Hunting Pressure

[JDS]

So a little background first. I hunt some land in middle TN. It is 350-450(not sure exactly) acres in size. There are 6-7 people who hunt this property. It is not a lease. We all hunt for free and we all hunt with granted permission from owners. We all get along with each other and the owners. The question I have is that since it is so convenient, meaning less than 10 minutes from the houses of all, there are a few that may get off work early or go in late and go hunt an hour or two during any given week day. The weekends are always hunted. I say this to say this property is getting hammered in my opinion. We still see deer(doe and buck) but I worry about the pressure. If we say that any sit by any one hunter of an hour or more counts then there has already been 56 sits since archery opener. So with that in mind how bad is that? I have never hunted public/WMA so are they worse? I am trying to get an idea of how hard this property is getting hit. Trying to find a comparison so to speak. If I wanted I could not limit the hunting so there is nothing I can really do about it. I just trying to get some perspective on this, meaning is it really as bad as I think when compared to some public/WMA's/LBL/FC or even other structured leases? I know this isn't a structured lease it is more of a free for all. Any thoughts on how we might can fix this amongst just the 6-7 hunters. I do know there are 2 of them that wouldn't like any limits as there is only one now(don't shoot less than an 8 ptr).

I know there are a few big areas of this land (10-30 acre chunks) where no hunter has stepped foot that has great cover/browse/acorns so I am going to start hunting those come ML. What else would you do if you were hunting this property? Any other thoughts would be appreciated too.

Thanks

 

[W.Seay]

Go to the area that has seen the least amount of pressure!

 

[hunttherut]

Nothing you can really do since you don't own the property and you say it really isn't a lease.


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[tree_ghost]

There are plenty of private properties all over the country that receive now pressure than many tracts of WMA...

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[TboneD]

Go to the area that has seen the least amount of pressure!

And hunt it smart. Try not to let the deer pattern you by using same access routes all the time. I'll go out on a limb and say that there are parts of all of our public land here in middle TN that are hunted more, some areas less. Like he said, just try to go where they've seen the least pressure. I'd add you might try hunting the same areas as others, but at a different time and try to use different access than others when it makes sense. Wind in face minimizes scent drift over the acreage so less acreage that gets stunk up, the less pressure the deer feel. Be sure to check wind in stands with something that will float in the wind a ways. It'll really surprise you, even when it's relatively flat terrain. One more thing. Be grateful you see deer.


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[Boll Weevil]

To answer your question, 56 sits on 350/450 ac by 7 hunters and it's not even MZ season yet is a tremendous amount of pressure in my opinion. Your property is absolutely being pounded. The only thing I could suggest is to talk with the other hunters and maybe you can come to some sort of plan going forward (though even as I type this have no idea what that might look like).

Best of luck to you.

 

[Winchester]

Pay attention and figure out the areas getting NO pressure, even if they may be small, you will be amazed at what you may see in these areas.

 

[TboneD]

To answer your question, 56 sits on 350/450 ac by 7 hunters and it's not even MZ season yet is a tremendous amount of pressure in my opinion. Your property is absolutely being pounded. The only thing I could suggest is to talk with the other hunters and maybe you can come to some sort of plan going forward (though even as I type this have no idea what that might look like).

Best of luck to you.

I tend to agree with you, but bottom line, he said he still sees deer, both bucks and does. That's not something to take for granted, all I'm saying.


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[landman]

Go to the area that has seen the least amount of pressure!

There you go

Try taking an aerial map of the property and
Circling the areas that you know get hunted.
Look at that with a topo and how everything
fits with other tracts thT join it.

Start looking for another hunting tract

 

[Shed Hunter]

Sounds like way too much pressure to me.

As for public land, pressure is not a fixed variable.. put in the work and you can find several spots that are only seeing a fraction of the pressure you mention. Hunting public can be much better than private if you not only have time to, but also are willing to put a lot of work into finding areas that are getting relatively low pressure compared to surrounding areas. Let me make that point again.. If you are willing to put in the WORK. That includes keeping tabs on where other people are hunting. I use to come out early sometimes and drive around just to see who was where... scouting includes looking for trail markers, climber stand marks, and of course stands. You'll begin to appreciate the guys that hang the pink flags and ladder stands.

