Attracting Deer to your Bow Stand

[Dr. Sandman]

Hi guys, I am having some trouble attracting deer to my stand. I am hunting in a new place this year and it is thick with deer. It is a heavily canopied woods whereby you can see for many yards in every direction. I see deer several times during my hunting sessions, but they are not coming into bow range. If it were gun season, I would have had many shots by now. They seem to be about 60 yards off and this morning they were about 45 yards off and in some light brush. I'm comfortable with a 35 yard shot, max.

I live in Indiana and baiting the deer with substances that the deer are meant to consume is illegal.

I have tried various types of scents including bucknip and different types of estrus. I have used an estrus bleat can. Apparently, my scent control and camo are good, as the deer do not seem aloof when they are near. I need to get them in a little closer without feeding them. Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[desidog]

If they're just randomly wandering the woods for forage, be patient and one will come your way.

If they're using the same game trails, move your stand ten yards closer....

I like to position myself near a choke point, like a break in a stone wall or fence, since deer are lazy and will walk around to the opening rather than jump over an obstacle. That way, they funnel right to you.

 

[jmorris]

Bait for hogs under your stand.

If they are moving consistently back and forth in the same area, it might be you that needs to move closer, not them.

 

[buck460XVR]

The "range" thing is the whole challenge behind bowhunting. You will always see many more deer out of range as opposed to in range. 35 yards is not that difficult if as you say, your camo and scent control are good. I assume since this is a new hunting spot that you may be a tad unfamiliar with deer travel patterns. In open area of woods, deer tend to wander all over as opposed to heavier cover where they stick to obvious trails and funnels. But even in open woods they have major trail lines and preferred points of enter and exit. Keep track of where you are seeing the most deer and move your stand closer until the does really come into heat and a estrous bleat will attract deer instead of spooking them. If it is very open in the woods, bucks may even avoid the area during daylight until they become dumb with rut.

 

[Sunray]

Sounds like you stand is a tick too far from where the deer prefer to stroll.
You allowed to put your stand near(near, not in) things like oak trees? Assuming the wood lot has any. Bambi likes to dine on acorns.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I live in Indiana and baiting the deer with substances that the deer are meant to consume is illegal.

Is it illegal to bait at all or just illegal to hunt over the bait?
I know in some states you can put corn feeders up but they have to be at least 100 yards from your stand and cannot be seen from the stand. In this instance you would have to catch them coming to and from the bait.

Also, if you're seeing the deer in the same spot every time or crossing in the same location you may need to move closer.

Are you hunting from a climber? If so that would make it easier to do without disturbing the deer by changing the way the terrain looks. Not that it disturbs them that much, but you don't want to go adding ladder stands or trimming too much the day before you're hunting.

 

[CaptTripps]

I don't know if you rattle, but that can be a great way to attract bucks and sometimes even does. Deer are pretty curious. Each time I rattled last year, I would see a shooter buck (6-8 points). I make my own by cutting hardwood dowels to 6", some square, some triangular and some half-flat. Put 6-8 inside an old, woodsy colored sock, tie it shut. Briskly rub and slap the rattle-bag, it works for me, give it a try.

 

[bocefus78]

Move the stand. Welcome to bow hunting haha. They aren't always in range. Getting that close is part of the challenge. Also, imo scents will spook more deer than attract.

 

[TimSr]

Better to put the stand where the deer travel, than to try to get the deer to travel where the stand is. Travel petterns change throughout the year, so the trail you picked in the summer to hunt over, might not get much use in the fall. Also expect a chance in travel patterns after the first frost when a lot of that woods growth will die, and after the leaves fall.

 

[brainwake]

We also put down those deer cane (the white stuff) spots near our bow stands. We generally try to keep them close to deer paths, but they do work for a communication point for the deer. At the very least, they serve as a place to stop along their path.

 

[buck460XVR]

Bait for hogs under your stand.

We also put down those deer cane (the white stuff) spots near our bow stands. We generally try to keep them close to deer paths, but they do work for a communication point for the deer. At the very least, they serve as a place to stop along their path.

From the Indiana DNR.......

DNR reminds hunters Use of deer attractants/bait of any kind is illegal




The Department of Natural Resources is reminding Indiana hunters that even though deer attractants found at retail stores may be purchased and used in the wild, hunting near them is illegal.

Attractants are considered bait.

Indiana regulations prohibit the hunting of deer with the use or aid of bait, which is defined as “a food that is transported and placed for consumption, including, but not limited to, piles of corn and apples placed in the field; a prepared solid or liquid that is manufactured and intended for consumption by livestock or wild deer, including, but not limited to, commercial baits and food supplements; salt; or mineral supplements.”

This prohibition includes artificial products marketed under names such as Deer Co-Cain, Buck Jam, Trophy Rock, as well as mineral blocks, salt blocks, and even natural foods such as corn and apples.

“Basically, if you place anything that isn't grown in the area and hunt there, it's illegal,” said Lt. Larry Morrison, outdoor education director for DNR Law Enforcement. “Hunting next to a corn field or from an apple tree is legal, but placing corn or apples under your tree stand would put you in conflict with current Indiana law.”

An area is considered baited for 10 days after the product and the affected soil is removed from an area.

Odor differs from bait. Cover scents or scent attractants are legal to use when hunting

 

[MCgunner]

Sux to be in Indiana. I have a corn feeder strategically located on a game trail. Still doesn't guaranty anything, though. Right now, I'm competing with acorns which is unfair.

 

[buck460XVR]

Sux to be in Indiana. I have a corn feeder strategically located on a game trail. Still doesn't guaranty anything, though. Right now, I'm competing with acorns which is unfair.

