Determining hunting pressure

[Corylewis]

Ok I got drawn for a two week managed bowhunt. The area is 600 acres but all 75 of us have to park in the same parking lot. The area is hill country with some bottom CRP with horse trails and a few hiking trails throughout.

I've never hunted it before so I am trying to guess where the hunting pressure will be. Thinking easy access and closer to the parking lot. I am also looking for signs of reflective tape or tacks, trail cams etc. I have found some good spots but worried about hunters being there when I get there.

Any other tips for guessing where hunting pressure will be? Thanks.

[dan]

My main tip would be to think about it like those 75 hunters are hunting you... Where would you hide that they would never look. Yes, it needs whitetail habitat, but more importantly it has to wreak of over looked.

[tbunao]

On top of what Dan said I would expect a fair share to use those horse trails and such. Something I'm realizing the more and more I scout all over is my "locally" public pieces I can pretty much bet on where a stand will be near or in. Now most of those spots are gun stands but it's still intel. Are you familiar with other public pieces near this management areas? Where do you see a lot of the pressure or stands when you scout those? That kind of helps me X out areas while looking at topos and aerials.

[tgreeno]

Don't worry where the hunters are going. Figure out where the deer go to avoid the hunters! I like to look for any wet areas for buck bedding.

I'm guessing a good share of those guys are going to be within 150 yards of those horse/hiking trails.

[brancher147]

600 acres and 75 hunters? I would expect the deer to leave that 600 acres entirely after the first couple of days. Or quit moving in daylight.

[Corylewis]

On top of what Dan said I would expect a fair share to use those horse trails and such. Something I'm realizing the more and more I scout all over is my "locally" public pieces I can pretty much bet on where a stand will be near or in. Now most of those spots are gun stands but it's still intel. Are you familiar with other public pieces near this management areas? Where do you see a lot of the pressure or stands when you scout those? That kind of helps me X out areas while looking at topos and aerials.

Good point. Being in Missouri and all of the TV hunters a lot of folks around here like setting up on field edges or power line cuts. My plan is to try and get of the trails quite a bit and into the woods on the ridges.

[Corylewis]

600 acres and 75 hunters? I would expect the deer to leave that 600 acres entirely after the first couple of days. Or quit moving in daylight.

The area sees a lot of hikers and people on horseback year round. Will deer perceive hunters differently than other human presence?

[pewpewpew]

I live directly next to public land. I can see the parking lot from my front porch. The public land has moderate to rough terrain, also about 600 acres. 95% of deer hunters are within 1/4 mile of the parking lot, on the easiest terrain, with a trail within 100 yards.

Bird hunters, or coon hunters on the other hand, might actually cover some ground.

[hambone]

If that hunt is where I think it is, there is a lot of area that most hunters won't want to walk. Most don't hunt far off the trails.

[dan]

600 acres and 75 hunters? I would expect the deer to leave that 600 acres entirely after the first couple of days. Or quit moving in daylight.

The area sees a lot of hikers and people on horseback year round. Will deer perceive hunters differently than other human presence?

I hunt a lot of heavy pressure. Its a common misperception that deer leave the area. Deer don't know the differance between hunter and hiker, what they do know is where people get to. I find big bucks living very close to heavy pressure, but finding a small spot where no one goes, and I can say with certainy, if there are big bucks on that property, they are finding such spots to hide.

[Corylewis]

600 acres and 75 hunters? I would expect the deer to leave that 600 acres entirely after the first couple of days. Or quit moving in daylight.

The area sees a lot of hikers and people on horseback year round. Will deer perceive hunters differently than other human presence?

I hunt a lot of heavy pressure. Its a common misperception that deer leave the area. Deer don't know the differance between hunter and hiker, what they do know is where people get to. I find big bucks living very close to heavy pressure, but finding a small spot where no one goes, and I can say with certainy, if there are big bucks on that property, they are finding such spots to hide.

Thanks Dan! There is a spot literally right next to the parking lot that is thick new growth with no huntable trees. I actually found a dead mature buck in there scouting. I know it's risky but I may hunt it, once pressure gets high, from the ground.

[woodswalker]

Get there earlier than you think anyone else will. If you have scouted and found good deer sign way back in he property, go there and let the rest of the hoard push the deer to you when they start to move in.

[tgreeno]

Thanks Dan! There is a spot literally right next to the parking lot that is thick new growth with no huntable trees. I actually found a dead mature buck in there scouting. I know it's risky but I may hunt it, once pressure gets high, from the ground.

That is a very good indicator, that it's an overlooked spot! He went to the safest spot he knew, when he was shot.

[brancher147]

I have definitely seen deer leave an area with a lot less pressure than that. Most of what I hunt is big woods type areas though with continuous deer habitat, and moderate to low pressure. If the pressure gets on, they move to an unpressured area close by, deer tracks don't lie. I think part of it depends on what the adjacent habitat and pressure is like. Not trying to start argument, just my experience.

If the property you will be hunting is the best or only habitat the deer have close by then sure they will stay there, and I agree you need to find the overlooked spots.

[Corylewis]

Get there earlier than you think anyone else will. If you have scouted and found good deer sign way back in he property, go there and let the rest of the hoard push the deer to you when they start to move in.

I found a nice saddle that is further back that I was thinking of doing just this. Get in early and let everyone push the deer to me.