Shooting Lanes

[Mike Belt]

You never really think much about them or their direction until you place your stand and then cut away from it. If you do think about it though you have 2 prevalent wind directions. Early into archery ours here is southerly with a hint of east. Later it switches to a more northerly direction. I don't advocate a deer always travels into the wind. In fact I've seen more traveling with a wind quartering over their back. But, considering that with either direction of travel shooting lanes should be cut running east and west. This way they have to cross them if they are into using the wind at that particular location. If not then they may travel through up or down the shooting lane particularly if the location is one where the deer have to turn in their travels such as inside corners. All said and done, sometimes I hate shooting lanes during the rut. A doe charges across them followed by a buck. By the time you can determine if he's a shooter he's already crossed and you can't pick him up again. It's for this very reason that when I do cut shooting lanes I sometimes cut another one running parallel to the first. One for sizing up and the other for shooting.

 

[stryker]

Thanks for sharing mike

 

[tickweed]

Great idea

 

[BSK]

But, considering that with either direction of travel shooting lanes should be cut running east and west. This way they have to cross them if they are into using the wind at that particular location.

Interesting idea Mike.

 

[landman]

I never cut then based on any kind of wind

I cut based on present trails, saddles, funnels
etc

The double lane is good idea

 

[156p&y]

Mike how far are you cutting these and how thick are your woods?

Generally I usually just have holes in thicker cover cause I'm usually 99% of the time in my climber so I don't really cut lanes. I carry my Hooyman saw every hunt and will cut a few select branches most of the time.

Your suggestion would probably help my mom more than anyone, that's why I ask. She has a hard time getting on the deer at the first opportunity.

 

[Mike Belt]

No set distance and most places I just trim a few branches out of the immediate shooting window. I do hunt a lot of pines though and even when they're thinned they have an understory preventing open shots between rows. This is where I do most of my lane cutting taking down enough understory for a shot. I do have a couple of places I'm in a sure enough thicket where visibility is almost point blank. There are shooting holes scattered around but not many and then sometimes it's hard to determine a buck's actual size. This is primarily where I'll work on a shooting lane/s. Because it is so thick I limit them to no more than 40 yards and 3-6 feet wide. If they're cut far enough in advance the deer sometimes will convert to using them instead of meandering through the thicket. A couple of scrapes in them sweeten the deal.