What do I gotta do?

[Kyle]

I went out on sunday, sat from noon to dark. Nothing. Tons of tracks. Im sitting on the edge of a corn field that still has standing corn. There is bedding area that starts about 30yds from the corn, and then goes on for another 1/4 of a mile. I know these deer are coming out and walking around where Im sitting, but they must being doing it at night. I sat again last night and didnt see anything. What do I gotta do to get a deer with my bow? Im sitting on the ground, and have white camo on, and there is no way for a deer to come in from my back side because it is far to thick for even a squirrel to get through. You gotta see this spot, its absolutely awsome, but I cannot get a deer to come out! Ive tried calling, and that didnt do anything either. Any suggestions(other than just, "keep doing what your doing")?

[sticknstring]

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You gotta see this spot, its absolutely awsome

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I just can't seem to visualize what the spot might look like, perhaps you could invite me over so I can see it firsthand???

The deer are there. The tracks prove it. Depending how much hunting pressure the area has had - it could stictly be nocturnal movement. They also may be bedding in the corn itself. Have you tried a morning hunt? Today would be a great day to be out with the snow encouraging all-day movement. Make sure to play the wind as to not blow 'em outta there. They're there... be persistent - you'll find em!

[woody1975]

Another option may be to hunt it in the middle of the day. There have been many times when the deer have been moving during the heart of the day, especially when it is cold out.

Good Luck!

DL

[so haaad]

Standing corn?!? If you've got standing corn then it may also be the bedding area, too. Especially in nasty weather. If you can get the chance, try a (corn) stalk hunt tomorrow after this snow stops. It's best to stalk right after a storm, because the snow is still quiet and not crunchy..

[Tippman]

Hunter, I know the answer you didn't want is keep doing what your doing, but that may also be one of the most important. Sounds like you just started hunting here and need to give it some time. This time of year for me the deer seem to have their periods of activity more pronounced than earlier season. I'll go many times sitting without seeing deer, but usually when I do see deer, I see many in the same sitting. They are also grouped up more this time of year, so those tracks could have been made from a group of does and fawns strolling around. Would be nice to have a clearer image of the area you're sitting.

Like, S&S said they cetainly could be moving nocturnally also. This time of year that is easy to figure out without a trail cam. Deer show up very easily against the white snow at night if you put in a little time from a distance away. Another thing to do is make a foot path through the snow between the bedding and feeding area when you leave, if upon returning in the morning the deer tracks are over yours you know they are moving at night.

ps. I tried e-mailing you twice earlier about duck hunting, both times it came back to me. Did you get permission to deer hunt a new spot?

[Stratosman]

probably a stupid question but are you watching wind direction?? This time of year if they even sense something is wrong they will not show themselves.

How big is the corn field? Like someone else mentioned, pick a real windy day and try to stalk it. Might be hard if there is any crust on the snow like around me though...if not give it a try.

Also hope for fridgid temperatures. And hunt evenings. This gets deer moving pre darkeness, the colder the better. Sometimes standing corn can be a curse as well as a blessing. If they are comfortable in there and the adjacent woods lacks thick bedding areas, then there is no reason for them to show up outside the corn.

Good news is there are still deer there and that corn will continue to not only hold deer but attract other deer as well. Find travel routes and set up as far in the woods from the corn field as you can without bumping deer from any potential bedding areas, have you seen beds in only 30 yards from the edge?

Keep up the persistance!

[bigbucks]

I think the other thing to remember is the deer don't necessarily come every day. I've had that happen before they weren't out on a field in seemingly the same conditions one night & the next night the landowner tells me they were there. Stay at it, do what you know is right & don't second guess yourself too much.

[charliepete2]

If you don't pressure them, deer get back on pretty regular schedules in the late season after the gun seasons close. Many times you can set your clock by their patterns if you don't interupt them with you scent or presence.

In the late season I'll set up viewing stands 40 ft up a tree on the downwind side of a field, glass and identify the hot trails and times, and then slip in and kill a deer within a few minutes of the time I'd seen it the day before.

Early season and late season are both great times to kill a deer for a guy who wants to do a little homework and pick his spots.

[Kyle]

Tippman-

I never did receive those e-mails. And, no I did not get permission. I am hunting a spot that I hunted early on. I have hunted it other years but never late. There usually is no standing corn, so now that there is, I thought I would get out and give it a try.

[Kyle]

I came down with a bad cold yesterday and am probably not gonna be able to get back out there until it passes. This is the one thing about december that I hate. Cold viruses really get in the way. I will try a morning hunt this weekend if I can though/or if Im feeling better on wednesday.

[SM1]

I might have to tell my boss I came down with a bad cold in the morning with all this late season talk. I dont know if I will be able to wait until the weekend to hunt.

[delmuts]

i should have posted this earlier, but

a simple trick to help pattern when deer are moving on the trails is to run a pc. of thread accross the trail.( tie one end but lave the other draped over a branch or something so as a deer comes down the trail, it will pull the thread.) you can do this in the morning, and when you come back in the afternoon, check to see if the thread is still accross the trail or not.this will help with knowing if they are moving during the day! del

[LABS4ME]

and you know which way the deer was traveling by the direction the string is laying... good ol' trick we used to use before the advent of trail cameras. Thanks for reminder us of this old trick!