 

[JDS]

I tend to agree with you, but bottom line, he said he still sees deer, both bucks and does. That's not something to take for granted, all I'm saying.

Yep we are still seeing deer but not every time and I am sure no does that. As for myself I would have several doe and a buck if it was ML instead of archery. Most everything we see is 60-80 yards out. By this point last year most of us had arrowed a doe or 2 and there was 2 bucks down. This year zero but more sightings.

Try taking an aerial map of the property and
Circling the areas that you know get hunted.
Look at that with a topo and how everything
fits with other tracts thT join it.

Thanks I have been thinking about this and think I will now and then hunt those areas.

Pay attention and figure out the areas getting NO pressure, even if they may be small, you will be amazed at what you may see in these areas.

I did just this last week and found a sweet spot. I went in to scout and found a ton of sign and a ton of rubs new and old as well as trails, tracks and the works. I went back in and hung a camera and then backed out. I am going to leave it be to rest for a couple of weeks and then start hunting and will pull card first time I hunt so I don't intrude again. I also have found a couple of other areas on the sat map but I think I will take my climber and just go hunt those instead of risking my intrusion.


Thanks for all of the replies. I am still interested if anyone else has any other thoughts or ideas. Does public get hammered like this? Am I better off staying and finding those hidey holes here or going to LBL/FC or wherever?

Thanks again

 

[csi-tech]

I picked up a great deal of land this this year and I am already trying to figure out where my pressure will come from. I'm focusing on the small parcels that adjoin ours. I think people who have 150 acres to hunt are probably less likely to encroach than those with 10 acres. I am putting up new t posts, barbed wire and signs. Some major advantages I have are tons of bedding, cover and mast. Hopefully higher pressure will just push the deer onto our property. It has some advantages too. Try and get your fellow hunters on board with a management plan and try and limit the numbers of deer killed. I would also hope they don't just keep allowing everyone blanket permission to hunt.

 

[FLTENNHUNTER1]

400/7 = 57 acres each.

I have 72 acres to myself. It is a weird shape, but it is long, wide in the middle, and narrow on both ends. The main sanctuary is in the wide middle part. I don't enter it under any circumstance. I hunt the edges. I have set up ladder stands at funnels and saddles. I use a climber to move around. I don't hunt any of the stands for more than one day, somewhat depending on wind. I have a stringent scentlok routine that I believe works well; have had deer directly downwind from me and did not get winded. All of that said, it doesn't take much on a 72 acre tract for deer to pattern you. Fortunately for me, I am surrounded by large tract owners, not sure yet who hunts and who doesn't, but I hunt the property lines fairly closely (within 50 yards) and get quite a bit of traffic from neighbors. This is the first year I have hunted this property during archery. I'm curious to see what happens when the bullets start flying, might be a whole different ballgame.

How much property surrounds yours? Is is relatively a square shape?

 

[megalomaniac]

There are plenty of private properties all over the country that receive now pressure than many tracts of WMA...

This...

Just have fun and enjoy hunting for free. You might get lucky and a mentally challenged mature buck may drift onto the property following a hot doe and you'll kill the buck of a lifetime. But with that many people hunting that much, don't expect to change any habits.

 

[JDS]

How much property surrounds yours? Is is relatively a square shape?

The property is a weird shape. On 2 sides it is surrounded by 1-5 acre single home lots. On 1 side it is bordered by a church. On 1 side it is bordered by a half of a 800 acre managed hunting lease. A roads cuts this lease in half.

Just have fun and enjoy hunting for free. You might get lucky and a mentally challenged mature buck may drift onto the property following a hot doe and you'll kill the buck of a lifetime. But with that many people hunting that much, don't expect to change any habits.

