Stand location

[minnesotahusker]

I hunt in SE MN not far from Rochester and the beans were just picked in the last 3 days. Since then, the deer activity has dropped. I have my stand on the corner of the bean field right next to a heavily used trail that has gone somewhat dormant recently. Where would a better area be to put my stand? I've notice they are starting to stay in the heavily covered areas since the beans are gone. Try that area first?

[cupper]

Welcome to the October Lull.

My first instinct would be to look for some mature oaks that have fresh sign (droppings/tracks). The deer may be hitting the acorns in your area now that the beans are gone. If there aren't any good looking oaks around... move back into the timber about 100 yds and see if you find anything.

[96trigger]

Corn fields and/or alfalfa fields that are obout 6 to 10 inches high. The deer are still feeding in them pretty heavy. The bean field is dead and I would probably move.

[vister]

corn! if there was acorns in the area, they would have had them before beans. deer need carbs, and is the time of the year they are looking for them.

[minnesotahusker]

I've noticed them traveling about 100 yards up into the woods lately, right on the ridge that runs the whole area. There are oaks that have been dropping acorns all over the area and I haven't been able to pinpoint a specific area that they're feeding in. I'll try moving my stand to where I am hearing them run lately. Thanks for the input fellas.

[minnesotahusker]

Do they eat chestnuts at all? The area that I've been seeing them in has a chestnut tree that's dropping it's nuts(i think it's a chestnut tree)

[minnesotahusker]

Thanks for the advice on where I should put my stand. I moved it last night and had a doe and a buck come by shortly after. This morning, I had 5 does come by, group of 2 and 3. Sadly to say I missed the big doe of the group of 3, but she'll be back.

[cupper]

Good adjustment. Glad to hear it's paying off!

[UdeLakeTom]

They eat nuts....acorns, hazelnuts...etc. So chestnuts are good.

[vister]

what terrain did you move your setup to?

[minnesotahusker]

I moved it about 100 yards in from the bean field onto the ridge that runs the length of the area that I hunt. There's an old logging road that they use pretty heavy and that's what the 3 does come down, running into the wind and the mom stopped at 10 yards after she caught my scent, but didn't spook. I watched them here last year during the start of the rut and this is the area the does head into in the morning and have watched some nice bucks chasing does during that time last year. Hopefully tonight will be the night to put one down.