Could use some tips for hunting does near a thick bedding area.

[insttech1]

Here's some (maybe too much!!) info:

Small public state park, which consistently holds deer in a 6-acre thicket which is surrounded by open overgrown grass fields, and small chunks of woodlots, leading to larger woodlots, and some lakes.

Runways literally everywhere, and all the brush in the thicket, as far as the grasses go, are at least 4' tall right now, or higher.

The deer don't seem to consistently come in/out in one exact spot, as far as I've been able to tell, for the last few years I've hunted it.  They don't even seem to be influenced by the wind direction in relation to their travels, at times anyway...

I've been on them for 3 nights now with no shots.  I've been busted once, and had a doe blow from deep within the thicket last night, but not sure if it was at me, or something else.

Small game hunters come thru at times with no regularity or specific direction of travel, so the deer are relatively used to being pushed out.

I am on the ground, and usually set up a stool embedded a few yards into a thicket and brush myself in.  They typically don't come out unless the weather is very cloudy and cold, or it is getting right near dark.

I've even started to take a handful of corn in a baggie, and toss a handful in a shooting lane, hopefully to at least stop something in my lane, which can be very narrow.  If they take a few steps out of it, I risk shooting into thick grasses, which I won't do.  Works for the yearlings, but has yet to work on mature animals; however what little I do throw out is always gone by the next night.

I'm also not leaving a bait pile out there, which is legal, but alerts more idiot public-land hunters to my presence so they can come set up right next to me after they find out I know where the deer are at....has happened many times out there.

And you can walk into this "thicket" starting 3 yards off a major road in the park.  The deer can be bedded in there as close to 15 yards from the road, and out to about 150 yards before the end of the thicket.  Then it parallels the road for about 200 yards.

You can hear people's conversations as they walk by on the road...and the music in their cars, etc...but hey, this IS where the deer are!

So I guess here are some questions:
Should I try a low bleat?
Should I abandon the corn idea to stop them in a lane?
I would "rest" the area for a few days, but I know small game hunters won't!  Ideas?
Should I set up further away?
Should I try and sneak into the very deep spots?
If it's wet, I can...if it's dry, not so well...

Any thoughts and ideas would be great!!

Thanks All!!!
Marc

[insttech1]

ttt

[vermonster13]

When do they work their way back into the thicket in the morning? Maybe getting in there well be fore first light and waiting for them to come back to bed will give you better results.

[pseman]

Well it's hard for me to get a good picture of the place in my head without seeing it, but my gut instinct would be to do just what you are doing except I would try multiple set-ups on different trails/runs(whichever the wind will allow). The deer may use some of the other trails prior to dark. Also, can you hunt in the morning? You might catch them coming back to their beds from feeding at night.

Search for food sources in the nearby woodlots and backtrack trails to the thicket. Hunt these trails based on when the deer are using the food sources the most.

You may have already done some/all of this, but hopefully this will help.

Good luck,

Mark

[John Scifres]

Public land deer on small plots are smart if they are hunted.  They will stay nocturnal most of the time.  The rut will help but forced movement might be your best bet.  Do a small push through the thicket with a couple friends.  Take it nice and slow.  On public lands, I often use my fellow hunters as drivers.  But the deer aren't going to bust out of the thicket.  They know where they are safe.

[ishiwannabe]

I would find an escape route, and hunt it on the weekend when there is a decent chance of small gamers helping you out.

[insttech1]

All excellent ideas.

As for mornings, that is mostly out due to work schedules.  However, when I did do mornings last year, I found them already bedded (but closer to the road), and was busted just trying to get in.

I like the escape route idea, and have an idea of a transition area that may work for that...

And I think you're right about busting out, John...I've seen them sneak out last year when pushed, and bust out last year when shots went off from small game guys in the thicket, but at least one or two circled back around...

I think we may get some light rain tonight, and/or cloud cover, so I'll see if I can come from the other side of the thicket tonight and set up.

Oh and as far as food sources, they have multiples with farm fields within a 1/2 mile, acorns in the woods, grasses in the fields, etc...but it's still hard to pattern which one they are heading to, as it seems that they make up their mind based upon whether or not they get pushed around by people within the park on any given day...if that makes sense??

Thanks All!
Marc

[insttech1]

Oh yeah any ideas on subtle bleat calling??

[ChuckC]

Try it like the Wensels with a controlled push, or even, take your description to your advantage.  

If there are small game hunters thru there all the time, then be a small game hunter with another person.   Walk in with them, to a spot off a main trail, then have them keeop on walking.  That may move the deer a bit and it leaves you in the middle with them thinking the people left.

You are right, tyhey are near people every day and are not QUITE an spooked by their presence.
ChuckC

[vermonster13]

A fawn distress call might pull one out for you and a coyote or two.

[insttech1]

Good tips guys--thanks!!

[bluegill]

Marc,

I have killed does using the fawn bleet especially early season, the maternal instinct works to your advantage. The downside to this is when they come it it is generally on a run and they are alert and looking hard, tough to draw on a majority of the time but it is fun.

When I lived in Pennsy I have hunted a similar bedding area as you have described and typically hunted the edges rather than the heart of the area. However, I have walked in with grouse hunters and set up after they went throught the area and killed deer sneaking back into their beds.

Good Luck
Sean

[insttech1]

Thanks Sean--I have heard many a bleat come out of that area, and lots of little ones usually show up shortly after...even some that just won't stop calling!!  I think there are a couple of orphans hanging out in there already, maybe from losing momma to a car crash...

Couple more hours and we'll see how it goes...took my 11-year-old daughter with me last night and she was quiet as a mouse....cool!!

She even said "Daddy, just a few more minutes!!" when I said it was time to walk out...

Gotta go check the weather...

Thanks,
Marc

[ChuckC]

If you do a bleat, you might want to come up with a reasonable decoy so mama can see a "fawn" and look at it instead of you.  Even a fawn colored jacket rolled up and laying ten yards away might give you an advantage.
ChuckC

[insttech1]

Good idea Chuck--I have a tan one that may work.

Thanks!!!
Marc