How Would YOU Enter/Exit My Stand?

[muddy]

I'd agree with the moving closer to the supposed bedding area if possible.

BUT, for the proposed stand location I stick to my guns!

[Sam Ubl]

Okay, here are a few more pictures.

1st) Whole property

2nd) Closer view of southern portion butting up against river

3rd) Close up of second stand

4th) Another view of second stand

[Sam Ubl]

the whole prop.

[DropTyne]

In the third picture are those four lines converging ditches? I have found points where ditches converge can be areas of high activity and your right by the bedding. As for trees in the area, it's hard for me to tell.

[Sam Ubl]

Yes, you're right about those ditches pitchforking at that intersection. The trees, well, there aren't many but if you look at the second picture around my stand, all of those trees are stand worthy. There are some that are simply too difficult to see in the picture, but do exist. If you are suggesting getting closer to that ditch intersection, I can look. They are ALWAYS full of water, all season long.

[Sam Ubl]

Im having a hard time figuring out why your hunting out in the fields rather than the other end of the property where they would be more prone to move in daylight?

I was also curious to your reasoning behind this?

My Response:
As I said in the Early Season/Standing Corn thread:

"I agree that corn is an extension of the woods, and I agree they bed in the cornfields. I myself, am going to be hunting an early season stand that I think will work as long as the corn is standing - so into November possibly. I think the tall corn, which has to be 8-10 feet tall now, is not only denser cover to hide in, it offers the rows for travel ease within the cover AND it's a food source... In addition to these great aspects of tall corn, to avoid the masquito massicure that seems to surround the fields, I found that walking through the corn rows helped a ton because I assume the masquito's struggle to fly through the obstical course of broad leaves at the speed you are walking. I have to assume that if I can find relief from the bugs in a corn field, so can the deer."

[Sam Ubl]

Dan - Why do you assume deer are more prone to moving in dogwood, poplars, marsh grass, cattails, overall, dense cover, as opposed to tall standing corn?

[lungbuster]

Dan - Why do you assume deer are more prone to moving in dogwood, poplars, marsh grass, cattails, overall, dense cover, as opposed to tall standing corn?

Mature bucks rarely if ever bed in corn fields, the only time I have ever seen it was during the rut when they were locked down with does. So if they aren't bedding there why would you set up there and not closer to bedding?

I know you have said you feel the deer are using the corn as bedding right now, but I think unless you actually see a mature buck in his bed in the corn you are assuming wrong. i don't think older deer like to bed in standing corn because it limits thier vision and makes it more difficult to smell danger and on windy days it makes it even harder to hear what's going on.......I agree that they feel more comfortable walking into the corn before dark, but I don't think they bed in it reliablly.

[Sam Ubl]

Point taken, I agree. I suppose we'll see how often they move in the corn during daylight, I have two cameras on two different fields edges as of yesterday after work.

This is a good debate, I like the knowledge and theories pouring out of you guys - it's making me think!

[dan]

I do believe they occasionally bed in corn... But think its more myth than truth. I see it more often in places with out much good bedding cover and a fair amount of pressure. Looking at that map, I would place the bedding on that property on the other end of the property and I would expect movement from mature bucks in daylight to be very close to the bedding most of the time.
When I do see bucks bedding within a corn field its generally a small brushy draw within the corn... Whenever I study mature buck beds there is usually obvious advantage to the spot. Either the wind to the back and vision in front, noise and wind, etc. In a corn field they loose there advantage in every direction except upwind thus making it a poor choice for bed position. Mature bucks rarely bed at a disadvantage.

[Indianahunter]

I have often jumped "bedded deer" in corn fields. Perhaps they were simply there chewing their cud and it was not necessarily a bedding area, but just a typical feeding pattern when you see deer bedded in clover fields at night. Only they feel more safe in the cover of the corn for that time. I don't know. I do know around here once the corn comes out we see a lot more deer.