Tennessee Tactics Help

[Redfred16]

As before I'm ready to ask for help because I really am not understanding how the deer move in the hills of TN. Given time and advice I know this will make me a better hunter but this the learning curve is pretty steep(yes, I know BSK told me so :grin:)

Here's the piece of property I have access to. It's approx 7 Macon Co.

Yellow = Property Line
Blue = Small creek that appears to run year round
Green "X" = Current stand location
Red "X" = New home construction
Orange Arrow = Where I jumped a doe and fawn along with their direction of travel

The west side of this property is a hillside at an almost 60% grade. With there being a flat spot about where my stand is and in the south east corner right along the creek bed there is a 20mx20m flat spot. I have not found any large acorn dropping trees but did get my stand up in beech tree that does not look to be producing nuts. The field across the street is just pasture. To the south west it looks to be cow pasture(I can hear cows but haven't seen them) next to a new building being built.

I thought I found 2 trails and put cameras on both of them, but neither taking any pictures of deer, just a family of coons walking past 1 night. My current stand is between the 2 trails, and just at the edge when the flat spot begins to become hill again.

Any suggestions in hunting this piece of woods?

 

[DirtyBear0311]

Find a topo map of the place and hunt the low spot. Also, see if the are crossing the creek anywhere or if the are walking parallel to it.

 

[Spikes]

I would get closer to the creek if there is any sign down there. Some of the places I hunt the deer travel the creek banks a lot.

 

[catman529]

I'd be tempted to find a creek crossing as they seem to be funnels. Or maybe a trail along side the creek as the others have said.

 

[LessIsLess]

choot em in the head!

 

[Redfred16]

After reading all I could here on TNDeer and asking questions my original thought process was that the deer would come off the pasture cross the creek then work up the hill. The sad part is I figured they would use a spur on the neighbors property, the most western edge of it at the property line and thats why my stand is where it is now. Then I found the trails kind of winding up the hill and they started building the building where I where I thought they would channel to the creek.

The hills on both sides are pretty steep and if I hadn't jumped those deer the first time I was out there I would not have believed deer were on it, my Wisconsin hunting experiences not making sense of Tennessee deer yet.

Having 7 acres to work with, I understand this will not "hold" the deer, but a "pass through" property.

Edit Note- I have the topo map of the area, I would have posted it but can't figure out how to cut just that area out of the PDF file.

 

[Football Hunter]

7 acres is gonna get over hunted really easy,be careful

 

[ImThere]

Hunt a wma near you other than that there have been some good ideas submitted

 

[Redfred16]

7 acres is gonna get over hunted really easy,be careful

I know I'm the only hunter on it and will be the first one deer hunting it in years. The land owner to the east is primarily a rabbit hunter and is unlikely to deer hunt much if at all.

I'm just don't understand why I can't find more heavily traveled deer paths. As suggested I thought I'd be able to pick out where they are crossing pretty easily, but really haven't seen anything to point out a spot. There's plenty of lower branches on the 2 trails I think are deer trails to be used as licking branches, but I haven't seen any scrapes on them. And no pictures with the trail cameras so I'm not even sure at this point if they are deer trails or just old run off flattening a bit of the hillside.

I am considering moving my stand to the flat spot on the creek bed right now, or buying a climber and trying it. While keeping my hang on where it is in case those trails become active.

Like I said before I'm enjoying learning deer hunting TN style, I just have alot of questions and am struggling a bit adapting to the terrain differences.

 

[Bone Collector]

its been said, but I'll say it again, get down by the creek.

 

[Redfred16]

its been said, but I'll say it again, get down by the creek.

Working on that with a climber. Never used one before so shopping around and looking at them to pick one out.

 

[HOOK]

That spot is a crap shoot. If you see one in there it will just be a matter of luck. . Don't know what's North but South of your property is where all the good stuff is and I don't see anything that would give incentive or reason for them to cross the creek

 

[Poleaxe]

Its not crap redfred. If you like it then thats great. I will say it is 7acres so dont set your expectations so high thinking u might see 15+ deer. You can ask BSK but I dont think the deer per square mile in the best county in the state produces much more. Any creekbed is always golden. Set u up some cameras on both ends and that will answer all your questions about whats there. Good luck to u.

 

[Redfred16]

Its not crap redfred. If you like it then thats great. I will say it is 7acres so dont set your expectations so high thinking u might see 15+ deer. You can ask BSK but I dont think the deer per square mile in the best county in the state produces much more. Any creekbed is always golden. Set u up some cameras on both ends and that will answer all your questions about whats there. Good luck to u.

I'm extremely happy being able to use the property. I'm extremely thankful for the chance to hunt at all this year, but I will look for somewhere with more more possibilities and off season work to be done to it. I love that part of hunting also, working food plots, clearing lanes, putting out cameras, ect.

My expectations are really kind of up in the air. I was told not to expect the same amount of deer activity as I am used to in Wisconsin. That may only be true in some areas of Tennessee, some fellow hunters are reporting quite a bit of activity every set. I know its not going to be like my stands in WI, if I didn't see 10-20 deer a day it was a slow day, last year on archery opening day I had almost 60 deer walk under me.

