Need some input and/ or advice

[couesarcher]

I need some advice,

I was archery deer hunting this year from a ground blind that I had set up 2 months prior to the hunt and all brushed in.

I placed a trail camera on the spot on Aug 3rd, I went back up on Aug 13th and to my surprise the camera showed 1200 pictures. First thing I thought of there must be a branch moving back and forth in front of the camera.

When I got home and slid the memory card into the computer, WOW. Turkey, Fox, Elk, bear & Coues deer (15 different bucks).

Opening day I had 1 elk & 1 doe come in, the second day nothing came in. I could not understand what was happening. On the third day I had a small 3x3 come in but hang up 20 yards out in the brush, an hour later a bigger 3x3 and a decent 3x2 came in and the same thing, they would not come in and give me an opportunity. I realized later that the wind was coming up over the saddle and heading right in the direction of the deer.

I pulled the memory card on the way out Sunday, when I got home I and had more Turkey, Foxes, Bull Elk, Coues deer and a mountain lion came thru the early hours of opening day (about 4 hours before I got into my blind). I figure that is why I did not see anything the first 2 days.

Every time I went back up to hunt the area (which was quite often) I would see less and less deer. I figured that I had spooked them with the pressure and scent of me being in the area.

Are my assements correct about the pressure and scent and the dee leaving the area?

How long will it take before they come back into the area like they were before, I plan on hunting it in January? I was thinking about placing the camera back in there in November, I also need to find another spot where the wind will not be a factor.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Terry

 

[bobbyo]

Terry,

 

Why were you getting pictures in the first place. Did you have salt? Were you on water? Were you on a trail. I think the reason you saw a difference in animal sightings was due more to changes in the environment then you. Different water source, different food ect. Late Monsoon is a transition time for animals, they probably just changed their daily patterns.

 

Now obviously your blind with you in it was not in an ideal place. 20 yards is awfully close and all the scent lock and scent control crap is not going to work worth a hill of beans if the wind is not in your favor. When setting a blind wind patterns are as important as shooting lanes and probably more important then brushing in. In addition I set the blind up to forty yards from deer trail or trick tank. I know I probably set up a lot farther than most, but have modified my methods after having the same type of frustration that you have had on this hunt. I think at a farther distance you get less hangups, less deer snorts and in my case a calmer hunter. When a deer i want to shoot is 20 yards or less i am a marshmallow. In addition if the wind is not right I will get out of the blind and move to a more wind friendly position. A quick makeshift natural blind with my lawn chair works. Just need a hiding place to draw your bow.

Bob

[EagleEye]

I have to agree agree about the distance I like my treestands forty yards away also but had them deer do the same thing to me. Get up in the air I think much easier to draw and shoot out of a stand just my 2 cents.

[couesarcher]

Yes, it's an established salt bed that I have my camera on. The last day I hunted the area I saw a tree about 30 yards away that I think might work well. The next time I go in I will have to check out this new tree.

 

Terry

[bobbyo]

I don't know much about salt, but I think I read someone on this sight state that the Deer's desire for salt wanes once the antlers are fully developed, this might be the reason for a decrease in activity. A tree stand is better scent control and better shot angles and probably overall a better chance for success, but personally for me it is no fun. The comforts that a blind provide: cold drinks; chance to stretch out or lie down, protection from sun, rain and wind,;ability to wear shorts t shirt and sandals, no stupid camo; easier to use the facilities are all reasons that have kept me grounded permanently. I am going to leave the trees to all the hardcore diehard EXTREME BOWHUNTERS. I guess I'm lazy.

Bob

[tjhunt2]

I don't know much about salt, but I think I read someone on this sight state that the Deer's desire for salt wanes once the antlers are fully developed, this might be the reason for a decrease in activity. A tree stand is better scent control and better shot angles and probably overall a better chance for success, but personally for me it is no fun. The comforts that a blind provide: cold drinks; chance to stretch out or lie down, protection from sun, rain and wind,;ability to wear shorts t shirt and sandals, no stupid camo; easier to use the facilities are all reasons that have kept me grounded permanently. I am going to leave the trees to all the hardcore diehard EXTREME BOWHUNTERS. I guess I'm lazy.

Bob

 

bobbyo, I have to agree with you on this one except for better shot angle. You are not lazy, just an archery hunter with experience. Them tree stands are great but the older some of us get we find ground blinds are quite comfortable and I might add a whole lot of success has come from them. I set my ground blinds no more than 20yrds. My last 4 elk were shot a 13 yrds from my double bull in as many years. I actually had a cow trying to stick her head in my ground blind while I was in it to get to the sent attraction I use.

 

TJ

[couesarcher]

tjhunt2,

 

What scent control do you use? I obviously was not set up in the right spot, I will be going back up to look for another location. This was the first time ever using the ground blind, I actually like it for all the reasons that bobbyo stated.

This season I switched to dead down wind, I used the laundry soap, bath soap, deodorant and cover scent. I guess with the wind coming over the ridge and straight to the shooting lanes, I didn't give my self a chance.

 

Terry

[Sir Buckwheat]

Another thing you need to be careful of is the scent you leave getting to your stand. That can spook a lot of critters as much as if they smell you sitting there, even hours later. Sounds like a good spot, analyze what you did wrong and try to do better next time. I have a hayfield I hunt that I'm lucky to be able to hunt once a week on a good week because of the wind. Thats why they big boys hang out there though. They know everything thats in the field long before they come out of the cover. If you can't get the wind right at the salt lick you might try finding which trail most of them are coming in on and try setting up on the trail coming in instead of at the actual salt lick.

[elkaholic]

 

+1 ^

 

in 2 words

 

 

the wind

 

very important to know which way the wind generally blows - your blind needs to be down wind of the general direction most of the animals come from.

 

just like in the tv shows they have stands situated in different spots and only use them only when the wind is blowing the scent away from where they expect the animals to be!

 

 

scent control #2

[Atypical]

Terry,

 

We can't control everything, but maybe consider another small/impromptu natural ground blind on the other side of your spot that would favor the wind when it changes. Although being inside of a pop-up helps control scent as well. Some bowhunters will also piss in a bottle, thinking otherwise the smell emits like a skunk does to our noses.

 

And has been said, as their natural pattern evolves based on the weather, antlers, rut, pressure, etc, they may move a ridge over or to the next county.

 

Keep at it, you'll get em.