#2024306 - 08/10/10 10:58 AM
Enormous shed....PLEASE help!
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BluegrassDan
4 Point
Registered: 09/14/09
Posts: 395
Loc: Elizabethton, Carter County, T...
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The lawn guy found this big shed with 4 points where I hunt. He found it back at the end of winter. I need your help...
Where I hunt, there is a house, a small 4 acre field, then woods with lots of creeks. It's all on the side of a mountain. He found the shed right in the field on the edge of the woods.
I knew there was a buck in this area, but I could never see him. I suspect he would come through during the night and munch on apples falling off the trees. I had NO idea there was a buck this big up there...AND so close to the house!
How on earth should I set up for him? If he's noctural I'll never have a chance down in the field. I'll probably scare him off humping up the side of the mountain in the dark. What do yall think?
Here's a pic of the lawn guy with the shed. Keep in mind, this is pretty big for an East Tennessee mountain deer.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-s...2_3009262_n.jpg
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#2024324 - 08/10/10 11:13 AM
Re: Enormous shed....PLEASE help!
[Re: BluegrassDan]
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Tomahawk
6 Point
Registered: 07/11/10
Posts: 762
Loc: east & west tn
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Without knowing exactly what your area looks like but going by the description you gave... this is what I would do... Set up on the "inside corner" of the field if it actually has one. Be at least 30-40 yards in the woods off the inside corner with good view of trails skirting the field. If an "inside corner" doesn't exist there, my next approach would be to pattern the does during Nov. and not over hunt the area. I would wait for trail cameras to tell me when to hunt for the November strategy. Oh and of course you may be able to pattern the buck early season if he is using the field and receiving no pressure. Trail camera will be of great assistance. (And for the field a "PLOTWATCHER" camera would even be better) JMO... Good Luck
Edited by Tomahawk (08/10/10 11:15 AM)
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#2024374 - 08/10/10 11:39 AM
Re: Enormous shed....PLEASE help!
[Re: BluegrassDan]
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Setterman
8 Point
Registered: 12/31/09
Posts: 1783
Loc: Knoxville, TN
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I had NO idea there was a buck this big up there...AND so close to the house!
Thanks for this statement, it backs up what I was trying to tell BSK and others, that most folks who hunt this area have no idea what lurks in their woods.
That is a decent deer, I would not consider him a monster, but that is in the eyes of the beholder as to his quality ranking.
I would not hunt him anywhere near the field, I would try to figure out where he likely would bed, and how he would travel to and from that bedding area to where he or does are feeding. Set up in between with the wind right and it shouldn't take long to kill him. Be careful scouting now however, a few missteps and your chances with him could go down exponentially.
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#2024382 - 08/10/10 11:47 AM
Re: Enormous shed....PLEASE help!
[Re: Setterman]
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Tomahawk
6 Point
Registered: 07/11/10
Posts: 762
Loc: east & west tn
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I had NO idea there was a buck this big up there...AND so close to the house!
I would not hunt him anywhere near the field, I would try to figure out where he likely would bed, and how he would travel to and from that bedding area to where he or does are feeding. Set up in between with the wind right and it shouldn't take long to kill him. Be careful scouting now however, a few missteps and your chances with him could go down exponentially. What do you think an "inside corner" is? Its a travel route around the field without exposing themselves in the open. Probably one of the most productive spots you could ever hunt, provided all the factors are present. If his bedding area and feeding area are on either side, then he will pass by the inside corner.
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#2024512 - 08/10/10 01:16 PM
Re: Enormous shed....PLEASE help!
[Re: MUP]
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Winchester
Non-Typical
Registered: 12/05/03
Posts: 25339
Loc: TN
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Be careful, but the sooner the better as far as locating some likely travel routes between bed and feed. I would back way off the field as well, not likely to kill a mature buck anywhere near a open field during daylight in a high pressure area. Terrain features will tell the tale, as he will use it to his advantage in his travels, which is about the only thing predictable you will likely find about him!
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#2024859 - 08/10/10 04:56 PM
Re: Enormous shed....PLEASE help!
[Re: Winchester]
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bowriter
Non-Typical
Registered: 08/31/02
Posts: 40337
Loc: Lebanon,TN USA
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I'm with Tomahawk. That is the first place I would consider and I probably would not even try to hunt this buck in the morning and I would wait until at least pre-rut. But I'd hang the stand tomorrow and cut my shooting lanes. Then I would not go anywhere near the place until I hunted it.
_________________________
Constipation has ruined many a good day. Not as many as stupidity, though.
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#2024862 - 08/10/10 04:57 PM
Re: Enormous shed....PLEASE help!
[Re: Winchester]
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BluegrassDan
4 Point
Registered: 09/14/09
Posts: 395
Loc: Elizabethton, Carter County, T...
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Thanks guys. Like I said, I knew there was a buck near the field but I had no idea that he was so big. Shed was found less than 100 yards from the house.
My biggest challenge will be getting into position. The road goes right into the field and the property is so steep and rocky. I found his travel routes but i have no confidence that I can get into place without getting busted.
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#2024871 - 08/10/10 05:05 PM
Re: Enormous shed....PLEASE help!
[Re: BluegrassDan]
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Camp
12 Point
Registered: 11/30/07
Posts: 5917
Loc: Rutherford County / Mid TN
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A lot of good info above!
As hard as it might be, just don't let yourself get sucked into concentrating your hunting where the shed was found!
Yes he was there, in that spot, but most likely not during hunting season. JMO
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#2024884 - 08/10/10 05:19 PM
Re: Enormous shed....PLEASE help!
[Re: BluegrassDan]
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Gray Ghost
TnDeer Old Timer
14 Point
Registered: 01/10/00
Posts: 7815
Loc: Kingsport, TN, USA
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Looks like a nice buck Dan.
Depends upon the time of year that I hunt fields whether I'd hunt that one or not. I would give it attn. during late season, from mid-Dec on but I would hunt it during early season at least until acorns drop, since there are apples available.
You might catch him coming around the field, for nothing more than to water in the nearby creeks.
The creeks must cut thru or converge somewhere nearby, and are probably in a rare, semi-level part of the property. The creeks probably cut between steep hills or mountains, making them an automatic travel corridor, since deer use terrain features to their advantage.
Sounds to me like you have the makings of a pretty good spot with the differing terrain in a confined area, the water, and the food source. Hunt the wind and thermals as hard as you can. Sounds like you should see some deer to me.
_________________________
Witness to the Execution
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