2017 Going in blind

[Newhunter]

As I stated in my Hunting Beast intro I have been hunting for 15 years and still have not sealed the deal with a deer. I only have access to public land ( not complaining ), last season I saw multiple trees shredded and still could not put the puzzle together. I am certain it is something I'm doing wrong. I try to do all day sits, that doesn't always work out for me as life happens. I have been out scouting many times and don't know how to pattern deer. I have never had anyone show me the ropes growing up. I picked up a bow for the first time in during the summer of 2002 and scrambled to get my things together for that season. I am certain on occasion I have walked right passed a deer and had no clue it was laying there. This year I am hoping and praying to finally connect with a buck. If you would like to see (via internet) where I will be hunting and toss me some ideas I can add pics in the comments. Any and all tips, pointers and suggestions will be appreciated and welcomed. You can also find the location pics in my Hunting Beast album. I am not asking for anyone to hand me a deer or invite me to private property, simply seeking viable information to be able to locate and harvest my first deer.

https://www.google.com/maps/@42.5779975 ... !1e3?hl=en
Lat: 42,5779
Lon: -85,4049
Not sure if that will or can help anyone.

Equipment to be used:
Climber
PSE Stinger NI
Realtree camo
Scentblocker
Beman ICS Bowhunter arrows
Haymaker 125g fixed broadheads
Lumenok noks
Bushnell range finder
Truglo 5 pin sight
UltraProX Elite camera

I know there is plenty of time to get out scouting and I do plan to get it done. The lack of experience is my only draw back. Looking for advice as to where on this piece of public property I should start.

Also, if you use the Huntstand website or app I can add you to my group so you can see the property from my perspective, not just screenshots.

Thank you in advance,
Newhunter

[dan]

I would say get a hang on and sticks, hunt really mobile, not going back to the same spots over and over, go to the top of the deer forum and read the posts in the "best all time tactical sticky thread" and just keep at it. Biggest mistake I see with guys not getting it done is they set up on food sources and sign rather than terrain. Hunt where deer move in daylight and forget what you have seen on tv and in magazines. Pressured deer need to be hunted where they move in daylight, near there bedding.

[fireforeffect]

I would recommend that you leave your tree stand at home until you get things figured out. Get the wind in your face and still hunt. You'll get to know the property, you'll learn to ease through the woods, you'll jump deer and learn where they bed, you'll find sign, you'll find acorns, you'll find terrain features that funnel deer, you'll find hunter sign, and you might just fill a tag. Even if you don't kill a deer, you'll have enough information to formulate a plan for the next hunt, and you will have honed your skills as a woodsman.

[Newhunter]

Thank you for the input fellas. :)

[Tufrthnails]

As dan said get mobile. If you want to see more deer get mobile. Check out the kill thread and look at how many guys killed on the first sit of the year at that spot. The second thing is pay attention to the wind.

[Newhunter]

As dan said get mobile. If you want to see more deer get mobile. Check out the kill thread and look at how many guys killed on the first sit of the year at that spot. The second thing is pay attention to the wind.

Thank you.

[GoInLight]

I would suggest getting all of dans dvds and really checking out the podcast. Wired to hunt has really helped me put things together. The only other advice I would give is to keep after it and not get frustrated. What part of the country are you in? You might could hook up with someone with more experience. Just a thought

[Newhunter]

I would suggest getting all of dans dvds and really checking out the podcast. Wired to hunt has really helped me put things together. The only other advice I would give is to keep after it and not get frustrated. What part of the country are you in? You might could hook up with someone with more experience. Just a thought

I'm in Michigan. I'll check Wired to hunt. Thank you.

[Ack]

If you're still going for your first deer, there is no good reason why you need to hold out for a buck only. Get a doe or two under your belt and learn the motions of what it takes to actually kill a deer......any deer, and then move on to a buck. As mentioned, read and soak up as much info as you can here on the Beast and you should get on the right track. Good luck!

[Billyjack]

I'm pretty much in the same boat. My dad wasn't a hunter so I wasn't exposed to it growing up..I purchased Dan's hill country DVD and im looking forward to putting these tactics to use this year..

[Newhunter]

If you're still going for your first deer, there is no good reason why you need to hold out for a buck only. Get a doe or two under your belt and learn the motions of what it takes to actually kill a deer......any deer, and then move on to a buck. As mentioned, read and soak up as much info as you can here on the Beast and you should get on the right track. Good luck!

With the Michigan combo tag, I can take a doe on public land. Hoping for a buck, but looking for a freezer filler.

[hunter10]

When I started hunting I felt the same lost feeling and always wondered why I couldn't understand deer. It took a long time for me to shake the magazine and tv hunting and start thinking why and how deer live and use the area they live in. Like others have mentioned and Dan explains is the fact you need to be closer to bedding. In my opinion you are still a ways off from being confident in getting into bedding areas. If you can't get your hands on a climber or stand and sticks, sit on a bucket. I'd be willing to bet if you looked for edges, swamps, marshes, hardwoods to grass edges, standing corn etc and sat on a bucket and didn't sit your treestand more than once this season you will get a way way better chance. Something that was a light bulb going off was this. Hunt the spots no one goes, scout and hunt the spots that look dumb, go where it's an effort to get to and don't sit in open woods, all about the thick in the area .

[Newhunter]

Thanks for the info.

[northeast beast]

do not get discoureged. I bow hunted ten years missed so many deer and just could not get my first tag filled. It will happen. I'm a climber hunter myself. I would like to get the stand and stick combo but the climber is getting it done for me. Stay mobile with your climber For sure check out wired to hunt.com. Also I should get dans DVDs. Lastly shoot, shoot, and shoot. Nothing worse then a perfect set up and a blown shot. Your time is coming hang in there.

[Rich M]

It took me 7 years to get my first deer with a gun, 10-12 years to get my first with a bow. The Beast is a great place to learn, few folks tell it like it is and the Beast is an exception.

That is a nice looking piece of property. It has a transition zone between woods and marsh, has islands in the marsh, also check out the individual big trees in the marsh.

Get out and find where they sleep. Find the busy areas on the transition. Shoot the first legal deer that steps in range - it will teach you a lot.

Get Dan's marsh video.