[bayman1975]

Ok guys,

Here's a real hunting situation for us to look at. I'm putting a new stand up on our place in Sharp County, and there will be a feeder as well. I'm trying to figure out the best possible location for the feeder. The stand location has more restrictions than the feeder. The link below shows the exact location for the stand, marked by the red "x". You can see that the stand is located near the top of a ridge above our cabin. What you can't see is that when you come down the side of the ridge, in any direction, to the next elevation line, there is a huge thicket that runs most of the way down to the cabin and all the down to the creek. The deer are running this "rim" around the side of the ridge, coming up out of the thicket through a couple of well defined "saddles" along the rim, as well as, across the top of the ridge. Now, I've decided to place the stand on the edge of this point above the rim. From this location, I can see the rim on three sides all the way down to the thicket. The thicket, by the way, is nearly unpenetrable. I went up this morning and blazed a trail through it to get to the top of the ridge. It took most of the morning. Also from this stand position, I can see the top of the ridge all the way to the next elevation level. If I get up on top of the highest point, I've got a housetrailer that sits about 100 yards from our property line, which on the map is where the 500 foot "bold" line intersects with the section line to the northeast of the stand location. The trailer is currently empty, but last year when I made my way to the top of the ridge, there were cars, and kids, there. I'd rather not be in sight of the property line.

Now, the question is, do I put the feeder down on the rim, so the deer can come out of the thicket, and feel the safety of the thicket right there, but it's too far for me to bowhunt from this stand location. Or, do I place the feeder on the ridge, on the same elevation level as the stand, and have the deer come out on the ridge, thus traveling past the stand, in some cases, to the feeder. The prevailing winds are going to be from the southwest in the early season, and also the north in the late season. What would you do with this setup?

http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=36.25724&lon=-91.29097&datum=nad83&u=4&layer=DRG&size=l&s=24

 

[huntbigbucs]

IF your going to bowhunt mostly, i would say put it at the same level as you. I don't hunt around feeders, but use them for my camera, and deer will travel to them regardless if its thick or in the middle of a field, especially if there ain't much bothering them. More pressure, than i would go next to the thicket and give them the option of quick cover

 

[bayman1975]

I do more gun and muzzlloader hunting now. I'm trying to do more bowhunting, but I'm not in the physical condition I used to be. Twelve surgeries over the past 20 years have taken their toll on me. Also, I started using a feeder when my grandson started going with me. It helps to attract more deer for him to see.

 

[johnf]

Here's a better pic. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v497/bandmasterjf/deerhunt.jpg

I think I would put my feeder west of the thicket between the thicket and the creek where the big red dot is. I think that's about 75 yards. Then maybe set a stand up on the edge.


By the sound of your discription this picture is a few years old, but Google earth is still a great thing.

 

[bbaldridge]

my opinion

If I'm reading the map right and since you do more gun and ML hunting than anything I would set it up for those type of hunts. I would place the feeder near the thicket, far enough away so that you can get a good look at them when they do come out, but still concealed enough that they feel somewhat safe. To me it looks like a southwest wind would be very good for that setup. If I could I would probably place the feeder on the southwest side below your stand close to the thicket and far enough over that a north wind wouldn't be much of a problem. I know the wind swirls but you cant help that. The one thing that you will have to consider is the foliage. You know that your view will look much different during ML than during the gun hunt. The deer will use the thicket for a bedding area, but their scrapes will probably be on the rim where they can scent check them from close cover. A well traveled rim will usually produce a good scrape line. A north wind will carry your scent into the ticket but hopefully they will pop out before they smell you. If the thicket is as thick as you say and you want to bowhunt you can always place a ground blind closer to the feeder and brush it in.