First time shining last night

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basspro05
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First time shining last night

Unread postby basspro05 » Sun Aug 10, 2014 3:54 am

My buddy and I went shining for the first time last night...didn't have a ton of luck due to several factors, but did learn a few things.
We started at about 10pm and ended at 3am. Had a little activity between midnight and 1am, but the best was between 2-3am.


Deer around here do not like spotlights at all, I am used to the city deer that I can put my truck headlights on for 20 minutes and watch them without them darting.

These deer were running off before the spotlight had a chance to get to them.

Also learned before you drive 1.5 hours, check and see if there is going to be any fog...about 50% of the places we wanted to shine had to much fog on the bean fields to see past the first row.


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oldrank
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Re: First time shining last night

Unread postby oldrank » Sun Aug 10, 2014 6:11 am

Thanks for the report

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chasemukluk
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Re: First time shining last night

Unread postby chasemukluk » Wed Aug 20, 2014 3:49 am

I think I read somewhere that you should try not to stop. Just keep the vehicle moving and the deer don't run as often or quick. Is this true?
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hunter_mike
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Re: First time shining last night

Unread postby hunter_mike » Wed Aug 20, 2014 4:46 am

I have noticed many of the big bucks will start running before you even get to them RRegardless of if you stop or not. Younger deer are less spooky in general with shining. I always stop otherwise i cant get a good look.

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Dewey
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Re: First time shining last night

Unread postby Dewey » Wed Aug 20, 2014 6:33 am

If the deer scatter at the first sign of a spotlight I would wonder if there is some nighttime poaching going on in your area. Most of the deer I see are very calm unless I catch them right at the road. The big ones will tolerate a light from a distance unless you spend way too much time shining them.

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hunter_mike
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Re: First time shining last night

Unread postby hunter_mike » Wed Aug 20, 2014 6:51 am

That is an interesting thought, i will have to pay more attention to the locations i am seeing them running away at the first sign of light because in some cases they act the way you described. But most of the time if i shine the field and at the first swipe, three deer will stand still and one deer will just start hauling but off out of sight and the one that runs pretty much always has a nice rack.
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Dewey
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Re: First time shining last night

Unread postby Dewey » Wed Aug 20, 2014 7:25 am

Some are just skittish by nature but if a whole field clears at the first sign of light I would wonder what has them so nervous.

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hunter_mike
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Re: First time shining last night

Unread postby hunter_mike » Wed Aug 20, 2014 7:33 am

Yeah mainly its just the older bucks i see taking off right away. Always makes me wonder what kind of beasts are out there that i am not seeing because sometimes they are out of sight before I can get a look.
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