Stand location

[just lucky]

While I was sitting in the woods this evening I started thinking about my stand/ ground hunting location. I hunt several surrounding properties in my area. 

Most of my spots are located in pines, with a couple on over grown powerlines. I don't see alot of deer when sitting, but usually quality deer. When I have sat on food sources I see more deer, but smaller ones. My father loved watching golden rod fields.

When still hunting I prefer to get on a ridge, and peek over every 20 yards or so.

What type of woods/ terrain do you gravitate to when picking a spot to set up on?

[will12785]

I set my stands near bedding areas. I find better mid day activity. When I'm still hunting I like to work a ridge. 

Feeding areas where I hunt are difficult with farms in 3 directions. 

[mowin]

During the rut, close to bedding or thicker areas. Late season, between bedding and food source or on the food source. 

[2BuckBizCT]

I

Edited November 4, 2024 by 2BuckBizCT

[just lucky]

49 minutes ago, mowin said:

During the rut, close to bedding or thicker areas. Late season, between bedding and food source or on the food source. 

I am more opposite,  during rut (bow)I end up between bedding areas. Later in season (gun) I go in the bedding areas. I don't like to go in or near the bedding area until gun season. If I jump one then I have a shot opportunity. 

I gained access this year to new property, bow season only. Has a flooded, beaver damed creek on the bottom, with a nice mix of pines, some oaks and beech on the hill.

When I got permission my intentions were to hunt the swampy part, always see deer coming from there but I find myself hunting the edge of the pines, 75 yard in from the oaks, and beech. No nuts on the ground, decent deer sign though. I haven't even explored the swamp because I know there is a good one traveling where I am set up.  

 

[dbHunterNY]

my preference changes throughout the season.

typically the last few weeks it's been hubs and edges between hardwood oak stands and bedding, sometimes with water thrown in the mix of the other two. all deer were hammering acorns hard and not moving much for distance despite moving lot in a smaller area.

before that it was thick bedding cover butted up to secluded sections of fields with travel cover like a hedgerow towards other thick cover. any early estrous doe hole up or run to the thickest stuff there is early season. field edges can let me safely glass from a distance to pick deer patterns up and come up with a plan to move in tight if need be.

in the next few weeks i've got a few spots that are more open conifer stands with a high canopy. deer don't loiter but a lot travel through when pushed by other deer or hunters.

swamps with travel corridors around them on downwind side are nice and swamps themselves provide massive amount of thick cover for pressured deer. I hunt the downwind side at times.

thick and tall CRP fields are great to glass midday. when things are slow deer use them for bedding and security cover. it's impossible get through them quietly and undetected and not lose track of were deer were bedded. with a rifle through you can glass for heads or spot deer getting up to reposition and bed back down.

 

thanksgiving week it's any pocket of cover that hasn't seen boots or an atv in it much, preferably at all.

later in the season, after thanksgiving weekend, it's south facing slopes with conifers that block the wind but not the sun.

[Moog5050]

Much of my property is swamp bordered by AG so plenty of bedding.  I try to pick and choose where I think the bucks will be scenting for does during rut.   I have had success on my plot but that is usually pre-rut when I don't want to push too deep into the swamp.  Every property is different imo but knowing the bedding areas and traditional buck runs helps.  Cams also help immensely to understand movement.  I found a great spot this year that is producing daily with nice bucks and no stand there.   will be one there next year

[Nomad]

I have four stands all in the back part of the same woods, there’s three more that either aren’t up or I’ve been to lazy to trim and they’re overgrown .

I hunt large AG and food is 360, so the old get in between bedding and food makes me chuckle ,ok the field behind the woods is a mile long , pick a spot champ .

After 30 some years I know the patterns that generally show each year ,if I sit long enough I’ll get my buck . One camera not really near my stands, don’t scout . Sometimes I let my wife pick my stand ,and she has no idea about hunting or even where they are. 
 

I should do seminars! 

[2BuckBizCT]

On 11/5/2024 at 3:07 PM, Nomad said:

I should do seminars! 

I didn't marry into hunting land, but if I ever get divorced I will contact you to help me meet some chicks with farmland!

[Nomad]

10 minutes ago, 2BuckBizCT said:

I didn't marry into hunting land, but if I ever get divorced I will contact you to help me meet some chicks with farmland!

Just chicks ? Seems rather limiting .

try this, https://www.farmersonly.com

[Ausable]

100% of our big game hunting is done on private ranches that surround  blm/state ground With NO PUBLIC ACCESS  out west in MT, WY, CO & ID (haven't used a, rifle in 45 yrs) out there  we pick a  ridge/glassing area (overlooking a known travel corridor, glass, spot then stalk,  sometimes we only have to stalk 100 yards , other times it's a mile. *

[G-man]

Most of my stands are travel corridors  found i  saddles  top of ridges  top or bottom of ravine.   I'm not a food  plot hunter I  general  yes I put them in but  I look at a large destination food  plot as a late season  place.  I prefer the deer are unharassed there all bow  n gun  .