Questions about a deer hunt...

[joshk-k]

Hi all,

I got back yesterday from my first real deer hunt in my life. I was hunting on private land near Tillamook, OR, about 200 acres of former industrial timber land that has largely been replanted with alder. It is fronted on most sides by BLM and State land, including some 90 year old second-growth forest. It has two streams and well-maintained logging roads throughout.

I saw a lot of signs of deer and elk. I saw tracks and trails all over the place, including the roads. I saw scat all over the place. I saw antler scrapes a number of times. And in a few days spent pretty solidly in the field, I didn't see a single deer or elk! Dang!

A few questions: Is that a likely scenario in a context like this? That I might just not see an animal at all for days?

Or am I doing something wrong? My strategy, based on an initial daylight meandering over the land, picked a number of spots that seemed like likely spots to see deer. There was a big bowl with a watering hole at the uphill side and a road curving in; the very end of a logging road which is a grassy clearing in the brush; etc. I would drive part way in at like 5 AM, then walk up the roads in the dark to a n overlooking spot and wait for hours, through the dawn, until maybe 8:30 or 9, without seeing anything.

I think I might have more luck up in the larger forest on BLM land, but the game trails to get in there seem really daunting to try in the dark at 5 in the morning.

To get into some of these places, it's necessary to follow the game trails. Doesn't that then ruin the situation, by leaving your scent all over the place?

The landowner, who does not hunt, is going to ask some of the guys who traditionally hunt elk on the land if I can tag along with them in November, so that might be more productive.

I had a blast, and felt like I learned a lot, but was also (understandably, I think) disappointed to have not even seen an animal, let alone harvested one. If anyone has any advice for me or can think of anything that might help me in general or in a hunting land like this, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks,
JOsh

 

[BADUNAME37]

Well what you experienced about sums up most of my hunting over the years, other than a five-point buck and a black bear taken -- both over 25 years ago.

I have to reserve myself to the fact that "I'm having FUN, and this is good exercize" otherwise I would call it a day after the first hour or two!:banghead:

 

[Vern Humphrey]

First of all, find the pattern behind these scrapes and hoof prints. The deer bed down somewhere. They feed somewhere. Just before the rut, they tend the scrapes.

Terminology: A "scrape" is a place where the duff is pawed away. Usually, there will be a licking branch or twig some four feet above the scrape. When bucks are tending their scrapes, they will be laid out in a line -- every 25 to 50 yards, you will find another scrape.

A "rub" is where deer rub their antlers against a small sapling, mostly to get the velvet off, but also to practice sparring. Usually rubs are not visited when the rut starts,

If you find a scrape line, put up your stand or ground blind overlooking that line. I like to take a secator (gardener's shears) and cut discreet firing lanes from my stand or blind. Occupy your stand early, and stay there. Bring plenty of extra clothes in your pack, and plenty of warm, oversize socks -- so you stay warm. Bring a quart milk bottle so you don't have to get down and visit the men's room. If the scrapes are being actively tended, a buck will be along sooner or later.

I find that grunting and rattling (you can buy a grunt call, and synthetic antlers for rattling) works well during the rut.

 

[sourdough44]

A few things; did you look over the land the day of,just before, or during the 'hunt'? I would look over the property at least a week before the hunt to find a few good spots to setup based on winds the day of the hunt. Deer in the woods are much more crafty than park deer. Yes you can 'still-hunt' but your best bet starting off is to scout a likely place & stay put, quietly, no movement & the wind in your favor. It can take years to bag your 1st deer. Not trying to bring you down but with sign around the deer are there(at times), so keep at it. The best times are of course early AM & the last hour of legal shooting. Get into position quietly, you will eventually see deer.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Another point -- if you are hunting private land, a trail camera can be used. This will automatically take pictures of deer when they pass, and will give you the date and time the deer was there.

If you can be sure someone won't come along and steal it, a trail camera or two will greatly aid you in patterning the deer.

