This is my third year hunting and last year I got my first whitetail. So relatively I am still a novice at this despite reading a lot. I hunt in very east of Kansas in rolling land with forest and patchwork fields with forest/brush borders. For several reasons I can only hunt in the morning until about 1pm to 3pm. Currently my hunting is all fixed position, sitting on the ground at known concentration points. I'm using a lever action 30-30 with open iron sights.
First day (Wed) was 35F and up to 35mph so deer (sensibly!) were bedded down. Saw no deer so walked through a very bushy bedding area and two whitetails saw/heard me first. Was impossible to walk quietly enough with the leaves.
Second day was colder, no wind initially but picked up. Saw no deer, and had to leave early.
Third day (today) was even colder but still/no wind. Scared off what sounded like a large buck getting to the position early at 6am (drat!). Saw a large doe at 50 yards standing still in the clear at 6:30am (too early!). Finally at 10am saw 4 does walking in line returning to another bedding area. However they were within the treeline behind trees/brush about 80 yards away and I could not get a clear shot due to a combination of distance, their walking speed, trees/brush in front of them, and my comfort level taking the shot.
The bedding areas on my property are heavily wooded or brushy and also have thick areas of Eastern Red Ceder. Pretty much impossible to walk through them and get a sight picture on a deer before they have heard you coming.
The full moon is not helping as they appear to be feeding at night and returning early. Last year I got my doe leaving the bedding area in the morning to feed so it was easier. From the lack of gun shots in the surrounding area compared to last year I am not the only hunter who is having challenges.
Any suggestions on alternative tactics for this season, or should I just continue trying to catch them at a choke point? [I'll post a separate thread later about some land changes I want to make for next year.]
First day (Wed) was 35F and up to 35mph so deer (sensibly!) were bedded down. Saw no deer so walked through a very bushy bedding area and two whitetails saw/heard me first. Was impossible to walk quietly enough with the leaves.
Second day was colder, no wind initially but picked up. Saw no deer, and had to leave early.
Third day (today) was even colder but still/no wind. Scared off what sounded like a large buck getting to the position early at 6am (drat!). Saw a large doe at 50 yards standing still in the clear at 6:30am (too early!). Finally at 10am saw 4 does walking in line returning to another bedding area. However they were within the treeline behind trees/brush about 80 yards away and I could not get a clear shot due to a combination of distance, their walking speed, trees/brush in front of them, and my comfort level taking the shot.
The bedding areas on my property are heavily wooded or brushy and also have thick areas of Eastern Red Ceder. Pretty much impossible to walk through them and get a sight picture on a deer before they have heard you coming.
The full moon is not helping as they appear to be feeding at night and returning early. Last year I got my doe leaving the bedding area in the morning to feed so it was easier. From the lack of gun shots in the surrounding area compared to last year I am not the only hunter who is having challenges.
Any suggestions on alternative tactics for this season, or should I just continue trying to catch them at a choke point? [I'll post a separate thread later about some land changes I want to make for next year.]