New to Deer Hunting

[xxmicahxx]

Hi guys,

I am really excited to try and get my first buck this year. But it's going to be tough and I am most likely to fail. None the less, I am looking for any insight.

I am planning to hunt GMU 407. I am choosing this area as one of the only locations close enough to me to scout more than once or twice. I don't know what the crowds are like so, I'll go early. I mapped a spot, sort of adjacent a swamp and running through two clear cuts. I'm estimating winds will blow South during hunting season, and if I walk around and through the clearcut about 300 yards, i can make it to location without spreading sent all down the trail. But I don't really know if this is possible to do in the dark... those clear don't have solid footing.

Anyone ever stalk in those clear cuts? How?

I am planning to use an iron site Mosin Nagant. It is very accurate at 100 yards. What do you think is the limit for this firearms accuracy. And how should this style of weapon alter my hunting habits and requirements?

Was planning on setting up a tree stand along the funnel there. Do you park it on the outside of the shelter, facing the clear cut. I saw a couple deer tracks crossing and running up one into the clearcut and one into the trees on the other side. Other than that i didn't see any sheds or old rubs. or even droppings. No droppings anywhere today. I plan on spending the day there soon sitting on the hill and glassing....What if i don't see anything all day?

Heard one grouse drumming today. =)

[Smoke]

lots of questions... ok lets start..
 first, crowds will be what crowds will be, don't let that detour you, other hunters moving around move deer, if your still they just might move those deer to you
Second, wind direction will change from day to day, and even during the day... ya want to be down wind, so pick 2 or 3 spots with different hunting directions so that what ever the wind is that day, ya have a place picked to hunt.. as far as getting there in the dark... clear yourself a path before hand and starting about 100 yds in, mark it with reflective tacks or tape so ya can follow it with your flashlight  (starting in the woods keeps others from seeing your marks from the road and following them to your stand...)
Third, clear cuts.. yes, and slow... when ya think your moving slow enough, move slower..
Fourth, not sure what your shooting, but as far as the limit of it's accuracy.. that doesn't mater, they are all accurate enough, the limit is YOUR accuracy and that's pretty much as far as you can put all your shots inside a 3" circle.
Fifth, funnels are good spots if hunting from a stand... glassing for a day can let you know if deer are there, but they don't always hit the same spots every day, so not seeing them doesn't mean they aren't there... look for sign of deer... tracks, rubs, game trails, bedding areas, food sources...

lastly, welcome to the hunting community... don't feel discouraged because ya don't know everything, nobody does... we all started out green and we learn as we go... ya can't kill em if your not in the woods.. and if your in the woods, your learning...

[chester]

I am planning to use an iron site Mosin Nagant. It is very accurate at 100 yards. What do you think is the limit for this firearms accuracy. And how should this style of weapon alter my hunting habits and requirements?

Was planning on setting up a tree stand along the funnel there. Do you park it on the outside of the shelter, facing the clear cut. I saw a couple deer tracks crossing and running up one into the clearcut and one into the trees on the other side. Other than that i didn't see any sheds or old rubs. or even droppings. No droppings anywhere today. I plan on spending the day there soon sitting on the hill and glassing....What if i don't see anything all day?

Heard one grouse drumming today. =)

I'd get rid of the Mosin and take the money for the tree stand and go get a new rifle (.243,25-06,.270,.308,30-06, 7mm) doesn't matter with a scope and practice shooting out to 300 yards.
Probably spend the summer looking for areas with more sign, droppings , tracked up etc.

Good binos and a lot of patience you should up your odds this fall.

[fishnfur]

I'd spend a hundred or so bucks on a trail cam and verify the spot that you are placing your tree stand before you go through all the effort of putting it there.  Also, if you put a tree stand on public land and leave it, anyone can legally use it.  There is a good chance it will be stolen too if left in place.  A climber might suit that situation better.

I'd put the stand inside the timber edge, maybe the second row of trees back, so that you're hidden from view from animals in the cut.  You will have to prune shooting lanes through the first row of trees.  Don't remove too much of your hiding cover though.   

