Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Aldeer Bow Talk Rough start to December

First year bowhunting, life-long rifle guy. Most of my hunting career has been in the high valleys of Montana, the Alabama brush is foreign to me. Been scouting for a few weeks now and found an area worth putting some good time into. Show up this morning and right off the bat, come around corner #1, about 80yds from the first of three clearings I like, one twig pops and I see three white tails flash through the brush. About 90 minutes later I figure I'll go and creep my way to site #2. Around 30yds from where the clearing starts, the brush on either side of at one point was a dirt road to nowhere, the brush on either side gets downright nasty. I hit the edge of the opening, and hear something to my right, freeze in tracks, slowly look to right to see two good racks of antlers and a third head swing my way, blow at me, then take off...Face to palm again.

At this point the only upside is that I got close enough to potentially of had a shot. I hope everyone else's day is going better.

Are you trying to stalk hunt the deer or are you just hoping stands after daylight?

Hey that's not a rough start that's a good start. I been sittin on a spot that my cam shows 3-4 deer and pigs come through everyday....this is my 6th sit on this spot...and nada. Welcome to bama home of the weird and skitzy deer.

Klow I like yer attitude, I always get a hair salty after a missed opportunity. The truth of the matter is I'd rather be in the woods and miss shots and spook game all day verses sitting on me arse and twiddlin' my thumbs.

I don't think I'd refer to as 'stalking', I think you have to know what you're doing to call it a stalk. It's more like I check the wind, move so it's in a favorable direction for an approach, then move a bit, stop/look/listen for 3-4 minutes, lather, rinse, repeat. I've got close enough to start ranging shots, but at this point I'm not comfortable with anything over 40yds.

It doesn't help that the ground is covered with leaves that think they are party poppers. Any stalking pointers would be greatly appreciated.

You might have better luck, if you hang a stand in those conditions. Good luck. Sounds like you're in the right spot.

I've never hunted a stand or house before but from what I'm seeing people post that's kind of the norm around here. What kinda standoff from a water/food source is about right?

Actually I forgot, I hunted a few times in one a few years back but other than get in and be quiet I'm at a loss. I'll start looking into it. I appreciate the advice.

That's kinda what I figured, when you mentioned Montana. A climber, shooting house, ground blind(store bought or home made), or a ladder will give you an edge. It won't be as exciting as you are use to, but it works.

As for standoff, it depends on your area. As you mentioned, things are pretty thick here. The brush may dictate that for you. I've sat places that I can't see past 30 yards and I've sat places I could see several hundred yards. The more cover you have around you, the better. I'll quit rambling now. Good luck and happy hunting.

N2TRKYS - not rambling at all, it's good info, I would have kept walking and my wife would have more ammo for teasing about coming home empty handed.

Yeah stands would be the norm...even for pigs I stay in my stand around here. It's too thick around here to stalk anything. As for stand off....well I stand on. My hottest spotest is right under a white oak, now it's a huge white oak...but I'm still under it. Different parts of the state will have different land and game, but for me hear if I can only see 15 yards, I'm probably in the right area, they just don't step into the open during daylight around here.

I see your from auburn are you hunting Tuskegee NF?

I don't think you're off to a bad start at all. If you are then I'm in real trouble

Really though, I've hunted 23 times this season, 22 with a bow and still no kill BUT ... I'm getting close. Of those 22 bow hunts, I've had 4 deer encounters where I could conceivably get a kill. None of them panned out BUT I learned good lessons each time. Here's a summary from my notes ... hope this will help you WHEN you are finally confronted by a potential kill:

1) Opening day I had a rather large doe and 4 smaller does working a circle around my tree for about 30 minutes. The large one finally got within 25 yards of me. I'd had my bow up and following her for the final 5 minutes or so and I decided to stick her. She put her head down but her eyes were locked on me. She raised her head then put it back down but her eyes were still on my. Me, being the sucker, began to draw and BOOM she was off, white flag bouncing down the mountain. LESSON #1: NEVER NEVER DRAW IF YOU CAN SEE THEIR EYES

2) About 2 weeks into the season I had a spike coming down a hardwood shelf towards my stand. When he got within 30 yards I waited until his eyes went behind a tree and drew. I continued to track him but I had contacts in my eyes and a stiff north wind was blowing in my face. This caused my eyes to water profusely ... to the point that I began to lose sight of him. I could tell that he was getting closer but I couldn't see that he had gone behind some cedar scrub. I let lose and my arrow glanced off the cedar scrub and off he went. LESSON #2: CONTACTS DO NOT WORK FOR ME IN THE FIELD, I GOTTA STICK TO GLASSES AND JUST HOPE FOR THE BEST

3) Last week I was in a tree in a thicket when two large does came within 15 yards of me. The thicket was so thick and so large that I never got a good shot at either of them. I had to let them walk ... LESSON #3: IF HUNTING IN A HEAVY THICKET MAKE SURE THERE ARE SOME OPENINGS TO SHOOT THROUGH. I've since gone back to that spot and cleared 3 50yard lanes in front of that tree. I'm letting the area sit for a week before I go back

4) The day after #3, prior to learning about clearing the lanes, I decided to go back in and sit on a bucket within the thicket. I put the bucket up against a tree and sat down. At sunlight I heard 2 does (probably the same ones) approaching from directly behind me. I tried to turn to see them but the tree was in my way. When I moved to the side to see them I blew my cover and ARRRGGGGHHH!!! Never heard so much blowing ... LESSON #4: WHEN HUNTING FROM THE GROUND YOU ARE MUCH MUCH MORE VISIBLE TO DEER, COVER UP BETTER AND ALLOW FOR A FULL 360 DEGREES OF VIEW

Hope this helps. I haven't quit and I have no plans of quitting ... I'll have these last two does before the month is out

Lesson #5..... When you think you've got it all figured out, you don't.

That's what makes it so much fun.

Boys...though you can't see me laughing while I looked at your posts, im glad to get your advice and experience for free on here. I'm also thankful to find out that:

1. Even you seasoned guys are still learning.

2. I'm not the only one seeing the Whitetail Express.

When you stop learning about whitetails your six feet in the ground!

jlbuc10 - I live a bit south on 169 where it hits 80, I usually hunt the Alabama side of Ft Benning. It's about the only piece of land around here that I have a 'membership' to use without paying club fees. If yer lookin for a reason to get off of your usual spot and check out some new scenery, drop me a PM.