Why aren't I seeing deer ?????? Pics

[camoman]

I would hunt in the center of of that thick patch of woods to the west of stand 1. I generally look at the satellite view a little further out and see where the thick woods make funnels and hunt around the funnels inside the woods. I only hunt very small clearings no more than a 40 yard view. It has worked pretty good for me so far. I also try to hunt on weekends when there is no moon. Where we are (Texas) they feed at night when there is enough light to see by.  Get there before first light and give a grunt at first light. Just my two cents. Good luck.

[robtattoo]

Thanks for all the help so far folks. I guess I ought to think about hunting different areas.

Just a few clarifications...

The 'Wind' arrow was supposed to point in the direction of the prevailing wind across the peninsula. I've avoided that side altogether as I didn't want to stink up the bedding areas.

I may have understated the size of the area. After doing a few quick sums, it's nearer 90 acres than 50!

The thick wooded areas you can see around the perimiter of the peninsula are very, very steep slopes. The centre-line of the peninsula is about 600 feet above the water level.

We have seen absolutly no tracks running along the slopes (there is one small 'bench' running along the extreme North shore that's had a little activity) only up & down & even then, not many.

We jumped lots & lots of deer in the honeysuckles whilst scouting, both in the mornings & afternoons, so we know they're there. We've also seen 4 different bucks (a 10 point that my go 150ish, 2 8 pointers & a sixer, right on the very tip of the peninsula (whilst bass fishing earlier in the year)

It's a ½ hour drive, ½ hour boat ride from my house, plus the time it takes to get to my stand (20 minutes, give or take, so I don't make too much noise or get to sweaty) so I'm favoring late morning or afternoon hunts. Sunup is around 5:45 & getting up at 3:30 in 20º weather is as much fun as it sounds!

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Lay out some corn and see if it is being eaten. You can also use sewing string to mark trails and if the string is broke then some thing walked by. Also the way the string is laying will tell you which way they where walking..

[robtattoo]

Originally posted by mysticguido:
Lay out some corn and see if it is being eaten.

I'm WAY too pretty for jail!  

[**DONOTDELETE**]

didn't know it was illegal, but I don't mean to be used as a bait pile.

[robtattoo]

LOL! I understand what you mean Sal, however the TWRA are really strict about any corn on the ground during season. Even if you're nowhere near it, they'll still ticket you if you're in the same area.

[Benjy]

Rob, It sounds like your deer are bedding in the "grocery" store with no real reason to move very far.

I hate to say it but I would ease into those honeysuckle bedding areas and set up a stand if anyway possible. Also when you and your friend hunt, one of you should come out 30 minutes later than the other in the mornings and in the afternoon one go in 30 minutes earlier. Thats what we call at our hunting lease "use your buddy as a dog" tactic.

Glad you are enjoying deer hunting!

Benjy

[YORNOC]

Really excited for one of you guys to tag something in there. You're definitely working hard at it.

[darb]

Rob,
Benjy hit on what would be my recommendation. I used to have a somewhat similar situation. I finally just setup dead in the middle of the honeysuckle.  Saw a lot more deer. Shot opportunities were often reduced, but when they presented themselves they were close.

Also wonder how the winds/thermals are effecting your area.  Have found that crazy changes in terrain, steep ridges with benches sometimes alter what is the expected norm in wind patterns.

And if all else fails and your not "feeling" good about the spot then move. Good luck.

[J-dog]

Originally posted by robtattoo:
 

Originally posted by mysticguido:
Lay out some corn and see if it is being eaten.

I'm WAY too pretty for jail!      [/b]

Thats funny right there!  :D  

No advice here - looks like a great place though.

Jason

[dposalski]

I am gonna throw in some ideas from a total newbie at hunting deer.  In other words, I haven't done it yet.  I read one of the other threads that Elk drink twice a day.  Are deer the same way?  I see a couple trails on your map that lead to the water.  Are these a possibility.  Take it from a stupid newbie.    

[boznarras]

This is a good thread to read. It is a good way to share tactics and learn in a practical setting.
It would be interesting to see more aerial/topo/google views of other areas that folks are trying to hunt, and hear explanations of what logic everyone applies to where they would set up, like was done here.
Plus maybe a follow up of where & when a kill was made afterwards. And of course, a picture!
Be sure to post when you connect so we can see what worked. Good luck.

[LC]

Well heres some of my thoughts  on your situation. Now granted I've never hunted deer in your area and deer are definately different acting in different locals.