Rather than sit on a spot all day at this time of year, you should be out at first light and glass the far edges/corners and look for activity on as many cuts as you can.  Most of the deer should be working south/SW facing slopes this time of year before they dry up in mid-summer.  June - mid-August is in my mind a better time to scout.  Does right now will be close to dropping fawns or have already done so.  They are likely not travelling much and sticking close to heavy brush where they will or have already given birth.  In summer, bucks will have more fully developed their antlers and should be more visible in open areas.  Keep moving and glass the shadows for bedded bucks/does during the heat of the day. Bucks will likely get up and move as the shadows expose them to the sun, so spending some time in one spot can be very worthwhile.    You might consider just waiting till mid-day and going into the cut you are interested in and walk the entire perimeter and make note of where the trails in/out of the cut are and which ones show heavy use.  Use a trail cam on those trails to determine what areas might be best to place a stand.   All that deer poo you see in the middle of the cuts is from when deer are feeding out there in the middle of the night.  Don't plan on seeing a buck out there in the middle of the day.  It could happen close to the rut, but more likely than not, you'll find deer along or inside the edges during the daytime.

If I was going to stalk a buck in a wide-open clear cut, I would stay well inside the timber while attempting to get closer for a shot.  In reprod big enough to hide your movements, go slow and stay downwind of your prey.  Hard to be quiet in those cuts though.  Too many dead sticks etc, and easy to loose track of the animal you seek. 

[davk]

Ive never been a big fan of iron sights for deer hunting.  They just aren't great for low light situations.  Im not sure what the area your hunting is like, but I bought a nice climbing stand when I first moved out here from WI where all we did was stand hunt.  Havent used it since that first year.  Each area will be different for how you want to hunt it but now I primarily still hunt or set up elevated ground blinds.  I also usually backpack in a few miles now, so there is no way a stand is coming with me. 

As others have mentioned, clear a path.  I have a few spots I have set up in clear cuts.  Can get in without making a sound.  Dont make it too nice though ... dont want others noticing it.  I usually clear foot holes to step in so there isnt really a noticeable path.

Im not sure how close your spot is to the road, but the closer it is the more likely you will have company.  I would suggest finding a few additional spots.  There has been more than enough times that i thought to myself "wonder how many miles away the next hunter is" or "theres got to be nobody way out here" and 15 minutes later one comes strolling by.  I have probably a dozen different areas I hunt and I am always looking for more.  A lot of times Ill ditch an area I have been seeing deer consistently to get away from people.  I archery hunt and get out quite frequently so if a day here or there gets screwed up its not a huge deal.  With MF you much more time restricted.

I wouldnt worry about not seeing anything all day.  If sign is there, there are deer.  The area I shot my deer in last year  I hunted 3 full weekends as well as a dozen nights during the week.  I would go whole weekends without seeing anything.  Then I would see 4 deer on one of my weekday night sits.  I also bear hunted the same spot for a week straight(sat on a ridge and glassed).  I saw one deer, but it was the biggest blacktail I have ever seen.  I wouldn't expect to see deer every day.  Things will also probably change a bit with MF kicking off.  Deer will be pushed around.  Anything can happen. 

Since you mentioned grouse ... that is one of my primary scouting tactics.  I grab the shotgun and walk miles and miles and miles of forest roads while checking out potential hunting areas, look for sign, set trail cams, get a better lay of the land than Google Earth can provide, get an idea on how much hikers, bikers, recreational shooters... are using the area, etc.  Also a great way to bump up fitness a little before the season.

[Highmountaindan]

Smoke from spanaway had great advice for you. The number one thing I would suggest is just getting out in the woods starting June and go till deer season. I spend my time backpacking and checking for new areas and I start in two weeks this year. You alwase learn something if you are paying attention while in the woods. This year I want to learn more about migration and where the deer hold during the spring in my hunting areas. Just get out there, if you can get yourself a decent pair of binos to get you through this year, make it happen. There is alwase a decent pair of glass for sale in the classifieds section of this forum. Also do what you can to get a decent rifle that you will enjoy using. You can also find one on the classifieds in this forum. It is a good community to be apart of and most of us fellow hunters are hear to help.