Deer hunting...

AdamOHare

Hi all,

I know there is a big enough herd of deer in my area. The area is about 9 miles long and 4 miles wide and inside that there is plenty of bogs, lots of farm land, plenty of fields with horses etc. However theres not much forestry if any.

I have never seen these deer myself even though I always keep an eye out for them for past couple of years any time Im out hunting/fishing. I know a lot of people that have seen them. Fishermen, lads in the hunting club, people living in the area, even my own cousin has had hassle with them breaking fences last year- and yes definitely deer as he watched them himself.

And they dont seem to have an area of preference, its as if they just wander around aimlessly. I just cant pin them to any area or work out where they will be next.

So how do you lads do it?

Im thinking of getting some trail cams... but where/how do you even start with them. The deer are moving around such a huge area. Maybe salt licks or something.


BTW: Went on stalks once or twice with different lads, but they always seemed to have an idea of roughly where to find the deer.

Thanks for any help.

BTW again.... I know its not deer season yet... but I just want to get this all sorted now. And not be waiting for the season to start before asking questions..

Deerspotter

Wind direction, temperature, what way the sun is shinning, where would be the tasty food, where do they have cover are all things to consider and mastering this is what makes a hunter. Otherwise, you're just a lad out for a walk with a gun!
Think about it. What way is the wind blowing? This is important, so they can't smell you coming. They also have great hearing, so be so quiet, from the moment you shut your car door! If it is warm, they'll be on higher ground, if it is cooler, they will be on lower ground.
They don't like to look in to the sunshine, so walk to with your back to the sun at dawn and your face in to the wind - best chance to sneak up on one.
If they have cover, they will be in it most of the time, lying down and can be impossible to see. They move to feed - so dawn and dusk are the best spotting times, near where they'd come out of cover to find food.
There is so much more to it than that.

One shot on kill

You Litteraly have to become part of the environment they are in. If you just wanna watch get into position and wait. If your walking and fumbiling around they will disappear.

Remember they know the environment and the area so much better than you and they will know when there is something up. I was talking to a guy during the week he was saying he watched a deer for a couple of hours in the tree line. The deer was just looking out and never moved just bairly moved his head left/right to look around. Then he just went of back into the trees. The guy reckons the deer knew well there was something up.

And bring plenty of patients.

Vizzy

One shot on Kill,funny you say that.
I was out on Wednesday in the woods.I have one dog on a 30 m lead cos he tend to "wander off" to say the least.The other dog will come back instantly.
Anyway,there is one spot where the forest road extends in front of you for about 500 yards,dead straight.
I spotted a deer at about 300 yards and sat down to watch her through the binos for about 15 minutes,She knew I was there cos every now and again she would look up to check where I was.But more interestingly,both dogs were moving around in front of me and the deer wasn't the slightest bit put off.
I presume she was saying to herself "even if one of them does try to chase me,I'll be in the next county before he gets here":D

One shot on kill

She more than likely was thinking that. They are very fast alrigh aren't they.

Ah look they know every inch of the land and know the second something is out of place. That's why they call it stalking I suppose. Ill have to get out a few evening myself and stalk a few and try keeping my in tune to what's going on around me aswel.

Vizzy

Yeah,they are a pleasure to watch.TBH I would be unlucky not to catch a glimpse of one(usually more) every time I am out.If not a deer I will spot a falcon or hawk or fox or something.
Growing up,many years ago,my dad instilled a love and respect for the outdoors and outdoor life that has stayed with me for 40+ years.

One shot on kill

That's brilliant on your dads behalf. I hope to do the same with my own son and daugher if she is interested. Your a lucky man if you can watch all that wildlife when ever you want.

dodderangler

Old saying comes to mind
To hunt your prey you must think like your prey

AdamOHare

Sorry it took so long to get back.

I understand that deer are easily spooked etc but what Im asking is where do you start?

Its such a huge area and I cant pin them to any one spot. As Deerspotter said, I dont want to be just "out for a walk with the rifle".

Where would you start?

Theres no mountains, and no real forestry in this area... so basically farm and bog land makes up the majority. Im guessing bog provides the cover then during the day they graze on whatever they can scavenge? Does that sound about right? Or am I way off the mark?

And the same with the trail cams. I hear people saying set them up on a tree and figure out the deers behaviour/patterns. But ehh what tree? its such a huge area, I could set up 20 trail cams and not see a deer on any of them. Like how do you know where to put the cameras in the first place? And bare in mind I'll only have 1 cam to work with not 20...

Thanks for all the help guys I really appreciate this. If ever theres a boards meetup drinks will be on me

One shot on kill

AdamOHare wrote: »

Thanks for all the help guys I really appreciate this. If ever theres a boards meetup drinks will be on me

Good man fair play but you could end up regretting that.

I'd start by looking where you think there grazing is there loads of tracks **** scratching on trees any signs really. Then I go out one nite and sit and wait do t move don't talk just wait and watch. Go to anther position another nite if needs be. Remember you could be there hours. Days and nites like this it might be hard to see them its still very bright at nite and in the late evenings. Nice overcast nite.

I've also been told lately that they don't tend to like sheep

ah sure !

the only way to find out where they are is to spend time walking the place early morning. Check for tracks etc ....Spend the summer getting to know the area.

AdamOHare

One shot on kill wrote: »

Good man fair play but you could end up regretting that.

I'd start by looking where you think there grazing is there loads of tracks **** scratching on trees any signs really. Then I go out one nite and sit and wait do t move don't talk just wait and watch. Go to anther position another nite if needs be. Remember you could be there hours. Days and nites like this it might be hard to see them its still very bright at nite and in the late evenings. Nice overcast nite.

I've also been told lately that they don't tend to like sheep

Sounds like a plan One Shot.

I know about the damaged trees, hair in barbed fences, is there anything I can look for?

I dont think I'd be very good at "tracking" as you said across a field the way you see some lads doing it. That ray mears chap you see him in one of his videos when hes tracking deer and he pointing into a field "look a deer walked this way, then came over here and oh look, he lay down and went to sleep right there" :eek: wish I could do that

One shot on kill

That's all I really know about lad. So pick a spot somewhere where you can see as much as you can with binos if needs be. Try sit with the sun to your back da wing to where you think they might be. Also try face into the wind so your scent isn't blowing in the direction of where you think they are.

The only other thing anyone can do for you is go down and point them out for you.

ianoo

2 things deer leave plenty off is" s***e and tracks" ,
if you can find these you are on to a good start and just watch these areas ,

orrrr you could tell all of us where this area is and we'll all go and have a look for ya:D:D:D:D


ian............