Would you hunt active logging area?

Pines are being thinned on part of our property through most of the season. Heavy canopy before thinning so didn't hold a lot of deer to begin with the last several years. How does logging affect deer activity? Green fields near decks are up and not being touched but on non logging area green fields getting regular browse already. They log through the week and would be hunting on weekends so not when the machines are running.

One of my leases was thinned a few years ago. They started the week after thanksgiving and left about the middle of Jan. Saw more deer that year than any year since. Don't know why. They just moved all day, every day.

Yes.

Back when it was 1 buck a day, a guy i know killed 17 bucks one season running a dozer for a logging crew. Granted most were spikes and basket racks, the deer were there.

I have a little exposure to this. I would hunt it as much as possible.

Obviously, safety being number one priority for you and the logging crew. And some timber companies may have some restrictions. If it's a lease - check the lease language to make sure everything's good.

Hunt it. Thank me later.

^^^Loggers have told me they carry a 30-30 in the logging machines. And I often saw deer within 15-30 min on the cams after seeing a logging truck go by...

During the process of logging they are putting more than trees on the ground. They are also pulling the green tender browse down to ground level that the deer have not been able to reach. In other words, they are putting food in the deer's mouth that they ordinarily wouldn't be able to get.

Ride with them on the skidders and see how deer you see. You will probably need more shells. I followed a skidder in one morning and as soon as he got out of sight I shot a big ol nine point. Also deer are curious if they stop cutting in the afternoons before dark go sit on top of one the deer will come out and eat the tender browse.

Happened to me abt 7 years ago. Saw a few deer entire season. It was miserable with tractors running all over lease. There were two crews. Stopped about 30 minutes before dark and worked Saturdays. They tore up about all the food plots we had planted and paid $50 more to plant . Not a good e perience for me.

I've hunted off dozierz and trackhoes in a gravel pit before and seen alotta deer.I'd hunt it every second the crew wasn't there logging.

Same way for tractors and combines. Back in Dallas county before the pine days we carried rifles in our cotton pickers and combines. You'd be surpised at the big deer that come check equipment out. We kill a pile of coyotes off combines too. It's a dinner bell for those critters.

That's called hunting the tractor stand in my neck of the woods.

Yes hunt it

First of all, find out if its legal. On most leases its illegal to hunt within 1/4 mile of a logging operation.

You are correct.

What Mteague said is exactly right. Also, have you ever noticed all the tracks the next day after you disc or plow a field? They love fresh dirt and the equipment exposes lots of it. They're after the minerals in the soil.

It isn't illegal. It may be against the lease agreement, but it isn't a law.

Well, yea i guess i said that wrong. It will violate the lease agreement and possibly cause you some headaches.

Hell yes!