Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Serious Deer Talk Forum Setting a record

I dont know anything about where you guys hunt. But unless your hunting in the publix parking lot I bet most of you guys that arent seeing anything have the same kind of situation. Alot of pressure! I would hunt public land only before (as an example) I joined another $500 club with a poor land to hunter ratio. Not doing it. Nothing but frustration. If you cant afford to get a good ratio I would scout the crap out of my closest WMA and do it that way.

This is by far the worst year I've had in a long time. Seen a few but nothing like I should be.

Bingo! That was the situation I was in, low club dues on decent land but way too many hunters per acre and too many guys that were BAH(bad at hunting). Pressured the place to death, rode ATV's all over it during season, moved stands during season, etc.

I got out and started putting in more time scouting my nearest WMA until I can find an opening in a club where dues are higher because it is managed properly. I've actually seen more deer on public ground than I was seeing in that club the last 2 seasons.

How much land and how much pressure???? Those are typically the issue when you've got good sign but dont see them.

I'll just keep hunting public land until my body won't let me do it

Me too. That day might be the end of the week at this rate!

Not close. 40 acres I own and 200 acres me my buddy and wife hunt. The 200 acres has been hunted 4 days with 11 sits. Not too much pressure.

500ish acres - 5 hunters (usually 4 at any given time). I already know that is the issue. 1 hunter per 100 acres wouldn't be an issue if everyone was careful about when/where/how they pressure the area, but they aren't. I think I've mentioned before that a few of them literally park their atv/utv at their shooting house - I mean within 10-15 feet. There is also some mid-day riding that goes on. It's frustrating.

I hate that for you man.

Are there deer on the property? Any sign at all?

Yes. Lots of sign. Just not moving in daytime

yellow acorns.

1 on 500 acres could be too much if they going riding around all the time and piddling too much.

Well you know why you don't see deer. I would say you get what you pay for applies here also. I know that's blunt, but it's the truth. Sorry for your luck.

Hate it for you but you're pretty much stuck. Here's what I'd do. I'd get a topo and and aerial and look for thick hard to get to spots on the property, away from the noise and permanent stand sites that are getting hunted to death. Get as far from the pressure as you can and hunt the crazy thick areas that others are not willing to go to the trouble to get to. You'll see deer and kill there.

Quit hunting the green fields

You gonna help me pull one out of the woods when I do this?

[quote=Shaw]Some people just suck at deer hunting. [/quote

^^ he's right you know

Same here. My worst season in 20 years by far. I have hunted 5 different properties at least 20 sits and have not seen a single deer while hunting. Getting very few camera pics as well. I get that some areas of the state are overpopulated, but there are massive sections nowhere close to carrying capacity. The one size fits all-unlimited does with buck restrictions- approach has completely decimated some areas of the state.

Virtually everyone you talk to says the 80's were the peak of Alabama deer hunting. In the 80's does were also heavily protected by the state. I think I see a connection. And I know people in heavily populated areas are not going to sympathize and are convinced the reason they see deer every sit is because they are good hunters. But big parts of this state that used to have plenty of deer have been ruined by the liberal doe season. The whole point of having game laws is to prevent the tragedy of the commons situation. With most large properties being subdivided over the years, you can't just let each person manage their deer herd however they want. You end up with too many does killed and an untenable situation that no one individual owner or lessee can solve.

Have you ever considered a slump buster? Do everything totally opposite of what the deer hunting gods say to do.

Get to the stand late.
Forget your ammo and bring ballistic tips.
Smell like a strawberry douche.
Make a lot of noise. Drop chit from tree stand.
Walk straight in. DO NOT SERPENTINE!
Take a chit on a well used trail.
Use Home Depot brand clorox on stumps.
Post on Aldeer instead of looking for deer.
Bring a drone to f@$k with neighbors.
Use TOPS dog food instead of corn.
Leave stand an hour before last light.