Opinions Wanted

[Marshallrobinson]

My wife and I have found an outstanding location for whitetails this year and have constructed ground blinds at two positions that are within 200 yards of each other (as the crow flies) and I have an issue now.
The wind is not going to be as has been the case in past years. We are getting a north wind whereas it is generally south. The north wind isn't an issue for the 2nd stand, which is further into the wood but that puts the 1st stand sitters scent stream, directly to the 2nd stand.
The question is, do you think the distance between the two will make this irrelevant? or do you think the best course of action is for the 1st stand to be left vacant, in order to not mess up the 2nd stand?.

Thanks for your thoughts on this. This is a morning location with temps starting at 50 degrees and rising to 78 for this first day. Deer normally enter stand area roughly 1 hour after first light.

Deer passing first stand are not passing second stand. Two different deer, using two different bedding area's.

[Panzer]

If it were me I would build several blinds in the area and rotate them. You are going to leave scent behind no matter how careful you are, and it won't take the deer long to pattern you, so keep them guessing by moving to different blinds if possible.JMO

[Marshallrobinson]

The way we have it set up, we will only be hitting this area once a week. I am hoping that we have enough good area's to where we can rotate once a week, 4 days of every week....which is more stands than we have time to hunt. All the stands have been created so that on any given wind, we have a place to go.
This one place works on both north and south winds as long as the variable is east and thats why I am asking about it.

If everyone feels that 200 yards is not enough space between stands (given wind direction) to avoid detection, then only one of us will hunt the furthest stand on the down wind side.
I truly have no idea of what distance one should be from a deer's nose, in relation to scent, as dispersed to a satisfactory degree.

[kevsuperg]

i dont think i'd worry about it.
 if a deer gets behind the first hunter, he may move farther downwind to avoid them.
 that may put the deer closer to the second hunter.
 i also think that any deer near the second blind
shouldnt be overly concerned by the first hunters scent stream at 200 yds .
 as the wind swirls and shifts,i imagine the scent should be spreading out and getting diluted somewhat.
 the deer can tell how far away that danger is.

[Marshallrobinson]

Thanks for your thoughts on the matter


 

Originally posted by kevsuperg:
i dont think i'd worry about it.
 if a deer gets behind the first hunter, he may move farther downwind to avoid them.
 that may put the deer closer to the second hunter.
 i also think that any deer near the second blind
shouldnt be overly concerned by the first hunters scent stream at 200 yds .
 as the wind swirls and shifts,i imagine the scent should be spreading out and getting diluted somewhat.
 the deer can tell how far away that danger is.

[Gen273]

I agree with Kevin above, but I would still build at least one more blind on the property that is farther away from the first two and suitable for a south wind.

Good luck

Charlie

[Marshallrobinson]

Thanks.
These stands are in a transition zone between feeding and bedding, so in a north you hunt it in the morning and in a south, you hunt it in the evening.
As long as the consensus is that 200 yards is ample room, then we are good  

Thanks again for your thoughts on this matter. So far, I am feeling good by what I have heard.
(now watch 20 people say it's too close!  :D  )


 

Originally posted by Gen273:
I agree with Kevin above, but I would still build at least one more blind on the property that is farther away from the first two and suitable for a south wind.

Good luck

Charlie

[reddogge]

The only way you will know if it works is to do it. No one on here knows for sure.

[Marshallrobinson]

I would be surprised if we didn't have a deer behavior specialist here. Or at least someone better read than myself on the biological facts pertaining to the whitetail. That seems to be all the rage anymore. I just haven't had a need to follow the research up until  now.  

[hvyhitter]

Depends on if the deer are "used" to human scent. Deer in and around farmlands dont "spook" when scenting people but will use stealth to avoid contact. Deer in more remote areas or heavily presured tend to react on a whole different level and go into full escape mode......... You might get away with your stand set up if the deer are not so skittish...........

[Marshallrobinson]

Originally posted by hvyhitter:
Depends on if the deer are "used" to human scent. Deer in and around farmlands dont "spook" when scenting people but will use stealth to avoid contact. Deer in more remote areas or heavily presured tend to react on a whole different level and go into full escape mode......... You might get away with your stand set up if the deer are not so skittish...........

That is a good point and one that I considered. This area is abut to a public lake and I mean abutted to it as in, it makes up the shore. The stands are near shoreline as well so could be that we might be able to pull this off. Still and all...A bit concerned. Enough so that I figured asking would be worthwhile.

Thanks.