I think you've got a very remote, large, secure bedding area deer are obviously using. Not sure on your honeysuckle but sure its a good food source scattered throughout that makes it even harder to hunt. But I would think that there are other food sources, you mentioned some or a few oaks but they are gone now.I've hunted several places like this in the past and they were TUFF! Obviously your best bet is to hunt the oaks when and if they hit. I've actually kept a eye on areas just like yours and only hunted them hard when the oaks were dropping. Now that might be evey other year or up to four years apart if a late spring frost hits. Not to get into a bait bashing thread but I hate it when baiters say it's no different than baiting while hunting over oaks. Like I've said I actually have hunted some areas only every few years just waiting for a apple tree or oak tree to hit.  Where as baiting can be hunted every year all season long, but enough on that, thats why I wear out several boots a year. Scouting late summer with a good pair of binoculars can tell you along with past experience if and where to hunt there that year.Places like yours will be unbelivable places to hunt undistrubed deer in the early season with a hot concentrated food source. Baiting is legal in my area and I hate it. With that said I know it's illegal in your area but I wonder if the fancy homes you mention don't feed? I just killed a late season doe on private property that were feeding at a fancy home feeder on adjoining property. The property I have permission to hunt actually borders it within 40 yards of the feeder. But I was probably 400 or 500yards away close to a laurel thicket where I could catch them meandering around during daylight hours.

 Another place I hunt like yours is roughly 200 acres with maybe 10 oak trees on the entire property. Feast or famine,but boy the feast years are outstanding! Other wise you can hunt all day and hardly see a deer in range.

Finally some of your photos I'm guessing are "late" season photos. Around my parts shortly after blaze organe season starts family units from all around will congregate in a secure area during this mad season and go totally nocturnal. This can happen during bow season on some public places also. Great for bowhunting then but when the pressure lets off those deer desperse and your left with "tons" of sign but they are no longer  tons of dere there now.

Lastly forgive me if it sounds wrong but it sounds like your hunting one partial day only every once in awhile. In a area like yours the deer are despersed and you might have to hunt it several days in a row to see results. I don't like to overhunt a stand either but if I've scouted it out and it's convinced me to hunt it I hunt it hard 3 days. That can be tuff if it's a not easily accessed place such as yours. Otherwise it's down to hunting draws, or funnels even if you have to "make" some with brush etc or if like your area thats already thick selectively trim some limbs through the thick areas to make a easy access trail for the deer. Deer love easy access trails. On one place the old farmer got so old that his fields didn't get brush hogged so in the summer I'd take my blade weed eater and make several trails considering wind etc to a good tree stand location. Man it looked like intersates come hunting season.Doesn't take much "trimming" in a thicket with pruners to do the same thing. Good luck sounds like a good place to hunt for sure. Final thought IF I've hunted several days in what I think is a prime area and I've not seen deer I will tromp around in prime time to jump deer and see where they are! I then file that info in this pea brain of mine for future use.

[ber643]

Maybe you're just related to me - and we didn't know it, rob - sorry.

(I know, you were serious - but you had lots of good answers to think about, and I just couldn't help myself, after my 4th or 5th terrible year in a row. The good news is, with any luck we'll get another chance next year.)

[mnbwhtr]

You don't need a $500 camera to find out when the deer are moving. I may be old fashioned but those $10 string timers work great for me but I'm old maybe they don't even make them anymore.

[Longbowwally]

I agree with RC - hunt off the end of those inlets. Also,it looks like the thick stuff is pretty close to the lake - if you're using a boat with a motor to get to your spot, I'd beach the boat as far from where I'm hunting as possible as the deer are gonna know you're there from the boat noise...I know its hard to get out of a boat without making some noise with your equipment, etc. so I'd be real particular about that also...

If all else fails, I'd be tempted to try a soft push - have someone come in from the area above the peninsulas(at the top of your pics above stand1), pushing(very slowly) the deer down toward someone on stand down near the inlets or peninsula...

[VTer]

I'd put a stand on the east side of that trail intersection that is south of stand 1. Also early spring, I'd be in there with some pruners cutting a trail to and from your stand location thru the honeysuckle on a east-west axis. Nothing wide, just enough to make it easy walking for both you and the deer. Getting to your stand from the east side and watching the deer come down the trail you've made from the west. Then I'd beef up the buck pole before the season opens.