standing corn hunting

[jim phenes]

fellas and gals, we had our farmer crop rotate from hay to corn this year he doesn't plan on combining it until late November. all of my good deer spots seem to have went bad. I know those deer are in the corn. I have hunted the edges with minimal sightings and zero success. I have taken one yearling on a trail in the woods but the mature deer seem to be hiding in the corn. I have heard of guys hunting the rows but on dry days it's almost impossible to not make noise. any good suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[abbatoys]

Stalking the corn is tough. But can be done with slow and slower moving. Using the wind is a must also. I have never been successful at it as my patience isn't as good as it should be. Best of luck.

[23feetupandhappy]

On those windy days where you about get blown out of the tree, those are the days to stay on the ground and stalk through a standing corn field.

The wind blowing through the corn masks all the noise you make  

[Bob B.]

The hardest part of hunting corn is anymore they plant the stalks so close together to get the most yield form the every acre, it is real hard to walk between the stalks.  I used to stick my head slowly into the next row, look right, left, then step through - repeat.  Pretty hard to do now - way too tight of fit.

Good luck to you.

Bob.

[jim phenes]

that's my issue the rows are so tight its hard to walk and look down rows. I guess its just find the sign and in and outs and hang a climber if possible. I did have a doe come face to face with me the other night going from corn to woods good sign a few rubs trail goes to cat tails and creek. I know what I need to do was just hoping someone may have a trick up there sleeve

[ranger 3]

I don't know if the rows are tighter or I'm fatter.  

[Tim Finley]

I've walked many corn fields and never seem to see anything ! Here in ND unless it is the late season which is after the gun season and there is usually snow the deer don't go into corn very often they prefer the cattail sloughs . Corn rows have gotten smaller from 36" down to 30 and some at 22". But if you have a sunflower field and a corn field side by side the corn field will be empty but the flowers may have many deer. I think the corn is too noisy .

[YosemiteSam]

Don't know much about hunting cornfields.  But I wouldn't walk through an area that is so thick that I wouldn't have a shot if I came up on a deer.  If I can't get my bow up and clear of the brush with a clear path for my arrow to travel, what would be the point?

As for noise, that's more manageable, although tedious.  As some have stated, walking only as the wind blows is fun -- audible camouflage, as I tell my boys.  With just a slight breeze pulsing around the mountains this year, I took almost an hour to close a 100-yard gap to about 7 before I discovered my quarry was a doe (illegal here).  She still didn't bust me until I went back for my pack much more carelessly.  I was walking through an open meadow but behind cover.  The grass was noisy (not like a cornfield, I'll grant) but I just waited for the wind to hit the aspens before taking each step.  I love a good stalk.

Asbell's "woods walking" trick seems like it may help as well.  Quiet may be impossible but deceptively harmless sounds may be doable.

[olddogrib]

Watch "Bowhunting October Whitetails".

[DWT]

second october whitails, great corn hunting tips

[drewsbow]

I hunt corn on windy days and use bino's to check as far as possible in each row.

[frank bullitt]

Love corn!

Just after a rain and always before a front, dead calm, are my my most succesful!

Look for wood points, well used waterways.
The good bucks here, will push a hot doe into corn, if still standing!
Late mornings in the rut has been exciting for me!