Q:
I'm hunting in NE Michigan and having trouble finding deer in the tail end of the rifle season (nov 20-30 thats the only time I can hunt). I know in the area they get hunted pretty hard and even in perfect conditions the deer seem to disappear. The set up I have is 160 acres with blinds on food plots and in the woods surrounding bedding areas and runways. I also have several ridges running through the center of the property as well as about 40 acres of bog, or low swampy areas. I know the deer are there but last season I saw only one doe. What should i do? should i forget hunting the blinds and just go sit under a tree by a bedding ground or what?
Question by mihunter. Uploaded on November 04, 2009
Answer Question
Answers (6)
Find dry areas in the middle of the bog. Hunt the thickest nastiest stuff you can find, that is where the deer will be afer a lot of pressure.
thanks MB915 but what im worried about is sneaking in there in the morning without spooking them, and if i do spook them, the bog is on the northern edge of the property and im scared of them spooking and not coming back. that bog is like a deer sanctuary.
I would locate deer travel lanes (trails) leading to and from feeding and beddeing areas. If your property has a thicket in or near the bog, I'd hang a stand 15 -25 foot high overlooking the trails or where two trails intersect. It sounds like the deer are going to be presured and nocturnal when you get to hunt, so setting your stand or stands on trail edges of bedding thickets or on trails leading into feeding areas would be a good idea. I've noticed once the deer go nocturnal, they try to be in bedding areas before first light. Setting up over looking a trail leading into your thickets or bog might get you a deer coming in a little late one morning. As Mb says if there is a dry island in the middle of the bog and you can wade or boat to the island an hour before daylight, you might be in a big bucks bed when he gets home at twilight, set up a climbing or a ground blind and be waiting.
I'm guessing that by NE Michigan you mean NE LOWER Michigan. If you were in NE Upper Michigan, you wouldn't have this problem. If you are downstate, use some bait and scents to draw them in.
if you can't got to the bog in the morning without spooking deer, i would hunt it in the afternoon. the bog is definately the place to be though.
yup the bog get as high as u can with hang on stand and sneak hunt in in the morning deer should hold pretty tight to where they are and even get up and walk right by u. they know the swamp is hard to get into and thats why they go there. you shouldn't worry about bumping deer if you are just get in there supper early like 4;30. the last days i usually sneak hunt the whole day just walk deer trails slow and try to play the wind well ive walked within 10 feet of a deer in a field b4 or it jumped up they will hide until you step on them also get at there level and kneel and crouch through thicker areas and look for movement. pack lunches the longer you are willing to sit the more the deer will identify the area as safe for lack of movement.
Post an Answer
I would locate deer travel lanes (trails) leading to and from feeding and beddeing areas. If your property has a thicket in or near the bog, I'd hang a stand 15 -25 foot high overlooking the trails or where two trails intersect. It sounds like the deer are going to be presured and nocturnal when you get to hunt, so setting your stand or stands on trail edges of bedding thickets or on trails leading into feeding areas would be a good idea. I've noticed once the deer go nocturnal, they try to be in bedding areas before first light. Setting up over looking a trail leading into your thickets or bog might get you a deer coming in a little late one morning. As Mb says if there is a dry island in the middle of the bog and you can wade or boat to the island an hour before daylight, you might be in a big bucks bed when he gets home at twilight, set up a climbing or a ground blind and be waiting.
Find dry areas in the middle of the bog. Hunt the thickest nastiest stuff you can find, that is where the deer will be afer a lot of pressure.
thanks MB915 but what im worried about is sneaking in there in the morning without spooking them, and if i do spook them, the bog is on the northern edge of the property and im scared of them spooking and not coming back. that bog is like a deer sanctuary.
I'm guessing that by NE Michigan you mean NE LOWER Michigan. If you were in NE Upper Michigan, you wouldn't have this problem. If you are downstate, use some bait and scents to draw them in.
yup the bog get as high as u can with hang on stand and sneak hunt in in the morning deer should hold pretty tight to where they are and even get up and walk right by u. they know the swamp is hard to get into and thats why they go there. you shouldn't worry about bumping deer if you are just get in there supper early like 4;30. the last days i usually sneak hunt the whole day just walk deer trails slow and try to play the wind well ive walked within 10 feet of a deer in a field b4 or it jumped up they will hide until you step on them also get at there level and kneel and crouch through thicker areas and look for movement. pack lunches the longer you are willing to sit the more the deer will identify the area as safe for lack of movement.
if you can't got to the bog in the morning without spooking deer, i would hunt it in the afternoon. the bog is definately the place to be though.
Post an Answer