August NEWSLETTER 2008 |
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have topic you would wish to be discussed in a future newsletter, let us know and we will
consider it.
If you do not want future newsletters, please email or write us advising so and you will be
removed from the list.
Write to: Disappear Hunting Products Inc., 163 College Street, Wadsworth, OH 44281
Email: discoverscent@disappearhp.com
| Disappear Hunting Products |
HUNTERS,
With August here, we will discuss the second part of early season hunting tactics, confining our
focus on large wooded areas, consisting of thousands of acres. These thoughts will be divided into
two sections, first, for relatively flat areas, and secondly, for terrain that ranges, from fairly hilly to
mountainous. One thread, that seems common with whitetail, no matter where you hunt them, is
the fact, they are creatures of edges. The trick, is to discern the breaks in terrain, that may not
seem at all apparent to us, but certainly are, to the deer.
For the level, or gently rolling terrain, a good place to start, are areas, that have within the last
decade, experienced clear cutting. The patterns, generally followed by forest managers, create a
checkerboard effect, through out the timber. As the regrowth starts, this provides succulent food
sources, as well as cover and escape routes. The first thing I do, is try and cover as many of the
edges of clear cuts as I can, looking for trails and travel patterns, that would be an indication, of
the directions the deer are taking, to and from feeding and bedding locations. If there are any type
of crops planted, within several miles of my hunting location, then I will also start with the field
crops, and work my way along those edges, until I see evidence of use, by the deer. Then, I turn
into the timber and start sorting out their travel patterns. My goal, is, to set myself up, along a well
used travel route, between the feeding and bedding areas. For morning hunts, I want to be real
close to the bedding locations, so that I have decent shooting light, when the deer are around me,
heading for their daytime rest. Conversely, in the evening, I want to be closer to the feeding areas,
although, I stay back enough distance, to again, assure myself of seeing deer, while I still have
shooting light. The fact is, I do not want to alert the deer of my presence, by getting too close to
the feeding or bedding areas. Also, planning my approach to the chosen stand, is done, so that I
remain, as undetected as possible. Sometimes, this means covering a lot of territory, to accomplish
this. Another fact, that I take in to consideration, how does wind direction, affect deer movements.
I generally have several stand locations prepared, so I can make the proper adjustments, to keep
seeing deer.
Hills and mountains may have cleared areas on their tops or conversely, in the their valleys. As a
general rule, deer will travel away from the cleared areas, be it up or down, to bed. Now, I start
with points, running vertically up and down through the timber, as well as benches, positioned
horizontally, to find my initial deer sign, then start unraveling the patterns, the deer are leaving for
me. Experience, seems to bear out the fact, that benches, draws, and points, that contain
underbrush, downed trees or other cover, are the prime choices, for a whitetail to hang out. No
matter how, they are approached, they will only have to cover a short distance, to be out of sight.
Another thought to consider, deer are like us, and would rather zig zag, as they go up and down a
hillside, if they have the choice, making benches choice travel locations. This type of effort does
not consume as much energy, as vertical travel would require. As I mentioned above, stand
placement, should be determined by feeding and bedding areas. I have also had success over the
years, while hunting large timbered areas, setting up evening hunts, in feeding locations. The food
sources that have worked well, are ferns, jewel weed, fallen maple leaves, abandoned apple trees
and acorns, particularly, the ones from the white oak.
Another important consideration, we should control our scent and use proper camouflage. Then,
we can let the deer, we choose not to harvest, pass by, without alarming the ones following. This
is essential, if we are hunting a specific class of trophy buck. The time is just around the corner,
while situated in our favorite hunting spot, to anticipate the buck of our dreams, coming into view,
causing our adrenalin to rise. No matter, how long, I have hunted, some things never change.
Until next month, take care,
Keith Dotterer
With August here, we will discuss the second part of early season hunting tactics, confining our
focus on large wooded areas, consisting of thousands of acres. These thoughts will be divided into
two sections, first, for relatively flat areas, and secondly, for terrain that ranges, from fairly hilly to
mountainous. One thread, that seems common with whitetail, no matter where you hunt them, is
the fact, they are creatures of edges. The trick, is to discern the breaks in terrain, that may not
seem at all apparent to us, but certainly are, to the deer.
For the level, or gently rolling terrain, a good place to start, are areas, that have within the last
decade, experienced clear cutting. The patterns, generally followed by forest managers, create a
checkerboard effect, through out the timber. As the regrowth starts, this provides succulent food
sources, as well as cover and escape routes. The first thing I do, is try and cover as many of the
edges of clear cuts as I can, looking for trails and travel patterns, that would be an indication, of
the directions the deer are taking, to and from feeding and bedding locations. If there are any type
of crops planted, within several miles of my hunting location, then I will also start with the field
crops, and work my way along those edges, until I see evidence of use, by the deer. Then, I turn
into the timber and start sorting out their travel patterns. My goal, is, to set myself up, along a well
used travel route, between the feeding and bedding areas. For morning hunts, I want to be real
close to the bedding locations, so that I have decent shooting light, when the deer are around me,
heading for their daytime rest. Conversely, in the evening, I want to be closer to the feeding areas,
although, I stay back enough distance, to again, assure myself of seeing deer, while I still have
shooting light. The fact is, I do not want to alert the deer of my presence, by getting too close to
the feeding or bedding areas. Also, planning my approach to the chosen stand, is done, so that I
remain, as undetected as possible. Sometimes, this means covering a lot of territory, to accomplish
this. Another fact, that I take in to consideration, how does wind direction, affect deer movements.
I generally have several stand locations prepared, so I can make the proper adjustments, to keep
seeing deer.
Hills and mountains may have cleared areas on their tops or conversely, in the their valleys. As a
general rule, deer will travel away from the cleared areas, be it up or down, to bed. Now, I start
with points, running vertically up and down through the timber, as well as benches, positioned
horizontally, to find my initial deer sign, then start unraveling the patterns, the deer are leaving for
me. Experience, seems to bear out the fact, that benches, draws, and points, that contain
underbrush, downed trees or other cover, are the prime choices, for a whitetail to hang out. No
matter how, they are approached, they will only have to cover a short distance, to be out of sight.
Another thought to consider, deer are like us, and would rather zig zag, as they go up and down a
hillside, if they have the choice, making benches choice travel locations. This type of effort does
not consume as much energy, as vertical travel would require. As I mentioned above, stand
placement, should be determined by feeding and bedding areas. I have also had success over the
years, while hunting large timbered areas, setting up evening hunts, in feeding locations. The food
sources that have worked well, are ferns, jewel weed, fallen maple leaves, abandoned apple trees
and acorns, particularly, the ones from the white oak.
Another important consideration, we should control our scent and use proper camouflage. Then,
we can let the deer, we choose not to harvest, pass by, without alarming the ones following. This
is essential, if we are hunting a specific class of trophy buck. The time is just around the corner,
while situated in our favorite hunting spot, to anticipate the buck of our dreams, coming into view,
causing our adrenalin to rise. No matter, how long, I have hunted, some things never change.
Until next month, take care,
Keith Dotterer
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