This is what I am trying/hoping to do. I am doing my best to just enjoy it. I also feel like a lot of the weekday pressure will let up come DST time fall back. So that should help as well. There has been some really nice and large bucks taken off of this property over the years to the tune of 1-2 for whole property per year except for last year which none were taken. There are generally 1-3 small bucks 6,7,8 ptr basket racks taken as well. In ALL cases they are always taken by accident meaning those who took them was hunting a field and hoping a buck would show or like the biggest buck ever taken was done by the guy showing up after work walking in to a field edge and sitting on the ground and 10 minutes later a huge 12 ptr walks out at 30 yards. So I hope some of this luck hits me but I am trying to be smart as well. There are a couple of areas that haven't been entered yet and mainly because it is thick. One of the not entered areas I entered last weekend and found a huge trail with a very long rub line with fresh rubs and old rubs. I hung a camera and backed out. Won't enter again till muzzleloader opener with my climber. The other spots I am looking at them via topo and sat maps so I can get a plan on them and not enter them till I hunt them with my climber come November.

 

[fishboy1]

You have two choices.
1. Let the fever drive you and ruin a fun & convenient hunting spot.
2. Be grateful for a hunting spot so close to home and enjoy it, make friends with the other hunters and try to get the most out of it. Learn new techniques for hunting pressured land and don't worry about what is killed. Make having FUN the focus.

Its really hard just letting go of that drive and desire to have the "perfect" hunting spot. We all have to hunt what we have access to and enjoy it as much as possible. Learning to deal with pressure both from a hunting technique stand point and a personal mindset is one of the hardest things to learn in hunting.

Some guys get bent out of shape and let "the other guys" ruin their hunting to the point they don't want anybody else around.
Some guys learn to use other guys hunting techniques & pressure to their advantage... My buddy REN has mastered this and sees/shoots good bucks almost every year.
Some guys learn to let go and enjoy the hunt regardless of the "quality" of the place they get to hunt. I am struggling to become this guy. I rarely hunt without friends anymore even though I moved to a farm and can go any day I want. The hunts with friends, regardless of if we see deer or kill deer, are more fun for me than getting wrapped up in big buck fever and letting it warp my idea of fun to only killing a big buck.
If your goal is to have FUN, then you will enjoy hunting regardless of the outcome.

Sorry to get all Zen on ya. Hope you have a great season and enjoy it to the fullest. :tu:

 

[csi-tech]

I know this sounds absolutely insane but I have 400 acres to myself and the fact is, it gets a little lonely sometimes. My best friend can't always go when I do. The serenity is certainly welcome from time to time but it is comforting to know that if something happens I have some backup. I also like to share the experiences. Work with the other guys and take advantage of the opportunity you have.

 

[fairchaser]

Hunting pressure is a funny thing. If a property is routinely trafficked such as a golf course, the deer don't feel the pressure as much. Some properties can have one person walk through and the deer know hunting season has started and they go nocturnal. This is a generational thing so it could take years to correct if ever. Some have suggested hunting where the least traffic but you could take the opposite approach and create sanctuaries. Everyone would have to agree to not enter. This might at least keep deer on your property. You might get lucky during the rut and catch one chasing a doe. I hunt a large area but it still gets a lot of pressure and the deer know it's hunting season just from increased road traffic. There are some areas that are impenetrable and they make good bedding areas. We also have safe zones near houses etc and they also hold more deer. There was a study done on hunting pressure and it was determined that even one hunt in a shooting house affected the deer activity within the killing range around the shooting house so best of luck.

 

[JDS]

You have two choices.
1. Let the fever drive you and ruin a fun & convenient hunting spot.
2. Be grateful for a hunting spot so close to home and enjoy it, make friends with the other hunters and try to get the most out of it. Learn new techniques for hunting pressured land and don't worry about what is killed. Make having FUN the focus.

Its really hard just letting go of that drive and desire to have the "perfect" hunting spot. We all have to hunt what we have access to and enjoy it as much as possible. Learning to deal with pressure both from a hunting technique stand point and a personal mindset is one of the hardest things to learn in hunting.

Some guys get bent out of shape and let "the other guys" ruin their hunting to the point they don't want anybody else around.
Some guys learn to use other guys hunting techniques & pressure to their advantage... My buddy REN has mastered this and sees/shoots good bucks almost every year.
Some guys learn to let go and enjoy the hunt regardless of the "quality" of the place they get to hunt. I am struggling to become this guy. I rarely hunt without friends anymore even though I moved to a farm and can go any day I want. The hunts with friends, regardless of if we see deer or kill deer, are more fun for me than getting wrapped up in big buck fever and letting it warp my idea of fun to only killing a big buck.
If your goal is to have FUN, then you will enjoy hunting regardless of the outcome.

