October 10, 2008
Texas deer hunting report: Some deer favor real food
Here's the opening line from a news release I just saw from Lone Star Outdoor News:
"DALLAS-Archery hunters had mixed reports from the Texas opener, with drier areas having deer coming to the feeders, but hunters in areas receiving heavy summer rains saw an abundance of acorns and new growth keeping the deer away."
I don't know if I've ever seen a more concise example of how accepted deer hunting methods vary from state to state.
I can just see these guys sitting by their feeders, cursing the fact that deer are actually concentrating on natural food sources. "You mean I've got to go out and actually figure out where the deer are? Instead of just waiting for them to answer the dinner bell?"
I've had defenders of hunting over bait tell me it's not a sure thing, and I guess this supports that assertion.
Comments
[October 10, 2008 12:20 PM]
Rick ADeer will take a free hand-out, just like they will jump a fence in a low spot.The range of a deer in some areas of the state has brought them into urban areas just like bears in search of food.I do believe however, that bears would be more likely to take a free handout. In my observations during pre-season scouting, I have noticed the mast being heavier in some parts of the state due to rainfall amounts, my areas of concentration during deer season is where the food is. If the mast of acorns is slim, deer will brouse for other food sources and this is where I will set-up taken into account other factors, such as funnels, sadles and most importantly to me wind. The 4 trophy's on my wall, 1 of which was 7th in the state Class I in 2007 are examples of doing your homework, not to mention the fact that they were taken without the illegle aid of baited food, That in itself is my personal satisfaction.
[October 10, 2008 3:30 PM]
Nick NormanCouldn't have said it better.
[October 11, 2008 3:33 AM]
BacklashIf a person used food items to bring deer in or they used scents to bring deer to a area, the result is the same you will harvest a deer thereby controlling the population and providing meat
to the substance to your and others families.
The problem is if these items are illegal to use why are stores selling these products is this not luring a consumer to purchase these items. Who's really at fault here? Just take them off the shelf....Buck Jam, Peanut Butter Blocker, Tinks 69 scents I mean all of it.
If you telling me feeding deer causes them to congregate and can possibly pass on diseases then what is a group of bachelor bucks doing in groups when they smell lures is this not causing them to congregate??
Did Mark story say deer are passing on the feeders for acorns isn't hunting from or near a acorn tree hunting over a food source????? What's the difference from hunting over a food plot, or is it just that petty to harvest an animal from a population of over abundance of animals.
I have respect for hunters with the time honor skills but let's face it the overall factor with out lures the only way most of us would see deer would be......
on our bumpers.
Oh I forgot Virginia insured drivers spent $90 Million Dollars last year in deer car collisions and let's not forget those that lost their lives trying to avoid and hitting deer and those that will die this year.
[October 13, 2008 9:22 AM]
BacklashShouldn't Scent Lok clothing ground non reflective clothing that obscewing a deer eyesight, and ground blinds and tree stands should all these items be illegal because of the advantage they give hunters over their natural senses?
I mean we lure deer in with scent bombs we've masked our scent with scent away we are perched 12 to 20 ft in a tree stand and we watch deer as they congregate around our Deer Quest Smoking Sticks and Renzos Decoys out of curiosity so we can take advantage of there naivety for a better shot.
So what's the difference of shooting over a Mossy Oak BioLogic and Whitetail Institute food plot or forage sprayed down with C'mere Deer deer attractant.
Deer still congregate with out our help, just last night I counted over 25 deer in a small pasture area within the city limits of Christiansburg, how many congregate in the forest at night anyone tend to take a guest?
I believe the anti-hunting group is gaining control over our ability to hunt and what we can use no mater the available product that's at our disposal. One anti- hunting group blog to stop deer hunting has posted 52,285 comments to and against hunting.
That's a total of 36,378 comments since I found it last year the same time I posted my first comment on Marks blog.
For a group of proud hunters, our spirit isn't going bump in the night.
