Hunting INSIDE Pine Thickets

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EastTNHunter

EastTNHunter

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Mar 8, 2010
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11,196
City & State/Province
Rhea Co., TN
Hey guys, I have a draw hunt this coming weekend along with a few other members (you know who you are). I have scouted out the area and am finding VERY few acorns that are not rotten. I and other members have talked to the warden over this WMA and he could not offer advice as "the deer are spooked," "the acorns are a bust," and "people are hunting all over the place and not very predictable." The deer seem to be getting most of their food from the fields, but are showing themselves mostly after dark. I have found some areas where they are bedding in pine thickets on the edges of said fields, and although my sight/shots would be limited, I am considering hunting on the downwind side of one of these thickets about 50yd inside of it if I have not gotten anything by Sunday afternoon. What are members' experiences with hunting inside the thickets and not just on the edges?
 
I've killed and seen some of my biggest deer in pine thickets I'd do it in a heartbeat. When pressure is on they come to it like a magnet. I even was walking on my farm one year and shot a buck at 40 yards while I was walking in one and he never once saw me. Also sometimes deer I shoot die in the thickets... I can't tell you how many times when I get down after 2 or three hours I have deer still come walking through. I've had a lot of success with pine thickets
 
Nealmeally said:
Be very creful and watch your wind is the main thing..
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In my thickets wind isn't really a issue I spray down and have never had any just pick me out. The wind is blocked by the thick cover. But that's not to say they wouldn't spook. Making sure its not a bedding was my issue it took me awhile to figure out how and where to hunt my spot in border not to spook or alert deer while walking in
 
I hunt inside the edge of one cedar thicket in particular and have seen deer most of the time in there and killed a couple too. Deer love cedar thickets, probably the same with pines but I don't have any pine thickets to hunt.
 
Start off hunting inside the pine thicket. Find the best used trail entering the pines that you can and hang with it. Get there early and Let the other hunters push the deer to you.
 
Tons of luck on a PINE PLANTATION.
Many hunters overlook the pines but you can safely climb high in a pine and the deer like to bed in pines. Especially on cold or windy days.
They can travel making very little noise so they do tend to be on top of you before you know it.
Thick brush inside pines is a good idea. In fact you will probably already find rubs and scrapes in the pines this time of year.
Go for it.
 
Thanks for the advice guys. I may give it a whirl as a last ditch effort, as this is only a 2 day hunt and there are trails EVERYWHERE. Hopefully I will get one on Saturday and not have to resort to this method. The pines would not allow a treestand, so I would have to be on the ground, and there are antler restrictions on this hunt, and the cover could make judging a buck a little dicey, but if it is a hail Mary pass then you are willing to take a few risks.
 
Sounds like I would hunt the pines exclusively. If it is only a two day hunt, You might as well hunt your best sign very hard.
 
WGK said:
Good luck. Let us know how it works out.
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Will do, Bill.

woodsman87 said:
Sounds like I would hunt the pines exclusively. If it is only a two day hunt, You might as well hunt your best sign very hard.
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Well, there is sign and trails EVERYWHERE else, as well. With it being so dry when I scouted, it is hard to tell what is fresh sign vs. old. I cannot tell which trails within the thickets are being used when. I will be hunting the edges of cover/terrain before I try inside the thicket. That way I can at least cover 50-60yd each way vs just 40 yards or so total. Also, I hope that the deer are pushed to the thickets and I can catch them as they go in, covering 2-3 trails at a time from a little less cover in a gully that I believe is still a safe zone to them.
 
I love hunting pines in late winter. Always see deer but you definately cant hear them at all on those pine needles so keep your eyes peeled.
 
I tried to try it (if that makes sense) but the thicket was so thick that 15yd would have been my longest shot, and the wind was swirling anyway. Deer would bust me before I saw them. I tried hunting the edge this am, but the deer crossed before daybreak and all I saw were turkeys after that.

I ended up on a ridgetop this afternoon, but the wind picked up so much that I was scared in the tree, and I came down when it started raining sideways 1hr before dark. By the time that I got back to the truck the rain and wind had stopped... Oh well! We'll try again tomorrow.
 
Leased planted pines this year and I feel unprepared... Literally zero pinch points and trails everywhere... Figured my best bet is sitting where trails intersect. I'm gonna check edges this afternoon and try to find something more solid. I'll have to ask land owners if I can access my lease from their land though. Don't want to ruffle any feathers
 

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