 

[NCsmitty]

There are two key factors that can result in a successful hunt, your stealth and the wind direction. By stealth, I mean your ability to remain still for long periods of time and if you have to move, do it slowly, don't fidget. Deer have an amazing ability to detect movement and sound.
Always try to be aware of the air current direction as it carries scent and sound and deer are specifically equipped to use it to their advantage. Swirling winds are difficult to assess, so watch small bushes and grass for directional movement.
It may boil down to plain luck sometimes, because often it's being in the right place at the right time.


NCsmitty

 

[joshk-k]

Well all of that's encouraging, I guess.

It sounds like I meant "rubs" not "scrapes."

I first was on the land in the dark in a truck, with a hand-drawn map. I basically parked at some point and hiked in to a spot that seemed, from the map, like a reasonable spot to maybe see deer and waited through dawn there. But I basically pointed and went there in the dark. But if I go back for elk, I'll know a lot more about where I am and want to be. I think I'll also try to stay out longer into the night. How long before dawn do you want to be in a spot? Will driving to within a half-mile an hour and a half to two hours before dawn spook animals til much later?

Thanks for the advice so far.

JOsh

 

[stiab]

Sounds like you did your scounting during your first hunt, so it is not surprising you did not see a deer based on the amount of time you were on your feet. Now that you know the area better, get into a tree stand or ground blind overlooking a lower area. I hunt from both, but stay off my feet as much as possible during the season. These two came from the same ground blind in the first six days of last season. I never could have gotten them while I was moving thru the woods (maybe others could, but not me). Good luck in your next hunt!

 

[blackops]

josh,

Don't get discouraged. Going on a hunt and not seeing a deer in California isn't uncommon at all. The important thing is you have seen traces so deer are in the area, no doubt about it. Tough to come by the guys sometimes. How was the moon when you were hunting? If there is a bright moon out I can guarantee you 98 percent of their feeding is being done with no sunlight. What was the temperature? If you have a bright moon with higher temperatures it is going to be quite a challenge for you to even come across a buck. Feeding strickly at night and bedded before the rays get to IMO makes the early mornings your primary time to take a buck.

 

[wyohome]

Blacktails can be pretty tricky. Try the edge of clearcuts early and late. I have had good luck finding a good viewpoint and getting there at least an hour before daylight. Try to find routes to their daytime beds. These will generally be on south facing slopes. Also I have had some luck driving brushy draws from the bottom up with 2 people driving and one on each side of the 'escape' route. Do this very slowly and the drivers will have some chance of getting shots as well. Oregon Blacktail hunting is a brushy and wet operation, if you aren't experiencing those 2 things, your 'luck' will be worse.



This one was taken near Springfield with one driver and 2 standers. A total of 5 bucks were pushed out. Two four points were taken, this being the larger. There were 8 or more does in the group as well.

 

[kanook]

Just remember, You are hunting NOT shopping.

I brought a friend to my property for a hunt. After being in the stand for about 2 hours, he gave up and came back in. I asked him what he doing. He replied that there weren't any deer out there. I opened the cabin door and pointed to a deer that was about 20 yards from the stand he just left.

Don't give up.

 

[bejay]

your best chance at seeing deer is the first 3 hours after daylight and a few hours before sunset, but sometimes its worth it to stay out all day as they can move a little during the day, ive often seen them watering at mid day or during the rut bucks may move around all day long, they can be scared by other hunters also.
but for the most part deer will not move very much or very far from where they were bedded during mid day, while you where in an area that had deer sign if you didnt see anything after hunting morning and evening,I would likely hunt a new spot and look for bedding areas and pick places to watch that is closer to bedding areas.

 

[smithmax]

Oregon Blacktail hunting is a brushy and wet operation

I went on my first hunting trip this weekend as well, and definitely experience this. I was able to find a lot of bedding areas, and we saw 4 doe but no buck. We did get some ideas for great places to return to. And I realized that I really need to put in for Doe tags next year.

 

[wyohome]

smithmax PM sent, I have a can't miss hunt for you if there are 3 or more of you.

 

[joshk-k]

Looking at a satellite image on Google maps of the land I was on, I think I should nix the truck all the way out and hike in the whole way. It's way closer as the crow flies from where I parked and where I was hunting than I realized. I also think that staying put for a few more hours than I did after sunrise and sunset would not hurt anything except my patience.

Thanks for all the replies.

Josh