Patterning deer in large expanses of timberlands ?

[Bill Carlsen]

When there are lots of acorns one of the biggest problems is that they bed where they eat. If there are as many acorns as you imply then if you jump deer and they run off to another feeding area then they are not likely to return to where you jumped them. Why would they? They can stay where they are and not have to move at all. Some of my worst years hunting have been when there is really a lot of food for them in the woods. They can be anywhere and usually are. I'm not sure patterning them is possible. I would look for fresh sign in and around feeding areas and keep on the ground...try to move with them.

[John Scifres]

Hey Paul,

Here is the area we hunted last weekend.  Trail 10 is in the top right.  Campground in the center left.  See the saddles in the ridges.  That's where I key on.  Deer will definitely use them to move around especially in steep country like this.  The deer in this locale move off the woods about everyday also so it's really not as different as you may think. Take a look on Google Earth if you have it, you'll see what I mean.  The acorns definitely hurt movement this weekend.  Hunt here in the rut and you see a lot more deer moving.  I'll be there opening weekend of gun season and probably at least once more before then.

 

Here's the story of the pic above.     Darren\\'s Megatrack

[moleman]

Thanks for the great info. guys, next time i hit the Big Woods, ill be a a little wiser and a lot more aware of what to look for thanks to all the great posts.
Paul

[buckeye_hunter]

I like to look for a big structure the deer have to go around. This can be a sheer drop off, large pond or small lake. Generally the deer will use a well worn trail on one end or the other. I use Google Earth or topos to find these. This method has put me on deer the 1st time I have hunted areas that I had never been to before.