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Author Topic: How do you guys find deer?  (Read 5295 times)

Offline MilesSawyer

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How do you guys find deer?
« on: February 10, 2020, 10:20:24 AM »
This is my first year hunting. I know I need to have patience, but I have gone out bowhunting several times and haven't seen any deer. People I ask give me conflicting advise, "they like lowlands" and "they like ridges".

I know I need to find where they travel between bedding/food/water and they like cover when doing so. Everyone I pick a spot I just seem to be where the deer aren't. I even use topographic maps to pick where it makes sense for them to travel.

My one issue is lack of scouting, but we are in season so it is a little tough with work and what not. Any tips/tricks? Further advice?

« Last Edit: April 29, 2020, 06:22:13 AM by Rainier10 »

Offline JimmyHoffa

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Re: How do you guys find deer?
« Reply #1 on: February 10, 2020, 10:26:34 AM »
What type of deer?

Offline vandeman17

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Re: How do you guys find deer?
« Reply #2 on: February 10, 2020, 10:55:54 AM »
just curious how this is your first year hunting but you have gone out bow hunting several times and haven't seen any deer?

What season are you referring to?
" I have hunted almost every day of my life, the rest have been wasted"

Offline Billy74

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Re: How do you guys find deer?
« Reply #3 on: February 10, 2020, 11:01:53 AM »
This last season was my 3rd and the first i saw legal bucks during the season.  2nd year was the first i saw any deer at all.   Even 1 cheap trail cam helps.  Getting a buck on camera at least helps confidence.    I run 3 now and check them once a month and move them if needed.  The one thing i did different this year was hunt public land adjacent to farms.  I stoped trying to get way off the road. More hunters for sure but i at least found deer.  Also found plenty of gut piles so success was found just not by me.   Im after WT in the NE during modern so a little different situation  i supposed but if the question is finding bucks i think scouting as often as possible will always be a good answer. 


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Offline Seabass

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Re: How do you guys find deer?
« Reply #4 on: February 10, 2020, 12:50:20 PM »
If it's a white tail buck that you are looking for...buy a camera (doesn't need to be expensive) put it in front of some bait (corn, apples, hay etc.) in a place that looks "good" to you. In 7 days you will know if there is a buck close....maybe 3-4 bucks. If you don't find any bucks on that camera after a week...put it somewhere else. I doubt it takes you more than 2 weeks to find a few bucks.

Offline fishngamereaper

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Re: How do you guys find deer?
« Reply #5 on: February 10, 2020, 12:58:24 PM »
Do a bunch of research. Google scout. Run Cam's. Find deer. Pre scout. Put a ton of mile on before season. Then hunt those area's hard expecting to see deer. Hunt quiet, glass, rattle, call etc...then when all that doesn't lead to success and you get at a really low point let your guard down in the area least likely to hold deer and Bam... you'll see deer...just be ready cause it happens fast.

35 years in the woods this is the tried and true method that works for me.

Offline mburrows

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Re: How do you guys find deer?
« Reply #6 on: February 10, 2020, 02:22:49 PM »
Good binoculars, a tripod, the ability to be on the hill in your glassing spot at first light and until dark.




Offline follow maggie

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Re: How do you guys find deer?
« Reply #7 on: February 23, 2020, 06:03:56 PM »
While archery elk hunting in Idaho in September, while sitting around the tent after dark listening to music & having a couple beers making dinner, a group of about 10-12 mule deer walked right through our camp. Happened 3 nights.

Offline buckfvr

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Re: How do you guys find deer?
« Reply #8 on: February 23, 2020, 07:21:43 PM »
Good binoculars, a tripod, the ability to be on the hill in your glassing spot at first light and until dark.

Exactly, this is how we find everything here.    :yeah: :yeah:

Offline HellsBelle

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Re: How do you guys find deer?
« Reply #9 on: February 23, 2020, 07:26:13 PM »
I look in the off season, when I'm horseback riding in the hills, where I go is logging areas, clear-cuts.... There are trails where deer travel heavily, and when bucks are in rut you look for sign where they have rubbed their antlers on small trees..it looks like small patches of scraped off bark. Patience is huge, you can be looking in an area and see nothing, and suddenly realized a deer has materialized..

Offline CougHunter

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Re: How do you guys find deer?
« Reply #10 on: February 26, 2020, 08:16:53 PM »
Moving from the open country to thick forest, I'm really struggling to find a glassing strategy that seems reasonable to me. I think that I could find a better job of finding huntable reprod, but even still I feel like a large part of the struggle for me is opportunism versus successful glassing. I guess that's where the "all day" component is advantageous.

Offline AL WORRELLS KID

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Re: How do you guys find deer?
« Reply #11 on: April 28, 2020, 07:02:51 PM »
Bigger is Better for spotting them Big Horns!  ;)
Doug
"The farther one gets into the wilderness, the greater is the attraction of its lonely freedom." Theodore Roosevelt

Offline Platensek-po

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Re: How do you guys find deer?
« Reply #12 on: April 28, 2020, 07:59:10 PM »
Reminds me of this
“Under no pretext should arms and ammunition be surrendered; any attempt to disarm the workers must be frustrated, by force if necessary.”

If you are not willing to die for freedom then take the word out of your vocabulary.

Offline hollymaster

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Re: How do you guys find deer?
« Reply #13 on: April 28, 2020, 09:54:04 PM »
I just go sit in the woods and the deer come to me.  :dunno:

Offline Crunchy

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Re: How do you guys find deer?
« Reply #14 on: April 28, 2020, 10:21:01 PM »
Its pretty simple formula to find deer.  First you find where they are not, and cross that spot off the list.  After scratching enough spots off the list you will begin to find where they are.  Just takes time :chuckle:

 


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