Where would you hunt?

[bsparker]

Just for kicks, tell me where to hunt. What can you tell from topography? Based on the map what would you try? Or are there to many variables to determine from a map?

I'm trying to learn, so help educate me. I like trying to new places on the property, about 1000 acres. Too many choices is a luxury to have I understand, but I also sit in one spot wondering about another spot.

I will say of the three spots I've circled on the map there are signs of bucks everywhere, and bedding. I've only seen two bucks this season, both during the rut. Haven't spent much time in these three areas though. There are only a couple of guys that hunt this property, but the deer are skittish (in season and out of season). No ag. nearby.

The wind over the next couple days is about 5mph out of the west and northwest.

I've given three quick options, but feel free to suggest others.

 

[Thomasss]

Option 1 looks good for early morning. Option 2 and Option 3 seem to be off a little. Option 2 should be a little north and Option 3 a little west. I tend to stay away from beds ... don't want to spook a major bedding area. Streams can be productive and topo maps can only tell so much. Deer like structure. Typically they will run 2/3 up along a ridge and stay in wooded areas unless driven into the open. You noted some trails. Do your positions give you good shooting and spotting options on those trails? Do you have good hiding cover? Topos don't tell you that...you have to decide.

 

[troy fairweather]

2 it's the flatest.

 

[Laphroaig]

None of the above? Winds from W/NW will be at your back assuming you are standing on the high ground and looking downhill. Maybe option #1 would at least give you a crosswind if they stay from the W.

 

[bsparker]

None of the above? Winds from W/NW will be at your back assuming you are standing on the high ground and looking downhill. Maybe option #1 would at least give you a crosswind if they stay from the W.

I've found myself in this predicament a couple times. I was thinking the deer might be on the leeward side because of less wind and more southern side because of sun. If so, most options have the wind to my back which is definitely not ideal. As of yesterday was planning on option 1 for this reason. But agree with @Thomasss that option 1 may be a better morning spot. I've only sat there twice ever, one AM and one PM. Heard one in the AM, and jumped two in the PM. Didn't get a sight on either. Some great buck rubs along that ridge though most walking up hill.

 

[wombat13]

You don't say where you are, but there is snow in your member photo, so I'll assume it is somewhere cold. My property may be similar to the property in question. Mine is in the NE, heavily wooded, 700' of elevation change, and no agriculture near by. We have a creek, but with that much elevation change there are springs coming out of the hillsides all over the property. These features mean that it is difficult to use water or food source to hunt the deer. We have had consistent success hunting the transition areas between flat land and steep land. Deer can run straight up a the face of a hill that we would need our hands and feet to climb...but they don't want to!

With that in mind, I would look in the following places:

1. Just north of Option 2 it is relatively flat and then a very steep descent (NE of the 1573' peak). It looks like there is relatively easy travel East-West in that area and the steep hill to the North will act like a wall or funnel.
2. SE of Option 2 there is a relatively easy slope between two steeper slopes. From the "O" in Option 2, draw a line through the marker for "Grave" and continue to the "1100" elevation marker to the SE. I would be looking at the gentle slope NW of the "1100".
3. The "saddle" NW of option 3. Head north from Option 3 over the 1804' peak to the "1600" marking on the map. It is very steep to E and NE of the 1600 marker and quite flat to the W and NW. A deer trying to mover from the W or NW of "1600" to E is likely to travel through that area (or trying to go in the opposite direction).

 

[Patocazador]

North of the spring above Option 1 and 2. It flattens out and animals like to move along watercrosses. Any stream would be my 2nd option.

 

[WestKentucky]

Below option 1 there is a flatter area near the water source. Flatter seems to generally mean a little more open for the places I hunt. I would be around that 1100 marking just below the grid line.

 

[WrongHanded]

Not knowing what the weather conditions or tree coverage is like where you are, it would be hard for me to choose a spot.

But I suppose I'd take the trail south between Options 2 and 3. The head SE across the 3 fingers that head down to the drainage (relatively flat route) and sit on the last finger ridge. Then I'd glass north towards the grave, and also back west along that opposing slope. That's a lot of area to watch, and I'm assuming it's cold and the deer want to be in the sun.

Then again, I'm not much of a hunter. So take that into consideration.

 

[Howland937]

I'd rather see a satellite view of the property to go along with the topographic map. Habitat is usually more a concern to me than elevation. But we don't have billy-deer-goats in Southern Ohio.

 

[bsparker]

I'd rather see a satellite view of the property to go along with the topographic map. Habitat is usually more a concern to me than elevation. But we don't have billy-deer-goats in Southern Ohio.

Let me know if you see anything worth noting. Have never had an satellite view with boundary markers. Here's a quick attempt, everything in red is part of the property (sorry not the easiest to see). It's thick woods and brush almost everywhere, except for the powerlines running almost N/S, around the house at the far right of the property, a small field, and some area around the pond. There are several streams and springs on the property. Ive taken several deer on the edge of the powerlines. Near the field and the house, deer only come out well after dark.