Sorry to get all Zen on ya. Hope you have a great season and enjoy it to the fullest. :tu:

Thanks for the input. I am trying to do #2 and just enjoy the convenience of the location as well as the opportunity to hunt. It does get a little difficult but I am trying to focus on this.

Hunting pressure is a funny thing. If a property is routinely trafficked such as a golf course, the deer don't feel the pressure as much. Some properties can have one person walk through and the deer know hunting season has started and they go nocturnal. This is a generational thing so it could take years to correct if ever. Some have suggested hunting where the least traffic but you could take the opposite approach and create sanctuaries. Everyone would have to agree to not enter. This might at least keep deer on your property. You might get lucky during the rut and catch one chasing a doe. I hunt a large area but it still gets a lot of pressure and the deer know it's hunting season just from increased road traffic. There are some areas that are impenetrable and they make good bedding areas. We also have safe zones near houses etc and they also hold more deer. There was a study done on hunting pressure and it was determined that even one hunt in a shooting house affected the deer activity within the killing range around the shooting house so best of luck.

I am wondering if some of this isn't true to an extent as well. Meaning during the spring/summer we can see deer in fields that are big nice bucks and they seem to disappear come hunting season but we still see a ton of doe and younger bucks on almost every hunt. And every so often we do see a nice buck as well. This property is used by others as well(camping and hiking) so it has a lot going on. The owners are fine with all of it with nothing that us hunters can do about it but hey it is right down the road. I am seeing about trying to find some other property. Not having much luck yet. I did join a lease with a couple of friends but the catch there is that the lease is 2.5 hrs away so it would have to be an all day trip or weekend trip and my personal schedule has not allowed me to get away yet. But am hoping to sometime in Nov.



Thanks to all for the replies and thoughts.

 

[hitek7]

Try to get permission to hunt the land joining this highly over pressured property and you should be in business! If everyone pays attention to wind direction and where they sit, this helps on the pressure.

We have stayed off of our property for almost 2 weeks now to give it a rest. May do 1 more hunt before the youth hunt but the deer should be fairly calm for the kids I plan to take.

 

[Deer Assassin]

There are plenty of private properties all over the country that receive now pressure than many tracts of WMA...

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ditto

 

[tsc]

If I was in that situation,A,I would be tickled to death to have it and B, What about the land bordering it? The plat map means nothing to a deer. Is the hunting pressure lighter on neighboring properties? If so hunt the edges if you find the right spots like holes in the fence,bluffends lowgaps, etc.

 

[catman529]

For a wma that would be high pressure for bow season for the acreage, but come gun season, the WMAs will be trampled to death.


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[TboneD]

For a wma that would be high pressure for bow season for the acreage, but come gun season, the WMAs will be trampled to death.


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I know what you mean. My son and I have had little company so far in a particular area of public land we hunt, but we know from last year, like most everywhere else, it will be hit HARD by other hunters come firearms seasons.


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[JDS]

thank you for all of the great advice. there are about 3 areas that haven't been entered yet and I think I will try and go into 2 of those and leave 1 alone. I am fairly positive that the others don't even realize there are 3 untouched areas still. I have also moved to the property edges. The others are focusing on the couple of food plots and on the field edges still. So I am hoping to catch something. I am also trying to just relax and have fun and realize that even with this large amount of pressure I have it good with this property so close to me. Thanks again for all of the advice and ideas.

 

[tsc]

thank you for all of the great advice. there are about 3 areas that haven't been entered yet and I think I will try and go into 2 of those and leave 1 alone. I am fairly positive that the others don't even realize there are 3 untouched areas still. I have also moved to the property edges. The others are focusing on the couple of food plots and on the field edges still. So I am hoping to catch something. I am also trying to just relax and have fun and realize that even with this large amount of pressure I have it good with this property so close to me. Thanks again for all of the advice and ideas.

Good deal, but listen... if it ever gets on your nerves till you just can't take any more,PM ole tsc and I'll take your spot off your hands!