I know hunting pass though properties has quite a bit of luck to it. I'm just trying to figure out where and how the TN deer move compared to WI deer. Trust me when I way its way different and without someone with me in the woods this is where I come to "re-learn" how to deer hunt TN style since this is my home now.

 

[Redfred16]

Looks like this Friday I will get to sit on the property. The winds will be not really in my favor, coming from the north, but they will be light. Thursday is a better wind but not sure I make it out there in time to sit a decent amount of time.

With my limited understanding of thermals, I will hunt my hang on in the morning and a climber I borrowed down on the creek bed in the afternoon.

Thanks for all the advice so far. I'm sure I'll think of more questions, as I sit out there.

 

[Stalkhunter]

As before I'm ready to ask for help because I really am not understanding how the deer move in the hills of TN. Given time and advice I know this will make me a better hunter but this the learning curve is pretty steep(yes, I know BSK told me so :grin:)

Here's the piece of property I have access to. It's approx 7 Macon Co.

Red looking at the Property There is potential if you are the only one hunting it. 7 acres can produce deer. I was looking at the pic, now if hunters are on other land around that 7ac could be a safe haven. If it was me and I am from Up state NY i would head down to the left of your stand on property line going in towards the creek were it looks like the field is. Look for thick areas. To me from pic i see a funnel but hard to tell get topo pic on here. I am no BSK but I have Killed many deer since moving down here almost 13 years ago. I hunt for meat not racks, 4 points and spikes do get a pass based on my son I made a deal with. I hunt East TN some of what most say is the toughest area to hunt. I have killed 11 bucks 6 pt or better in 12 years. So post topo and I will try to help. I maybe able to help you.

There is nothing better then a challenge. I dont feed any deer on the lands I hunt. I dont use trail cameras either. I hunt the way I was tought by my family. I keep the tradition alive. Now I have hunted NC as well. I was stationed there in the late 80's and had no problems there as well.

Biggest issue will be finding land to hunt on if you want private land. My opinion

Yellow = Property Line
Blue = Small creek that appears to run year round
Green "X" = Current stand location
Red "X" = New home construction
Orange Arrow = Where I jumped a doe and fawn along with their direction of travel

The west side of this property is a hillside at an almost 60% grade. With there being a flat spot about where my stand is and in the south east corner right along the creek bed there is a 20mx20m flat spot. I have not found any large acorn dropping trees but did get my stand up in beech tree that does not look to be producing nuts. The field across the street is just pasture. To the south west it looks to be cow pasture(I can hear cows but haven't seen them) next to a new building being built.

I thought I found 2 trails and put cameras on both of them, but neither taking any pictures of deer, just a family of coons walking past 1 night. My current stand is between the 2 trails, and just at the edge when the flat spot begins to become hill again.

Any suggestions in hunting this piece of woods?

 

[Football Hunter]

BTW,there are many spots around Hendersonville,gallatin etc,Sumner co in general,that are not at all steep and hilly.In fact that area produced a monster non typ a few years ago,may be No1 in Tn,very close anyway.Sumner co is a great area,keep looking.

 

[Redfred16]

BTW,there are many spots around Hendersonville,gallatin etc,Sumner co in general,that are not at all steep and hilly.In fact that area produced a monster non typ a few years ago,may be No1 in Tn,very close anyway.Sumner co is a great area,keep looking.

I will. I'd love to find a spot with a few other hunters, that want to work together to hunt and enjoy the woods. I already miss sitting around the stove/fire in the evening talking about the days hunt and tomorrows prospects.

I'll post a lot more about myself and that I'm looking after this season is over.

 

[Redfred16]

Red looking at the Property There is potential if you are the only one hunting it. 7 acres can produce deer. I was looking at the pic, now if hunters are on other land around that 7ac could be a safe haven. If it was me and I am from Up state NY i would head down to the left of your stand on property line going in towards the creek were it looks like the field is. Look for thick areas. To me from pic i see a funnel but hard to tell get topo pic on here. I am no BSK but I have Killed many deer since moving down here almost 13 years ago. I hunt for meat not racks, 4 points and spikes do get a pass based on my son I made a deal with. I hunt East TN some of what most say is the toughest area to hunt. I have killed 11 bucks 6 pt or better in 12 years. So post topo and I will try to help. I maybe able to help you.

There is nothing better then a challenge. I dont feed any deer on the lands I hunt. I dont use trail cameras either. I hunt the way I was tought by my family. I keep the tradition alive. Now I have hunted NC as well. I was stationed there in the late 80's and had no problems there as well.

Biggest issue will be finding land to hunt on if you want private land. My opinion

I have a topo, but its in a PDF form and haven't figured out how to cut it down to post just the hunting property and the surrounding area.

I can't even post the entire map and give you a grid location for center mass of the property. Grid 957493 off the USGS Galen Quadrangle map , been a while since I gave a grid coordinate, but that should be close.

 

[Bobs8pt]

I would try to access the other side of the road.... If not then you should look at getting closer to the creek and as mentioned above look for crossings in the creek

 

[Redfred16]

First set I'm using my hanging stand at the top and lve seen a good number of deer 8 does came by but never gave me a shot. They were being dogged by a nice 6 pointer who stayed just out of range. He was looking to fight. Came back twice to me rattling. Finally I let a button buck walk,, but he gave me a great shot.