 

[wombat13]

Let me know if you see anything worth noting. Have never had an satellite view with boundary markers. Here's a quick attempt, everything in red is part of the property (sorry not the easiest to see). It's thick woods and brush almost everywhere, except for the powerlines running almost N/S, around the house at the far right of the property, a small field, and some area around the pond. There are several streams and springs on the property. Ive taken several deer on the edge of the powerlines. Near the field and the house, deer only come out well after dark.

View attachment 961183

Wow! A metric s——- ton of trees. Just like where I hunt. You need to hunt the topography.

 

[wombat13]

Think like a deer. I don’t want to burn calories I don’t need to burn. I need food and shelter from extreme weather. Prevailing wind is where? Sunshine is where? Easy slopes for climbing are where?

 

[jmr40]

Is that a power line of gas line right of way. I've found edges to be productive, any place right on the edge between 2 different types of terrain. At this time of year many deer are nocturnal here and will only come out into open areas after dark. If you can find trails where they are leaving heavy cover into the open you can often catch them just at sunup as they head back into the thick stuff. Or just before dark in the thick stuff moving toward the openings.

 

[jmorris]

It's thick woods and brush almost everywhere, except for the powerlines

Every time I clear a trail in thick brush, there are deer prints in the dirt in short order. I would find a path they use to go east/west across there and hunt not far from it.

I don’t like to hunt bedding areas, unless I want to run deer off. Doesn’t matter if it’s early morning or after dark when you enter or leave, they know it. Generally easier to be at or between where they eat and sleep before they come from/go to bedding area.

 

[bsparker]

You all are a wealth of info and successful at getting the gears turning. Appreciate the ideas, it's helping me grasp the fundamentals again as I tend to over think.

I've hunted this property for 20 years, but only within the last 6 or so have I given any real thought to the layout and deer patterns. My dad, who passed 12 years ago, taught me to hunt by saying "go stand over there" or "walk that way". He took a lot of great deer but never really taught me much, more of a figure it out as you go. I've taken some good deer on this property, I'll still hunt or use a tree as a leaning post but mainly in the morning, the evenings have been elusive to me. Changes in schedule and family life due to covid have me only getting in evening hunts this year, which is throwing me for a loop.

 

[BreechFace]

Based on your satelite picture, wherever you can see, wow that’s some dense forest. I would be working that cut line in the early morning and late evening and then transition to what I talk about below mid day.

Option 2: the flattest of the terrain and as was said earlier I would be looking for any draws and be glassing 2/3 the way up from the easy walking. That’s where I usually see the smart deer, they travel an elevation line up from a draw and usually off a main open trail / service road.

The moons current cycle will play a role. If it’s a full moon they stay out late and eat all night and bed down during the day to avoid predators. It seems like my recent hunts have been under a full moon which is frustrating.

 

[bsparker]

You don't say where you are, but there is snow in your member photo, so I'll assume it is somewhere cold. My property may be similar to the property in question. Mine is in the NE, heavily wooded, 700' of elevation change, and no agriculture near by. We have a creek, but with that much elevation change there are springs coming out of the hillsides all over the property. These features mean that it is difficult to use water or food source to hunt the deer. We have had consistent success hunting the transition areas between flat land and steep land. Deer can run straight up a the face of a hill that we would need our hands and feet to climb...but they don't want to!

With that in mind, I would look in the following places:

1. Just north of Option 2 it is relatively flat and then a very steep descent (NE of the 1573' peak). It looks like there is relatively easy travel East-West in that area and the steep hill to the North will act like a wall or funnel.
2. SE of Option 2 there is a relatively easy slope between two steeper slopes. From the "O" in Option 2, draw a line through the marker for "Grave" and continue to the "1100" elevation marker to the SE. I would be looking at the gentle slope NW of the "1100".
3. The "saddle" NW of option 3. Head north from Option 3 over the 1804' peak to the "1600" marking on the map. It is very steep to E and NE of the 1600 marker and quite flat to the W and NW. A deer trying to mover from the W or NW of "1600" to E is likely to travel through that area (or trying to go in the opposite direction).

Thanks for explaining your ideas and what you see on the map. Not far from your modifications to #2 I had been playing tag with a 4pt about mid-November. Ended up taking the doe he was following with a SAA .45 at 25yards. This was closer to the field edge than what you suggested, but I would gather that following that ridge up a little further will have some good bedding and food. I've only walked that hill once, but have seen deer cross over it from the other side of it. Coming down that slope off the hill of option #2 is thick brush. I'd probably only try to navigate it after a good rain, when not every movement will sound like walking on lightbulbs.

