Post by: davk on December 13, 2014, 08:43:37 PM
Post by: lokidog on December 13, 2014, 08:52:13 PM
If you can, stick a camera out overnight near your sign. You might find most activity is at night, so gunshots probably wouldn't matter.
I don't know what else to tell you.
Post by: jasnt on December 13, 2014, 08:56:00 PM
Post by: davk on December 13, 2014, 09:08:40 PM
Could be the hyway you found is more night travel? Idk anything about black tail so I can't reply on them. I know that with whitetail that live near shooting areas dont pay it any mind. Even just a few hundred yards away. I've watched them mill around munching while some folks just over the hill where practicing world war III. They never even flinched. Can't say that about my self as I was ready to crawl in a hole and hide, they eventually ran out of bullets
Yeah in WI we had 5 people hunting on 40 acres. Some within seeing distance(in blaze orange and youd see a sliver of orange). And someone would shoot and youd have deer by you and not even react to it.
Had to pick up a ton of gear this year and just haven't had the funds for a trail cam. Next on the list ... maybe.
Post by: RadSav on December 13, 2014, 09:23:25 PM
I saw a buck chasing a doe today. Saw sign of another buck bird dogging does. Seems late for the second estrus cycle, but there are still a few suffering from some doe crack fever. Other than during rut blacktail bucks have become very nocturnal. Even in areas with very little gun fire. Won't be too long and you'll get them figured out!
Post by: jasnt on December 13, 2014, 09:24:54 PM
warning: trail cams are very addictive!
Post by: RadSav on December 13, 2014, 09:29:42 PM
Can save ya a season of sitting in a night travel location during the day.
Good point!
Post by: j_h_nimrod on December 13, 2014, 10:19:25 PM
Post by: fishnfur on December 14, 2014, 01:24:48 AM
The word on the street is that you should move a bit closer to their bedding areas to hang a stand, so that you catch them heading out to feed when they get up in the evening, or alternatively, catch them returning to bed in the in the last couple of hours in the morning. Sounds so easy......
If you hunt the spots during the daytime where they feed in the middle of the night, you will likely never see them during hunting season. Try to intercept them closer to their beds. When you hunt outside the prime rut times, the farther you get from civilization the less likely they are to be totally nocturnal and the better your chances of seeing a buck up travelling to/from feeding. The more hunting activity you hear (gunshots) likely means the deer are more pressured, sticking tighter to cover, and are more nocturnal.
As the season wanes in December, forage is more limited, so the deer will likely move long distances less to feed since they will expend less energy by staying closer to home. They are tying to conserve energy and make it through the winter. Bucks may still be monitoring does to check for any late estrous activity, so it makes sense to find does and hope to see a buck waiting patiently close by. Check south facing slopes that will be warmer than other areas.
Hope this helps a bit......it hasn't helped me at all. >:( What a game! Have fun!
Post by: Skyvalhunter on December 14, 2014, 06:22:16 AM