Tough hunting in 627

[PNWCOONASS]

Man, what a rough weekend.  I only heard about 7 shots all weekend and jumped 3 deer that I couldn't see.

I hunting GMU 627 (meat hunting)this weekend.  I think it was a weekend that wasn't meant to be.  I couldn't find a doe to save my life.  Starting off, I pulled up to the spot that I had planned to hunt, but someone had already parked there.  so I had to go to a back up plan.  Didn't see or hear a thing.  That afternoon moved to a totally different area, the wind was blowing wrong for me to really hunt there.  then about 1 there were two gun on the next logging road who walked in, starting hammering something, and all I could think was there is no way they are going to start target shooting!!!  But sure enough they went for an hour of shooting.  The rest of the weekend was pretty much terrible. 

Sunday morning, tried a different spot still nothing, no fresh sign, tracks or nothing.  In the afternoon I moved back to the area from yesterday.  Found some fresh tracks and sign.  Get set up, after about an hour here comes a guy on a 4 wheeler.  Although he was very apologetic it pretty much pissed me off.  I did end up jumping 3 deer but the brush was so thick that I couldn't see any brown to put the sight on. 

I don't know if it's the heat that is keeping them from moving so much but hopefully with the front that is supposed to come in this week it will get them moving.

Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions///// Pete

[backwoods_boy]

headed over to 627 this friday to see if i cant smoke something.
hope the weather helps.

[croix]

Clear cuts in that area haven't shown near as much sign as usual. I think you're right in that the heat has changed their patterns a bit. They are hanging out in the thick stuff where it's cool. Most of the deer that I have seen out in the open have been before sunrise or after sunset. I did catch a couple of bucks exiting a clear cut at about 8 a.m. but that's it.

I think that best bet is to watch the edge of clear cuts as the sun is coming up or going down. If you walk some of the brush during the day and you are slow about it, you may get lucky and catch one off guard. Otherwise, it may require some drive tactics. I'm not a huge fan of drive hunting (mostly because I don't hunt with enough people to make it work), but desperate times call for desperate measures.

Good luck, and hope to see you out there this weekend.

[backwoods_boy]

LETS GET IT DONE BUDDY!

[PNWCOONASS]

Rick, I think you are right.  A majority of the clear cuts that I walked in had old or dry droppings.  The 3 deer that I did hear and spook were in the thick crap.  All during the later part of the day. 

Yeah, it's hard to drive deer with just one person doing the driving.  I usually end up running in circles.....

I sure hope the rain gets them moving a little more easily. 

Pete

[blmathis12]

hahaha i was just over there the last two days of archery and i stopped counting deer after 23 the first day with three bucks in the mix the second day seen 15 or so deer theres little pressure and tons of public ground. get out of the truck about 3 miles or so from the nearest road and dont worry about glassin too thick! and for the record i also put a stalk on a 350-400 pound bear. hit the creek bottoms right a day light and you'll kill one.