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Re: Time wasted hunting

Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2019 6:08 am
by SaddleMaster
I completely agree with the importance of scouting during the course of a "normal" season. However, I think when dealing with something like an EHD outbreak you eventually have to come to the conclusion that the deer are most likely just not there and you need to be willing to drive to where the deer are first and then start scouting. This is my first experience with EHD and from I can tell it seems to have targeted the mature deer the most, bucks and does. There are lots of orphaned fawns running around. I have scouted and scouted and there's just not much sign to make a move on. And now I've gotten to the point that because of the low numbers I don't want to make a move on anything any way....buck or doe. Fortunately in southern Indiana we are blessed with a good amount of public land. With a little digging you can find places that didn't get hit as hard or at all by the EHD but you may have to drive an hour or two.

Re: Time wasted hunting

Posted: Wed Dec 11, 2019 6:21 am
by mheichelbech
SaddleMaster wrote:I completely agree with the importance of scouting during the course of a "normal" season. However, I think when dealing with something like an EHD outbreak you eventually have to come to the conclusion that the deer are most likely just not there and you need to be willing to drive to where the deer are first and then start scouting. This is my first experience with EHD and from I can tell it seems to have targeted the mature deer the most, bucks and does. There are lots of orphaned fawns running around. I have scouted and scouted and there's just not much sign to make a move on. And now I've gotten to the point that because of the low numbers I don't want to make a move on anything any way....buck or doe. Fortunately in southern Indiana we are blessed with a good amount of public land. With a little digging you can find places that didn't get hit as hard or at all by the EHD but you may have to drive an hour or two.

You are spot on. I know in other counties besides Clark, guys are putting some good ones down. It took me some time to realize just how bad it has been around here. I heard of 3 large dumpsters full of dead bucks at the Charlestown State Park which is near where I hunt and all of my spots are within a few miles of there. Should have taken that as the cue to go to another county. Clark State Forest got hit bad as well...not sure why or how it got to be that widespread.
Also correct that there is other good public land within an hour drive.

Re: Time wasted hunting

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2019 7:53 am
by dannyboy
Agree. Very good post. I can relate to this and know now I should have been doing this years ago. It got hammered into me that a month before season you better leave everything alone for fear of educating the deer & have your spots pre determined. I think it's now a chance you have to take that they may be on to you when you in season scout because setting up without known fresh sign is a crapshoot that my stubborn but is not going to do anymore

Re: Time wasted hunting

Posted: Fri Dec 13, 2019 8:04 am
by Rich M
That's what most I did - hunt where they hope a deer will be, not go and find where the deer are. I've done that for many years - hunted stale sign or didn't understand thermals, entry & exit, etc..

Beast changed that. I push harder now, not crazy but more than I used to - to find that hot sign and hunt it. Works pretty good.

Re: Time wasted hunting

Posted: Sat Dec 14, 2019 1:32 am
by Crittergetter76
Rich M wrote:That's what most I did - hunt where they hope a deer will be, not go and find where the deer are. I've done that for many years - hunted stale sign or didn't understand thermals, entry & exit, etc..

Beast changed that. I push harder now, not crazy but more than I used to - to find that hot sign and hunt it. Works pretty good.


This right here has been my biggest and hardest lesson this season. I was in such a routine of doing the same thing over and over without results and when I got on the Beast it was a huge wake up call.
I have had a really tough season so far but I’ve learned more in the last month or so than in 10 years of previous hunting.