Good Luck!

Ken

[sticknstring]

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I'll set up viewing stands 40 ft up a tree

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[BLACKJACK]

Not to be a smarta$$ but thats why they call it hunting!!!

My guess is that its a combination of the deer being spooked from the hunting season - remember muzzleloaders are still blasting away - and you're busting them out of their beds close to the cornfield.

You never said, how big is this cornfield? The suggestions to do a daytime hunt in the corn sound good if its big enough.

I don't like your idea of a morning hunt unless you can find a spot inbetween the corn and their bedding area, if you try to hunt the corn edge in the morning you'll just run them out of the corn, probably without seeing them. In my corn plot, I sit down with my morning coffee and count the deer as it gets light. For a morning hunt you need to intercept them on the way back into cover and their bedding area.

You have a lot of time left, four weekends, that corn will keep pulling them in. Take a day this weekend and just scout for a couple of hours midday, verify where they might be bedding, and look for a couple of spots to hunt between the corn and their bedding areas. Then play the wind, don't over hunt your spot, and plan on harvesting one sometime around Christmas. Good luck!!

[Kyle]

good thoughts. I guess I'll have to reconsider doing a morning hunt afterall. I do believe there is an area that I could get to that would be good with the bow. It is in the totally opposite direction from the corn, and I gotta think they are bedding somewhere between that and the corn. The corn field isnt that big. Maybe 2-3 acres of it. and its kinda short. There are still plenty of cobs on the stalks though, so I know that they are eating there. thanks for the advice, and keep it comeing if you have any.

[Wensel]

Something I always ask myslef is "are the deer on to me" its simple but think about it, and change your game if ya need to.

I'm willing to bet they (the deer) know you well....

[Kyle]

Im not so sure about that, simply because Ive only hunted it twice since before rifle opener. Not only that, but Ive never sat in the specific place Im in right now. Your question is logical, and definately something one should ask themselves, but after thinking about it, I just dont see how it is possible. wind has been good everytime Ive been out etc...

[Froggy4371]

Maybe I misses it and I understand that things might be different but with Muzzle loader season going don't you have to wear orange. Cause you said that you were wearing white camo. Just thougth I would check. I just don't want anyone to get a ticket for not wearing orange if it is required.

Froggy

[Kyle]

Ya, I wear a thin white over coat, carhart bibs, Rocky boots, and an orange stocking cap so I dont get shot while walking around out there. Im not even sure if it is required right now as a bow hunter, but I wear an article anyway.

I think its interesting that out of all of the posts on this thread, people tend to key in on things that have nothing to do with the subject at hand. I appreciate the concern, but honestly....to me wearing orange has nothing to do with what the law says. If there are guns in the woods, then its mandatory for me....and now back to the subject at hand.

[Froggy4371]

Sorry for caring!

Froggy

[Wensel]

Froggy, I'm with ya

Let us know when we get the right answer.

[chucker34]

Um, I'm pretty sure you need to wear more than just an orange hat while ML or bowhunting during any open gun season. I'm fairly certain you have to wear a vest and hat minimum. I don't think that's being a jerk pointing it out, just a helpful, passing observation so you comply with the law and for the sake of your own personal safety.

[LuciandTim]

This is the reply that you have been waiting for because I am about to tell you exactly what you need to do to find your deer!!!

Just get out there and hunt and hunt and hunt. Its not working and you know there are deer there then change your game plan and hunt, hunt, and hunt!

Posting on a message board will not bring you any closer to your deer.

I started hunting a 20acre peice of property this year and there are a ton of deer around. I hjave trail camera and I live there! And I still have not figured them out 100%. I have good ideas of what is happening but still they surprise me. Since the snow has fallen I have learned a ton more.

But seriously the only way you will learn your deer is to spend as much time out there as possible.

And I just want to touch base on a previous reply..I think it was from humbercita?? about the 40 feet viewing stands. Its funny you mention that because I am reading a book about targeting giant mature bucks and they suggest using that method. I think the book is by the drury brothers. They say get in what you think is the core and get up as high as you possibly can and watch and learn. They say start doing this before the season. Good tip!

[Kyle]

Good advice. Thank you.

I Obviously didnt create this thread thinking that it alone would bring me a deer. I created it to get insights from other bowhunters that may have more experience than me or other experiences.

I appreciate the concern for the orange blaze thing. You are right about the vest. It will be on me next time I go out. The only reason I dont want to get off topic is because it gets to be a little much when on every thread, someone has to analyze something that has little to do with the ACTUAL subject at hand. Im just looking for hunting advice that will help me be a better hunter. Again, I appreciate the heads up. In this situation, I thankyou for bring my misunderstanding to the table.I would never purposely disobey the law, and I stated before that I would wear orange regardless of the law, just to simple stay alive. I just wasnt aware of the amount you had to have. For some reason I thought it was just an article.