sign. Weather won't be that nasty yet in MO to make food that high a priority. If several hunters were drawn for the hunt, their scouting, stand placement, and pre-dawn movement into the area will be enough to alert many deer to hunter pressure and they will move away from the easy access points.

Ditto on the above.

[DaveBriner]

Originally posted by ron w:
You drew a tag on a special hunt....so what's the issue. Go hunt the area ,have a good time and if you kill something you did good! If you don't you will probably learn something that may help you next time you are lucky to draw a spot!

Different folks enjoy different aspects of the hunt I guess, for me the planning and strategerizing is a whole heck of a lot of fun.

For instance, I got online, downloaded a topo, the satellite photo, and then the area map from the conservation department. I then marked the highest potential spots based on topographical features, cover, and distance/relation to access points.

While my 2 1/2 yr old daughter napped one afternoon, I went to the highest potential location and basically walked straight to the big buck sign I'd hoped to see.  It took me a grand total of 20min from the truck before I saw the huge rubs right in the funnel I'd found.  I spent the next hour checking the surrounding area for any additional pinches, etc. that might help or hurt stand location(s).  It's cool seeing how the knowledge I've accumulated over the last 25yrs has finally come together and started working for me.

Best,
Dave

[MrWinkles]

This thread is relevant to me.
Thanks for posting it.

[Mint]

I think 1.5 miles isa 15 minute walk for a deer so i think you are in the right spot. In fact I am hunting a similar spot where I hunt. I believe the deer are coming into my are and mulling around asa staging area and makingthe rubs etc until it gets dark and then a nice slow 15 minute walk gets them to the food source when it is dark.

[hvyhitter]

Is it a managed access hunt....limited people on certain days? or a managed area hunt were they close a public area for a few days to hunt it hard with many people and if its brown its down. Few people, relaxed deer....hunt the sign. Many people and deer moving...hunt the funnels.

[fredhill]

Originally posted by DaveBriner:
 

Originally posted by ron w:
You drew a tag on a special hunt....so what's the issue. Go hunt the area ,have a good time and if you kill something you did good! If you don't you will probably learn something that may help you next time you are lucky to draw a spot!

Different folks enjoy different aspects of the hunt I guess, for me the planning and strategerizing is a whole heck of a lot of fun.

For instance, I got online, downloaded a topo, the satellite photo, and then the area map from the conservation department. I then marked the highest potential spots based on topographical features, cover, and distance/relation to access points.

While my 2 1/2 yr old daughter napped one afternoon, I went to the highest potential location and basically walked straight to the big buck sign I'd hoped to see.  It took me a grand total of 20min from the truck before I saw the huge rubs right in the funnel I'd found.  I spent the next hour checking the surrounding area for any additional pinches, etc. that might help or hurt stand location(s).  It's cool seeing how the knowledge I've accumulated over the last 25yrs has finally come together and started working for me.

Best,
Dave [/b]

Dave,
 advise is generally worth what you pay for it but here goes. i've hunted this same managed hunt (i'm going to assume it's Busch) a few times with some success. there are no secrets in Busch. i can guarantee the sign you have found and the area it's in have been hunted over many times this season. and to be honest, if you have done any amount of serious scouting out there, there are only 1000 more spots that have crazy big buck sign. i mean it's everywhere.  there have already been two rounds of bowhunters in there, and two muzzleloader hunts by the time you are getting your crack at 'em. i am not trying to discourage you. your best chance at success is all day sits. people will bump those deer every day walking to and from their stands. and midday i have seen some people do small deer drives in there while i was hunting. IMO this is exactly what you want. stay put and people will jump deer and you might get your chance. those deer are hunkered down and will only move when stepped on. natural daytime movement is the exception not the rule. the thing is, there have been big ones shot far from the roads and within 100 yards of the road. that's the great thing about hunting there, they can be and are everywhere in that place.

[YORNOC]

Some good advice here. Here is mine: have a helluva time! Good luck, lets see the results when your done.

[Jake Fr]

i think i would stair step it i think in the mornings i would hunt a halfway spot and the afternoons hunt in the farback and eveings hunt the food