Edit: meant option 2

 

[Howland937]

If I were to go put up a stand based on the pictures, I'd be looking hard around that strip that bisects the right of way. I'm not a master hunter by any means, and mostly hunt public land. I hunt it the same way I fish... Figure out what they're feeding on and where they're residing when they're not feeding, then try to ambush them somewhere in between. Usually natural funnels, draws and transitions.

 

[AK Hunter]

Option 1 looks like it has elevation over the run with an evening sun at your back the deer won't be able to see you if you were standing there in the open.

 

[George P]

If in the arid Western high desert like Northern NV, I'd be looking for seeps, springs and other water sources first, followed by shelter/bedding areas. Can't help you if in the East, haven't hunted here.

 

[Milt1]

I'd hunt option one in the western corner keeping an eye on what looks like a passage way below the spring.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

The green area is the area where I'd physically be. The green arrows are the places where I'd be looking for deer.

You have what looks like a pond of some sort with a couple trails leading to it. Deer like easy walking as much as humans, and they WILL use human trails. So the water source would be a good bet.

LD

The map shows a little waterway going from that "pond" Northeast then swinging round to the Southeast. Those lower areas allow you to look down from the area marked in green. Deer might use that low area with the tiny creek as a concealed pathway.

The green area is a pair of "saddles" between three little hilltops. Good place for bedding as it allows the deer to see in lots of directions, so if you don't see any deer in the morning or during the day, get ready as the sun goes down.

OH and the blue question mark...
the other reason why I like that saddle area is the easy depression to the Southeast where the question mark indicates. With normal wind that you specified, your scent will go that way and the deer will shy off, BUT if the wind reverses, that's where I'd look for deer. It is a natural concealment point for them, easy walking, and when the wind is from the W or NW it allows them to scent-check the saddle area as they move into it for the night.

 

[bsparker]

View attachment 961343

The green area is the area where I'd physically be. The green arrows are the places where I'd be looking for deer.

You have what looks like a pond of some sort with a couple trails leading to it. Deer like easy walking as much as humans, and they WILL use human trails. So the water source would be a good bet.

LD

The map shows a little waterway going from that "pond" Northeast then swinging round to the Southeast. Those lower areas allow you to look down from the area marked in green. Deer might use that low area with the tiny creek as a concealed pathway.

The green area is a pair of "saddles" between three little hilltops. Good place for bedding as it allows the deer to see in lots of directions, so if you don't see any deer in the morning or during the day, get ready as the sun goes down.

OH and the blue question mark...
the other reason why I like that saddle area is the easy depression to the Southeast where the question mark indicates. With normal wind that you specified, your scent will go that way and the deer will shy off, BUT if the wind reverses, that's where I'd look for deer. It is a natural concealment point for them, easy walking, and when the wind is from the W or NW it allows them to scent-check the saddle area as they move into it for the night.

What you can't see from this map is that the route following the creek SE of the pond has an old road that deadends where the creek turns south. I love this area back there, although I haven't hunted it in 15 years. My dad used to. My son and I have fished many crawdads out of that creek and caught a lot of bass from that pond. Thanks for the good ideas, I'll have to do some scouting.

Somewhere along that red property line is an old road also, last I checked it needed be cleared. It would give access to the "?" area. I'll have to investigate that area in late winter and see if I get something going back there.

 

[bsparker]

You don't say where you are, but there is snow in your member photo, so I'll assume it is somewhere cold. My property may be similar to the property in question. Mine is in the NE, heavily wooded, 700' of elevation change, and no agriculture near by. We have a creek, but with that much elevation change there are springs coming out of the hillsides all over the property. These features mean that it is difficult to use water or food source to hunt the deer. We have had consistent success hunting the transition areas between flat land and steep land. Deer can run straight up a the face of a hill that we would need our hands and feet to climb...but they don't want to!

With that in mind, I would look in the following places:

1. Just north of Option 2 it is relatively flat and then a very steep descent (NE of the 1573' peak). It looks like there is relatively easy travel East-West in that area and the steep hill to the North will act like a wall or funnel.

I checked out just north of option 2 this evening. There's a rub line that runs on the north side of the ridge and then crosses over onto the ridge line. Everything south of that ridge is thick brush for a 50- 75 yards or so. I could see several paths coming in and out of it where there must be some traffic. But there's no walking through it unless you want to alert the world you're coming.

The spot I set up had a nice view looking down the southeast side of the knoll on to the bench below, there's a little bit of a clearing 30yards by 50 yards maybe.


I also found a nice area at the base of the "finger" just before you hit the powerlines (a line or two before you get to the "S" in spring). A nice clearing with good trees but not a lot brush, maybe 50 yards deep and runs 100 yards parallel to the powerline clearing. This will definitely be a spot to sit in the future. The rub line cuts through this section also.

Not as cold as NE. I'm in northern Virginia at the base of the apalachian mountains. Normal December day is a high around 30-35. Geography sound similar though.

Thanks for the suggestions, always great to try out a new spot on the property and a lot to be learned.