Deer and Turkey Hunting Tips

Archive for the ‘Where To Hunt Deer’ Category

So what is a bottleneck? For the purpose of deer hunting, a bottleneck is a narrow strip of land that controls or restricts whitetail deer travel areas. There can be many types of terrain that meet this criteria such as funnels, land edges, and saddles.

Funnels

A funnel is a section of land that connects two other sections of land together. For example, a small tract of trees that run parallel with and in between two fields can be considered a funnel. Another example is a patch of undergrowth that runs along the edges of a creek or river bank. Narrow sapling thickets that divide two other types of land is another.

Land Edges

A land edge is the area that runs along and borders different types of land. For example, a crop field edge that joins a wooded area. Deer will often travel just out of sight walking along the perimeter of a field until an area is reached to enter. A swamp edge that borders other terrain is also an example.

Saddles

A saddle is a low area that runs between two higher sections of ground. These areas are more common in mountain or hill terrain. Deer will travel the bottoms or lower edges of saddles. Deer will cross over the higher ground when directional change is needed.

Deer Hunting Bottlenecks

When it comes to hunting, the key to success is finding the bottlenecks and then setting up in the proper area. The use of aerial photos and topographical maps can be of assistance. However, the best approach is to scout on foot.

Once these areas are located, the next step is to find the most active and freshest deer sign and set up accordingly. One suggestion is to break the bottleneck into sections and hunt each until the best set up is found. Make sure to use proper scent control and to factor in the wind directions.

Bottlenecks offer hunters excellent opportunities and can be hunted throughout the season.

Farm land deer hunting offers much success to many hunters each year. This article will take a look at some of the techniques for hunting farm land.

Deer Food

The first obvious choice for food when deer hunting farm land is the available field crops. Beans, corn, and other crops are ideal for holding deer. These open fields allow the hunter to observe deer from a distance and setup accordingly. Pay close attention to the field corners, low points, and small isolated fields as deer will often use such areas more frequently.

Also look for any fruit orchards such as apple trees that may be available on the property. As the season progresses, these locations may become an effective place to put a tree stand or blind.

Water

A farm will have some form of water supply used for irrigation. This may be a nearby river or a man made pond. Pat attention to these areas as deer will take advantage of them. Look for deer crossings or an abundance of tracks or other sign near the edges. Especially if cover is provided, a water hole can sometimes be a honey hole for taking a deer.

Bedding And Cover

Many farms have small tracts of standing timber throughout the property. These areas generally provide good cover and bedding areas for the deer. Hunting the edges of these tracts can offer good deer sightings.

Another factor to consider is hedge rows and ditches. Many farms are structured where an irrigation ditch or hedge row flows throughout many sections of the land. Deer will use these areas to bed down and also for traveling from one location to another.

Tall grasses or wheat fields also provide good cover for deer. It is very easy for deer to disappear in such areas. Also don’t forget about the field crops for bedding. Deer will take advantage of standing corn and other crops for cover.

Many farms also have fences. Deer are often spotted and hunted as they bedded against a field fence. Deer will also use a fence as a directional means of travel. Often following along beside a fence before jumping over at a certain area.

The Rut

Hunting farm land during the rutting period can be exciting. Especially if there is small patches of trees or hedge rows for cover. Does in estrus will move into isolated areas to get away from the other deer. The bucks will be on the move searching for these does. A hunter can setup near these patches of cover and often be in a good location for buck sightings.

Deer Hunting Tips

As in most hunting situations, finding the fresh and active sign is the best approach to proper farm land setup. Use good scouting, observation, and scent control skills for success. Although tree stands or ground blinds can certainly be effective, don’t forget about still hunting or stalking techniques. Since a majority of the land will be open country, a sneak approach may be worth while.

Deer have the ability to disappear in any kind of terrain. Thick brush or wooded lands make their hiding easy. However, just because a property has limited or no tree cover does not mean the deer won’t be there. Open country terrain has deer too.

Hiding In Plain Sight

Deer will take advantage of open country hills, grassy fields, ditches, and field crops to hide out. I once observed a nice buck bed down in the middle of a cow pasture in a patch of two feet tall grass. The grass was only about three feet in diameter. The only thing visible was the antler tines.

Why Open Terrain

Sometimes the terrain will dictate how a deer uses cover. There may not be any thick cover around, so deer take advantage of whatever is available. Hunting pressure can also make deer move out of the woods and thickets and into more open country.

Hunting Open Country

Deer hunting in open country can be just as productive as any other environment. A good pair of binoculars can be used to scout and spot deer from distances. Adequate camouflage clothing and proper scent control is a must.

A spot and stalk can be an effective way for deer hunting in open terrain. Make sure to use the wind properly. The wind in your face or a cross wind blowing away from the deer is best.

Another approach is to set up a natural or portable ground blind. A blind is an excellent tool for open terrain deer hunting. Look for fresh deer sign and place the blind accordingly.

Don’t overlook open country terrain when considering a deer hunting location. It may just be the spot where the big boy is hiding.

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