joshk-k
Member
Hi all,
I got back yesterday from my first real deer hunt in my life. I was hunting on private land near Tillamook, OR, about 200 acres of former industrial timber land that has largely been replanted with alder. It is fronted on most sides by BLM and State land, including some 90 year old second-growth forest. It has two streams and well-maintained logging roads throughout.
I saw a lot of signs of deer and elk. I saw tracks and trails all over the place, including the roads. I saw scat all over the place. I saw antler scrapes a number of times. And in a few days spent pretty solidly in the field, I didn't see a single deer or elk! Dang!
A few questions: Is that a likely scenario in a context like this? That I might just not see an animal at all for days?
Or am I doing something wrong? My strategy, based on an initial daylight meandering over the land, picked a number of spots that seemed like likely spots to see deer. There was a big bowl with a watering hole at the uphill side and a road curving in; the very end of a logging road which is a grassy clearing in the brush; etc. I would drive part way in at like 5 AM, then walk up the roads in the dark to a n overlooking spot and wait for hours, through the dawn, until maybe 8:30 or 9, without seeing anything.
I think I might have more luck up in the larger forest on BLM land, but the game trails to get in there seem really daunting to try in the dark at 5 in the morning.
To get into some of these places, it's necessary to follow the game trails. Doesn't that then ruin the situation, by leaving your scent all over the place?
The landowner, who does not hunt, is going to ask some of the guys who traditionally hunt elk on the land if I can tag along with them in November, so that might be more productive.
I had a blast, and felt like I learned a lot, but was also (understandably, I think) disappointed to have not even seen an animal, let alone harvested one. If anyone has any advice for me or can think of anything that might help me in general or in a hunting land like this, I'd appreciate it.
Thanks,
JOsh
I got back yesterday from my first real deer hunt in my life. I was hunting on private land near Tillamook, OR, about 200 acres of former industrial timber land that has largely been replanted with alder. It is fronted on most sides by BLM and State land, including some 90 year old second-growth forest. It has two streams and well-maintained logging roads throughout.
I saw a lot of signs of deer and elk. I saw tracks and trails all over the place, including the roads. I saw scat all over the place. I saw antler scrapes a number of times. And in a few days spent pretty solidly in the field, I didn't see a single deer or elk! Dang!
A few questions: Is that a likely scenario in a context like this? That I might just not see an animal at all for days?
Or am I doing something wrong? My strategy, based on an initial daylight meandering over the land, picked a number of spots that seemed like likely spots to see deer. There was a big bowl with a watering hole at the uphill side and a road curving in; the very end of a logging road which is a grassy clearing in the brush; etc. I would drive part way in at like 5 AM, then walk up the roads in the dark to a n overlooking spot and wait for hours, through the dawn, until maybe 8:30 or 9, without seeing anything.
I think I might have more luck up in the larger forest on BLM land, but the game trails to get in there seem really daunting to try in the dark at 5 in the morning.
To get into some of these places, it's necessary to follow the game trails. Doesn't that then ruin the situation, by leaving your scent all over the place?
The landowner, who does not hunt, is going to ask some of the guys who traditionally hunt elk on the land if I can tag along with them in November, so that might be more productive.
I had a blast, and felt like I learned a lot, but was also (understandably, I think) disappointed to have not even seen an animal, let alone harvested one. If anyone has any advice for me or can think of anything that might help me in general or in a hunting land like this, I'd appreciate it.
Thanks,
JOsh