Archery deer unit 1 ?

[Zeke-BE]

Hello everyone I'm pretty new to the forum. From what I've read it sounds like there is a lot of good people on here. My question though is how to hunt deer in unit 1. This is a hunt that I'm already planning on for next year 2015 September. I've camped this area around big lake and west fork my entire life and know it very we'll. I love the beauty of it so this is more of a 50/50 hunt. 50% hard hunting and 50% just enjoying being up there with the family and friends. The problem is that I'm a desert spot and stalk hunter and I'm not sure how to hunt the pines. I have notice the deer is a lot lower in numbers than I've seen in the past 5-8 years. Any ideas or expertise would be great?

[lancetkenyon]

Glassing the open areas, burns, around the streams. Look for sign. Hunt a tank if no other water source is near, either from a Treestand or blind. Glassing the hillsides midday has produced sightings for me too.

[Zeke-BE]

Thanks lancetkenyon! Will they bed down in those area or do they head for cover?

[mattys281]

I killed my first deer by spotting & stalking in the desert, but have since become firm believer in the value of a good ambush. Killing deer with a bow is all about being in the right place at the right time. There are many 'right places', so that part is easy. The 'right time' is harder to figure out, so I move in & stay put, sit all day from before sun up until it's dark. It's always easier to let deer come to you than it is to go to them.

 

Bucks move around a lot, so you may have to sit 3 or 4 days before you even know what's around. Work those trail cameras ahead of time to gather some additional info, but keep in mind they'll never catch everthing that's moving through a spot.

[lancetkenyon]

Those are their feeding areas. They head for cover after first light and come back out just before dark, I have found a lot of deer in "short pines" like 3-6 year old growth after a burn, stuff about 6-10 feet tall and thick. But a lot of times they get up for a midday snack and stretch. The more time you spend in the woods instead of camp, the better chance you will have of seeing game.

[Zeke-BE]

What about mount baldy wilderness? I know it's really thick. Use a tree stand, or wait on a game trail ? Or just stick with burns?

[lancetkenyon]

I like tree stands hanging over a water source if you can get away from the roads. Or a lick. Those seem to get deer all day long coming in for a snack.

[mattys281]

I like tree stands hanging over a water source if you can get away from the roads. Or a lick. Those seem to get deer all day long coming in for a snack.

Killed two years in a row right down the road in 27 like this.

[Zeke-BE]

Nice!! You guys got me excited too bad I didn't do it this year, i'll do some of my desert hunting but I'm gonna go all outt up in the Pines September next year. In unit one is it really busy with archery deer hunters?

[lancetkenyon]

I only hunt unit one for turkey anymore. In my spot, I have never seen another soul. But it is an unlikely spot, and you would not think it holds any turkeys.

[idgaf]

Although it was with a rifle. Here is a deer from a few years ago. I have seen some very large deer there.

[mattys281]

You definitely want a pocket full of tags. I know unit 27 a lot better than unit one, but I've seen several bears while poking around in 1 and see them usually a couple times a year in 27. Also as Lance mentioned, turkeys all over the place. I could have killed about 30 turkeys this last August, but wouldn't spend the time on dealing with a dead one until after I'd filled my deer tag, and after that happened I split right away. Anyhow, it's a great mixed bag hunt. Also keep a video camera with you, because you'll more than likely see some real nice elk while you're up there.

 

Let me know if you head up there for certain. I'll be there next summer & we can go grab a beer at that pub in Alpine.

[lancetkenyon]

Although it a rifle. Here is a deer from a few years ago. I have seen some very large deer there.

deerhunt039.JPG

See where this was taken? In a fresh burn.

 

Deer love it, and even better a year or two or three or more after, as the new growth is very tender and FULL of minerals from the newly regenerated soils and ash.

[sjvcon]

Yup ... they will feed there in the AM and PM and they will take refuge during the day. I like to find good places to watch the fringes ... areas where deer can take quick cover from the open.

[idgaf]

I got that guy at 1030 in the morning in a field standing with five other bucks. My longest shot ever 190 yards. He was so fat the meat processor charged me like he was an elk. The layer of fat around the meat was well over an inch. I have been back many times since that point and the population is not like it was. dang wolves.