Deer hunting may be different this year!

[cavalierowner]

My hunting partner was up to our deer hunting area this past weekend and have things ever changed. It's public land and they were supposed to do a controlled burn this year. Between the state shutdown and the BWCA fire (it came within 8 miles of our area!) they didn't get to it. BUT, they did cut down ALL the brush and ALL trees less than about 2" diameter. You can now see for a LONG way. So first thing next week is off to tha range to check my rifle at 100 yards. We are thinking about stand placement now. My thinking is that we should be on the edge of the two big cedar swamps, as they are the only real cover left.

Anyone have any other thoughts about stand placement or strategy? I've been in the swamps a couple times in the past and driving them would be nearly impossible because they are so thick, big and wet. My buddy said there are lots of track and droppings, so the deer are somewhere, we just have to figure out where.

[gurkster]

Yes, it sounds like the edge cover is where you would want to be. This area could be great in a few years, with all the new growth coming in. It may even be great this year. I hope it works for you guys.

[nwhunter]

We had a logging company come in and clear cut about 80 acres from one of our areas about 10 years ago. We saw deer every year since, but about 3 years after the cut, they multiplied by about 5x.

We've always setup right along the edges of the cedars since the cut, well away from the normal pinch points we were accustomed to for many years. Edges allowed us to cover the field as well as anything cutting through the cedars along the swamp.

[reinhard1]

we had our area logged about three years ago. last year was the most deer we have seen and brought back two bucks and a big doe. i have hunted this area since the 60's and it's been logged before. logging is very positive for deer and other wildlife. we also had to put stands on the edges. good luck.

[cavalierowner]

Thaks for the comments! It should be interesting this year. I retired earlier this year, so I will be hunting 8 days. Hopefully I can figure out what the deer are doing and get some venison for the freezer.

[reinhard1]

enjoy your time out in the outdoors, and i hope also that you get some of the great venison. good luck.

[Steve Foss]

I'd also be placing stands along the edges of the cedar, but if you have time to scout a bit in advance, that will be a big plus. Also, stands along the edges will give you a clearer view of deer movements, so if you are flexible you can move those stands if needed.

It'll also be interesting to see if the clearing has caused deer to change their trail routes, as well as what impacts it might have on rub and scrape lines.

[cavalierowner]

We will be leaving the Cities at 5:30 a.m. Friday and will be up there by 10-ish to set up stands. My regular spot is about 100 yards from the edge of the cedar, so I may set up my portable in my regular tree, depending on what I see for sign. I may also see if I can find a kind of penninsula in the cedars that I can set up in and see both ways parallel down the edges.

I'm going out to the range tomorrow to check that I'm OK at 100 yards with both my rifle and muzzleloader. I have a feeling this whole rifle and ML season is up for grabs, but at least I have a lot of time to wander and look this year.

[nwhunter]

It'll also be interesting to see if the clearing has caused deer to change their trail routes, as well as what impacts it might have on rub and scrape lines.

Great point! That was one of the first things we checked, and it was amazing to see lines in places we didn't expect the first year after the cut. The deer in our area drastically changed how they moved around the area, but they stayed in their same bedding areas near the swamp inside of the cedars.