[October 13, 2008 10:48 PM]
JR MitchellWhile both Backlash and Rick have excellent points, I was brought up by my grandfather to hunt "fair chase". In his day there was no Biologic or DeerCane to help lure in a whitetail. It was exactly how Rick mentioned, "Funnels,draws,direction of wind,white oaks" was the key to harvesting deer. To me,again this is my opinion,baiting and food plots takes the fun and history out of what has been and what I was taught. Its just a lazy way of hunting it seems,but again,you guys hunt how you want to hunt. I want to make my grandfather proud and to me thats more important than anything. I seen a shirt the other day and it read..."Hunt deer wild,Ranches are for cattle!" I couldn't agree more.
[October 14, 2008 10:39 AM]
John RobertsonAs an avid archery hunter I have on several occassions stumbled upon sites where everything from honey, molasses,corn, cut apples and bait blocks were used. My own Brother in law(the gear queer)uses such devices and upon discovery I take the oppernunity to leave my own personal scent. Do your homework "City Slicker" and quit taking the lazy way out.
[October 14, 2008 11:23 AM]
Mark TaylorAs I've written many times before, hunting ethics are a combination of personal choice, tradition and laws. If something is legal (using scents, Scent Lok, crossbows, food plots, or even baiting or hunting in an enclosure) and you do it and still feel like you accomplished something when you kill a deer, well, OK. But, as the old saying goes, if it doesn't feel right then it probably isn't. I can't see me feeling good about shooting a deer in an enclosure over bait. But I didn't grow up in Texas so who knows?
I've used Scent Lok and scents, and hunted over food plots. At least for me, they hardly guaranteed killing a deer.
John, as for leaving your own personal scent at baited sites, I hate to you-know-what on your cornflakes, but you may not be keeping deer away. I'm a firm believer that human urine is not at all offensive to whitetails. (As for the other stuff, I'm not sure.)
You'd be much better off circling the area and touching every tree with your bare hands or, better yet, leaving sweat-soaked T-shirts hanging on tree branches all around the site.
Thanks for reading and for all the comments.
mt
[October 14, 2008 12:33 PM]
BacklashMark thanks for the blog and the room for discussion you are "The Man".
JR Mitchell wouldn't hunting over or near white oaks, couldn't this be consider as hunting over a food source or a natural food plot?
John Robertson Once while hunting from a ground blind I had a fellow not more that 50ft. away stopped drop and ploped, I haven't been back to that area ever since.
Can't say there were a food source in the area but it was an ample supply....
of pine cones.
[October 14, 2008 11:21 PM]
JR MitchellEvidently Backlash you didn't read what I said carefully. I said it was my opinion on hunting over bait and food plots. And no food plots are not natural, so you can not compare them to white oaks! Hunt how you want Backlash or anyone else that baits and plants "unnatural" food, but this country boy will kill one just how my family has for years. If using those attractants is what thrills your hunt, then by-ole-means, use them! But I and by the looks of some of these comments, others as well, don't mind doing a little research in our area to find "natural" places to harvest our deer. We take the option of not taking the lazy way out! Again, hunt how you want to hunt, Im not saying its wrong,just the easier way of harvesting a deer and to me thats not fun! I think some of us get so caught up in watching these "ranches" on TV lure in and grow whitetails, that we forget about whats "natural" and are only concerned about how BIG or how many our land can produce. So ahead and feed and plant food all y'all want...but if you are near me,I'll get'em using bedding areas around you or ridges leading to your plots! Now That's NATURAL!!!
[October 15, 2008 12:56 PM]
BacklashJust sparking a healthy debate about different hunting strategies' I am not condemning your hunting styles in the least.
But how so many hunting products are basically illegal and the rules about using them is so ignorant.
When deer herd together, and we can't unite as the anti-hunting groups have bonded to stop us.
[October 15, 2008 9:08 PM]
MikeI agree with J.R. Half of the fun for me is the pre-season scouting. That's the challenge...doing your homework to find natural food sources and travel patterns and knowing full well that they can change overnight leaving you back at square one. This only makes a successful harvest that much more rewarding. I got lucky last Saturday when a plan came together. I'd been seeing deer moving back and forth from bedding to feeding areas. I picked the right ridge that they were traveling that evening and put an arrow into a nice doe. But the bottom line is this preparation started several weeks ago. I can't see changing what works for me.
Mike