how many times do I have to learn this lesson? Find the food

[ihookem]

Yesterday I went quite a ways back on some public land and only saw a few deer tracks in he 3/4 mi. walk. I was very disappointed , even saying, " there is noting here," They are all shot off" " they all got scared on to private land. After I left I went down the road and noticed a truck with the emergency lights on. SO, I give them a jump and tell them in order to get to Milwaukee ya can't have lights, heater ECT. Off they went. I decided to go down a turn around and noticed a field and said" :
"" """ HHHOOOLLLLY COW. ! Are those a lll deer tracks? No way, some kids were playing with their dogs or something. After a closer look, sure enough, those are all deer tracks. Today I go back on the public land and can't believe my eyes. I will give it a try tonight and will be tickled just to see a deer. Tomorrow I might try it again. The field goes a long ways down the hill and if a deer is standing in the field ya can't see them form the road. Perfect spot. Private land leased to the public. Lotsa rabbit tracks too.

[Ghost Hunter]

Nice any luck?

[ihookem]

Nah, the wind switched to the south and would screw everything up so I didn't go. As much as I wanted to go, I knew they would smell me. My scent would have went right into the bedding area. Tomorrow is a NW wind though. I will miss the Packer game though.

[Stanley]

Smart move.

[ihookem]

I gave it one last whirl. I should shave been out there the last few weeks but could not figure out where the deer were. I drove real slow and walked in quiet. I knew a better way was to walk along the highway but didn't want anyone to see me. So, I walked along the hedge grove along the field where the deer were gorging. Sure enough, I kicked up a deer sitting in the hedge rove. It took off right passed where I was going to sit . I imagine , when a deer comes running through a bedding area , the deer know something is up. I am sure the spooked deer alerted all the others and caused them to hole up till dark. I have never seen a 5 ac. field of grass so full of tracks. I walk by my trail cam to find it is not flashing. I am going to get another trail cam cause I am sure I will see some bucks. There has to be 10 deer in that field every night. Oh well , it was a peaceful sit. Right at closing I had a screech owl surprise the SHiiit out of me , and it was nice hearing a big old hoot owl several times. Never drew the bow back or raise the gun this year.

[ihookem]

I did my first scout of the year and went back to this place. I went in a few hundred yards and kicked up about 7 deer. They were all over. I found some of their tracks and followed them. I noticed they would run 100 yds or so and stop, and start backtracking towards me. No doubt making sure they knew where I was. These are veteran deer no doubt. I put my cam back out and will post pics in a week or so. I can say one thing, they are coming out into a grassy field. It has clumps of grass that is really green. These deer have the field just punted and full of tracks and droppings. About 10 yrs ago I saw a lot of tracks in the woods where I kicked up these 7 deer. Back then I never realized how much they are attracted to food this time of year. I will be looking for other areas like this on public land for late season bow hunting. I am already pumped and my son wants to bow hunt too next year.

[DEERSLAYER]

Looking forward to seeing the pics

[Lockdown]

Looking forward to seeing the pics

x2

[ihookem]

Only had a few does on the cam this week . They were coming through in the daytime. I kicked up 4 right next to the field. The sure stay close to the food this time of year. I dont think they were 100' from the HWY and only 50' from the field in a little patch of brush not so much as 1/10 ac.

[Stanley]

Interesting.

[ihookem]

I took two other walks on the same public land. I saw one deer track on one of the walks , and one other deer track on another walk. The deer are not in the marsh grass or the red dogwood. I was amazed how little deer sign there was away from this only food source. I would have thought they would be in the dogwood. There must be other food around, most likely private alfalfa fields somewhere.