We've gone a complete circle here in Wisconsin with baiting for deer. When I was a kid and first started to hunt deer it was illegal to bait with anything, and was considered a "poacher's trick" and was considered by legitimate hunters as "cheating". Old timers would use pickle brine poured on a stump as it was not really noticeable as a salt block. Then came the 1980s and there were deer everywhere and the DNR buckled to hunter demands and allowed baiting for deer. It became a big industry here with "deer corn" and "deer apples" available at every hardware store and gas station. Then came the molasses blocks and the "Deer-cain" stuff. Fast forward to the early 2000s and the discovery of CWD within the deer herd. Studies showed that feeding multiple deer within a small area accelerated the spread of the disease and so, in many areas of the state, baiting is now banned again. Never seemed to make much of a difference in the overall kill in an area, only the difference in the success of certain hunters. Like back in the old days, folks still bait tho, even in areas where it is illegal. Makes them feel like they have an advantage over their law abiding neighbors, I guess.

 

[Patocazador]

Move the stand. Welcome to bow hunting haha. They aren't always in range. Getting that close is part of the challenge. Also, imo scents will spook more deer than attract.

This is what you need to do. You put the stand where the deer travel, not the other way around.

 

[MCgunner]

In Texas, feeders are THE way. Everyone hunts a feeder anymore. Of course, I can't much hunt spot and stalk on a small plot of land, especially dense woods as it is, but the corn really just serves to keep the deer around the place. My stand is on a game trail intersection, so I might do as well without the feeder, but the feeder keeps 'em in the area. I watch 'em on the game cam, know when they're coming out. The big boys are nocturnal already. Not much coming to the feeder for the last month as the acorns have dropped. They don't need or want the corn where there's acorns to be had. They love acorns.

You know, when I was a kid, everyone planted oats for deer. I don't know if the game feeder had been invented yet, probably not, was early 60s. First I ever saw of a feeder, seems to me was in the 70s, early 70s. Not much call to plant oats anymore, corn working about as well.

 

[BudgetBucks1]

Lots of good advice on here. I would go a bit further by saying you need to be within 20 yards of where they are crossing, not 35. I have had more deer "jump the string" than not jump it. If you are shooting at less than 20 yards they can't jump the string. At 35 yards they can easily duck your arrow if they hear the bow go off. Another bit of advice. Ditch the permanent stand go to a mobile stand like a millennium hang on with lone wolf sticks or a climbing stand. If you hunt a climber hang it high(25 feet at least) because you will stick out like a sore thumb. You will kill more deer by being able to adjust to any situation. If you sit more than twice in the same location and they come by out of range, move your stand. Find the acorns this time of year. It takes a lot of scouting but you can do it on a windy or rainy day and not spook the deer. If you get on the acorns that they are actively eating you are in business. In my experience if you hunt over a corn pile you will see lots of does and small bucks but most mature bucks will not use a corn pile until it is dark unless they are following a doe in during the rut. I live in a state that it is legal to bait and most people do but not me. I kill much more mature bucks than my friends that bait. Use travel corridors during the rut(bedding area to bedding area) and acorns early season and you should be in business. Good luck. Post some pics when you connect.

 

[Sav .250]

Have you thought of "moving" your stand from it`s present location to an area where there is more traffic.

You said it`s a new area so ......... re-adjust.

 

[redneck2]

Kinda late now, but assuming you own the land or have permission, you can steer the deer to your stand. Cut brush that blocks their other travel routes. They will travel around tree tops, etc rather than try to push through.

For example, if there is a fence they will travel to go thru a hole rather than jump it..

 

[Snyper]

I've had excellent results using both freeze dried tarsal glands, and glands I've saved from previous kills in unison with buck and/or doe urine.

I've actually shot deer that had walked up and put their noses to them.
Once I even spooked a buck while I was hanging the gland in a tree, and he came back less than 15 minutes later

I've also hung them on stakes in open fields and had deer walk right to them

You can purchase freeze dried commercial products, or salt, dry and then freeze your own.

Store them in small glass jars or multiple zip-lock bags, because it's a very strong odor

http://www.tinks.com/publisher/whit...1/4/a-whitetails-signature--the-tarsal-gland/

http://www.amazon.com/TINKS-Tinks-Intruder-Tarsal-Gland/dp/B003WHHTWA

 

[Kingcreek]

I move my stand 50 yards and then watch them walk around under the tree I used to sit in.

 

[BudgetBucks1]

This week I sat in a stand two times that was hot in September but didn't see a deer. I got down and did some scouting when the wind got up and found some sign about 100 yards away that was definitely fresh. I moved my portable stand and within 30 minutes had a doe down. The point is that you will have more success with moving your stand to the deer than moving the deer to you.

 

[Hookeye]

I bowhunt Indiana.

Used rattling antlers with success yrs ago, but then folks around me started using them..........banging away every day from Oct 1.

Ridiculous.

Can call, grunt call, snort wheeze. Those are good enough.
Back when I hunted a very good place (19 yrs, dozens of deer taken)........I had 3 stands out, and moved them probably 5 times each through the season.

Sneak in, sneak out, be where you need to be. If you aren't there, move.

That said, I hunted one stand at my newest spot. Same tree it was in last yr. Shot a deer 2nd sit from it last season.
Have had 6 within 25 yards in 3 sits. No antlers spotted yet.

I don't shoot past 25 yards when running traditional gear. Blackwidow recurve my chosen tooling.

 

[d2wing]

If they haven't responded to your calls or scents stop useing them. It just calls attention to you. I have had good luck with Golden Estrus. But nothing works all the time. For me anyway. Keep scent noise and movement under control. If deer are avoiding you consider moving. I dunno why I am giving you advice cuz I can't always bring them either.
Bait is strictly forbidden here also. And deer seem to get wise to tricks. Lots of stuff only works once for me.