This spot worth doing a "hot sign" hunt?

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Bowhunter74201
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This spot worth doing a "hot sign" hunt?

Unread postby Bowhunter74201 » Sat Sep 20, 2014 4:27 am

found this point that goes out into the swamp (circled in orange). to the west, there's some hardwoods (i'm thinking mast for food source). and there's also a ridge further to the west. i know there's only one way to find out, but do you guys think it might be worth the hike in to look for hot sign and hunt this point? my only access would be from the south.

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Re: This spot worth doing a "hot sign" hunt?

Unread postby Singing Bridge » Fri Sep 26, 2014 7:33 am

The topography surrounding the point looks like a headache for stable winds and controlling your scent which may end up being your biggest issue. I would suspect a lot of doe activity there due to the size and location of the point. That top part of the point is also a funnel area inside the swamp.

Without previous scouting I would lean more toward the rut periods and the buck movement associated with travelling that point. Again, the wind looks tough to me.
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Re: This spot worth doing a "hot sign" hunt?

Unread postby exojam » Fri Sep 26, 2014 7:38 am

Singing Bridge wrote:The topography surrounding the point looks like a headache for stable winds and controlling your scent which may end up being your biggest issue. I would suspect a lot of doe activity there due to the size and location of the point. That top part of the point is also a funnel area inside the swamp.

Without previous scouting I would lean more toward the rut periods and the buck movement associated with travelling that point. Again, the wind looks tough to me.



SB,

What part of the topo makes you feel like the winds would be a mess? Is it the elevation change, the fact the point is out by itself etc?

Just wondering since with my lack of experience it looks like a nice buck area.

Thanks.
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Re: This spot worth doing a "hot sign" hunt?

Unread postby headgear » Fri Sep 26, 2014 8:36 am

exojam wrote:
What part of the topo makes you feel like the winds would be a mess? Is it the elevation change, the fact the point is out by itself etc?



Tight valleys like that can really swirl the wind around, I hunt a few spots like this and one minute everything is great and the wind is cooperating the next its hitting you in the back of the neck.

Not sure about that point but all that swampy/brush just to the south of the point looks like possible bedding.
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Re: This spot worth doing a "hot sign" hunt?

Unread postby Bowhunter74201 » Sat Sep 27, 2014 7:52 am

Singing Bridge wrote: That top part of the point is also a funnel area inside the swamp.


can you elaborate on that for me? which part exactly are you talking about? the north side of the point, or the tip of the point to the east?
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Re: This spot worth doing a "hot sign" hunt?

Unread postby dan » Sat Sep 27, 2014 11:41 am

Looks like a good spot to start to me.
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Re: This spot worth doing a "hot sign" hunt?

Unread postby Bowhunter74201 » Sun Sep 28, 2014 4:41 am

it looks like it's a pretty big point.. how far into it should i go? i was thinking i'd just keep toward the beginning of it.
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Re: This spot worth doing a "hot sign" hunt?

Unread postby dan » Sun Sep 28, 2014 7:48 am

Bowhunter74201 wrote:it looks like it's a pretty big point.. how far into it should i go? i was thinking i'd just keep toward the beginning of it.

Follow the upwind edge till you find sign coming from the river / brush towards the woods.
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Re: This spot worth doing a "hot sign" hunt?

Unread postby Bowhunter74201 » Tue Sep 30, 2014 1:31 am

thanks dan. i'm thinking they'd likely be bedding on this point (if they actually do bed there) on a west or a nw wind.
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Re: This spot worth doing a "hot sign" hunt?

Unread postby dan » Tue Sep 30, 2014 4:32 am

Bowhunter74201 wrote:thanks dan. i'm thinking they'd likely be bedding on this point (if they actually do bed there) on a west or a nw wind.

If there bedding in the woods yes... If there bedding in the lowland marshy stuff along the river they could be there on any wind.
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Re: This spot worth doing a "hot sign" hunt?

Unread postby Bowhunter74201 » Tue Sep 30, 2014 8:34 am

thanks dan.

think i should wait until pre-rut or later in october to try this spot?
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Re: This spot worth doing a "hot sign" hunt?

Unread postby dan » Tue Sep 30, 2014 10:03 am

Bowhunter74201 wrote:thanks dan.

think i should wait until pre-rut or later in october to try this spot?

Some of my best marsh hunts have been early season...
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Re: This spot worth doing a "hot sign" hunt?

Unread postby Bowhunter74201 » Wed Oct 01, 2014 12:37 am

ok i'll give it a shot.

sorry for all the rookie questions.. i'm going to be doing more beast style hunting this year and it's all new to me. i come from the school of hanging and hunting stands that stay put all season. not really a lot of mobile hunting.
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Re: This spot worth doing a "hot sign" hunt?

Unread postby justdirtyfun » Sun Dec 28, 2014 4:23 pm

Did you get into this spot?

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Re: This spot worth doing a "hot sign" hunt?

Unread postby Bowhunter74201 » Wed Dec 31, 2014 1:59 am

yes i did, once during bow season and twice during gun. i didn't find very much sign, nothing to get excited about. some tracks, droppings, and a couple small rubs and scrapes. i did bump a doe that was bedded right on the transition line of timber/swamp on the southern side of the point during gun. she ran straight south into the tall grass, then i lost sight of her. no signs of traffic on the tip of the point either. the last trip, i walked in on the ridge tops to the west instead of following the edge of the swamp. some steep stuff and really nasty and thick in spots. didn't see any sign in that area at all really, only a couple piles of cocoa puffs. this area didn't turn out to be very promising, but i still want to check it out some more. i want to scout north of the point (haven't been north past that point at all yet) and i also want to scout the other side of that swamp to the east. it's been logged in there. terrain wise, it isn't as hilly. can't hurt to check it out..


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