When deer sign isn't as evident...

[cflhunter]

My brother in-law and I have recently joined a new lease. We have spent many hours in the woods walking the property lines and making ourselves aware of areas that other hunters our currently hunting. We are both fairly new to hunting, we're not seasoned as many of you are on this forum.

Would you mind giving me some suggestions? During this time when the woods are green and deer sign isn't as easy to distinguish, what is the best way to determine where we should be setting up stands for next season? We do have a few trail cameras that we are monitoring, however, we have no previous knowledge of the history of the property. By that I mean we're not sure where deer travel throughout the property. We have been fortunate enough to recognize a few old scrape lines. Fresh tracks are getting harder to find as we are currently in our dry season. It's difficult to bait with food sources such as corn troughs and feeders because we end up attracting bears. Therefore, our trail cameras have not provided us with much assistance. I have experimented with Google Earth in hopes of acquiring some aerial views of the property. All I can seem to do is view all of the pine rows and cuts of timbers. Pinch points, funnels, and other similar pieces of terrain are difficult to locate using this program.

Sorry for the long post. Any suggestions on where to start or some tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your time.

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

Hi, welcome to the forums.

I don't know where you're hunting, but based on your statement about bears, I'd guess you're in the northern part of the country. Just a general suggestion on how to get started, find an elevated vantage point with a good view of the surrounding country and spend some time looking for deer movement at a distance. Early and late will probably be the best times. Once you locate some deer, then take it from there.

One other thing to keep in mind - the deer's patterns will probably change dramatically between now and next Fall. Try to find out where the best food sources will be located when hunting season gets here and then give those areas a good look.

[cflhunter]

Texan, thanks for the reply. I'm actually from the central Florida area. We have problems with Florida black bears all the time. Using corn will simply ruin your desired hunting grounds due to the bears. That being said, elevated vantage points are non existent in our neck of the woods. I should have mentioned this. Sorry...thanks for the tips however.

[Leo]

Texan, thanks for the reply. I'm actually from the central Florida area. We have problems with Florida black bears all the time. Using corn will simply ruin your desired hunting grounds due to the bears. That being said, elevated vantage points are non existent in our neck of the woods. I should have mentioned this. Sorry...thanks for the tips however.

You also have to deal with pigs and that's not as desirable as some may imagine.

The flatter terrain of central Florida has relatively zero terrain based pinch points and funnels. Similar to where I hunt in South Carolina. Most of the funnels are vegetation related. Specifically where one kind of vegetation starts and another ends. IE. Planted Pines end and hardwood starts. Often deer follow the zone in between the two types of vegetation. They follow that transition zone. It's a good place to look for "rub lines". If you can find where one type gets near a creek sometimes this forms a "soft" funnel. Sometimes there is a crossing there. Sometimes not. But these places are often activity hubs where deer go through.

[wildthing]

maybe see if you can get a topo map to get a general layout of the land.

[Sam16]

there are several websites that offer aerial photos and topo maps, such as terraserver.com. They try to make you buy a hard copy, but you can view your land on the computer for free. I usually just keep it as a bookmark and refer back to it when i need it. What i like to do when evaluating the land is to obviously find where the food will be come october. But other than that, find the extremely thick areas that would serve as good bedding areas. I like to set up near these for morning hunts, and in between them and the food for the evenings. Try to keep your disturbances to a minimum, but it's better to disturb them now than in september. I would say just stick to getting familiar with the land and you'll start to piece it together.

[cflhunter]

Thanks for the suggestions...much appreciated!

[BearClaw]

Without the elevated land, I'd put some stands up and just sit and glass early and late. Also may want to try mineral blocks by the cameras. I have the same problem with bears here in Western Maryland. I don't even put my feeder up anymore (private land). Mineral blocks bring the deer in for my trail camera shots.

[cflhunter]

Thanks for the tip Bearclaw. That's one thing I've never tried. Leo, I can identify with the terrain that you're referring to in your post. I have found a few of these "vegetation transitions" that you speak of. We have approached two different areas that transition from pine rows to palmetto flats, or a row of oaks bordering the pines.

What about areas that consist of tall grasses? For example, there a few "cuts" that are bordered by pines or other small hardwoods. Would you setup on the edge of this transition, or, would you attempt to find a noticeable travel route and setup just inside the tree line?

What's going to be a deer's primary food source in terrain such as this? It's not like the lease includes large food plots or feeders. The only natural food that I know to look for would be acorns. What other foods do you focus on in your areas? Berries, other foliage? On tv and in magazine articles you always hear or read about setting up ambush stands in between primary food sources. What if these "primary food sources" don't simply STAND OUT as they do on pieces of farmland or other lands that are professionally managed for their deer herds?

[Leo]

Thanks for the tip Bearclaw. That's one thing I've never tried. Leo, I can identify with the terrain that you're referring to in your post. I have found a few of these "vegetation transitions" that you speak of. We have approached two different areas that transition from pine rows to palmetto flats, or a row of oaks bordering the pines.

What about areas that consist of tall grasses? For example, there a few "cuts" that are bordered by pines or other small hardwoods. Would you setup on the edge of this transition, or, would you attempt to find a noticeable travel route and setup just inside the tree line?

What's going to be a deer's primary food source in terrain such as this? It's not like the lease includes large food plots or feeders. The only natural food that I know to look for would be acorns. What other foods do you focus on in your areas? Berries, other foliage? On tv and in magazine articles you always hear or read about setting up ambush stands in between primary food sources. What if these "primary food sources" don't simply STAND OUT as they do on pieces of farmland or other lands that are professionally managed for their deer herds?

Finding a travel route and setting up just inside the trees is a good strategy.

Acorns are a good natural food source and they spoil quite rapidly down here in the heat. Hunt only where you hear the acorns actively dropping and save yourself wondering if they are fresh enough. Persimmons, and date palms with fruit can be especially good early season. Later in the season when acorns are less plentiful deer like blackberry briar leaves, honeysuckle, and green briar.

[buckee]

Pinch points, funnels, and other similar pieces of terrain are a good place to start, but you should be able to find some well worn game trails, that the deer travel from bedding area to feeding area on a regular basis. My suggestion is to follow these through the bush, and get to know their travel routes well, so you know how they use the are. I like to set up where 2 or more game trails intersect. It just increases your chances more for seeing and having more opportunities.

Welcome to the forums.

[Tominator]

One or two things that came to mind right off. Get a topo and arial photo of the area. Google earth is pretty good, this will kind of narrow down funnels, bedding areas, pinch points, etc. and will give you a starting point. One piece of evidence you can see year round is rubs. I've seen some trees that get rubbed year after year.

[fly]

Great suggestions so far.

One thing I'll add:

You said other hunters will be close to the area you hunt. Chances are they'll be bumping deer on their way in. If you can find cover the deer will flee to set up there prior to the times the other hunters arrive and you may be in the chips.

[Hoyt03]

It's def easier to scout when the woods are dead and wide open and easier to see. From here on out you will be able to see the main trails deer are using b/c of the heavy foilage a trail that is being used will be easily located b/c it will be stomped down. However you are going to be seeing deer in the summer patterns which may not be where they'll be come fall. Don't expect to find the "best" spot right away. Over a season of hunting the place smart and hard the deer will let you know where you'll need to be. It took me one full season to basically learn a new property I had access to and fine tuned my approach that second year. That being said though I still took deer.

[cflhunter]

Good point hoyt03...thanks for the reply.