Time to Start Setting Stands

Finally managed to get out this afternoon and look the area over. Found an area of cedars surrounding a pond that was absoultely torn up with deer track and sign. This area sits just above a bean field and next to powerline clearcut. Set a tripod on the edge of the clearcut just inside the cedars, no trees big enough to hang stands in. Good shooting in 3 directions, will have to see about cutting a couple of small shooting lanes to the back side. Since I was laid up all last season, I'm really getting excited for the opener this year...

hope it works for you - good luck

Steve:
 
Good luck, bud!
 
Let us know how it goes.
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve

Steve,
 I also got a chance to get out last Sat and look over some stand locations. Moreover for my wife to sit in.  LOL  She is dead set on using a ground blind due to her not really liking the heights very much. I have one spot that will accomidate either or both. If I put her blind below the tree I'm gonna hang a stand in, it works out both ways. She can either sit there on the ground or I can use the stand in the tree. Best of both worlds. Good luck to all in setting stands this yr and most of all be safe. We don't want any of y'all becoming a stat. this yr. and loosing what you love to do for any amount of time.

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

Ya I also need to get out and start getting serious on  setting my stands. They are all still in the same place they where last fall.

my family is my life
Willie

  One day soon I'm gonna get back to my spot in the Stateland I hunt.  I can't leave a stand, but I need to move some of the treetops & such that came down from our ice storm in Dec '08!!
  I keep checking my stand on my property, may hang 1 or 2 more.  The rest of my property is so steep I don't need a stand to hunt some trails!!  Just find a comfortable spot! 

Jeff

I wait until Labor day weekend to set mine.

Good to see you back in the game.  There is no feeling like being out in the woods experiencing what God has blessed us hunters.  Good luck and good hunting!!!  rssigle

My brother Joe and I visited a piece of property that we have left alone for a couple of seasons. It's 97 acres of property that we hunted when it was private. The State of New Jersey purchased the property which is a stand alone piece surrounded by private estates and farms. Few folks even know that it's now State property and huntable. No one, to our knowledge, has been in there. The heavy rains have turned the small access trail into a virtual jungle. The only thing walking the trail are deer. We hacked our way in to where the timber opened up. There's a thick ravine chocked with cedar. The ridges are covered with white oak and the back end of the property leads to overgrown fields that abut farmland.

We pushed several deer including a big ol buck from their beds in the field. There is heavy deer sign everywhere. Trails criss-cross throughout the property.

W set up some tree stand locations and cleared shooting lanes. The early opener is the 12th. Joe and his son have commitments, I'll be in there alone. Only problem is that you are required to take a doe, check it into a station and then are allowed to go after a buck. Last time I hunted this piece I had bachelor groups all season.

The freshest tracks still have feet in them.

snytrophyhunter:
 
Sounds like you found a gold mine!  Let's us all know how it turns out.
 
Good Luck!
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve

Good luck SNY!!!  I hope you snag a big un!!!!

Love playing that string music and sending a Muzzy flying!

 SNY. sounds like a honey hole. That gets the blood pumpin. Required doe before Buck ouch. wouldnt like that stipulation.

ORIGINAL: weyyeager

 SNY. sounds like a honey hole. That gets the blood pumpin. Required doe before Buck ouch. wouldnt like that stipulation.

Yeah. it's a pain but the deer population in NJ, same as the bear, is out of control. Just too many townships that have banned hunting and the deer have taken over.

The freshest tracks still have feet in them.

  Cool deal, SNY!!  I hunt West Point with rifle and they have the same "stip."  Doe 1st, then you can try for a buck.  Works for them, they do get some nice bucks out of there.
   Think this weekend I'll hang some more stands on my property, back side of my ridge.  Be using screw-in steps (sounds familiar!!), so it'll take some time. 

Jeff

ORIGINAL: shadow61

  Cool deal, SNY!!  I hunt West Point with rifle and they have the same "stip."  Doe 1st, then you can try for a buck.  Works for them, they do get some nice bucks out of there.
  Think this weekend I'll hang some more stands on my property, back side of my ridge.  Be using screw-in steps (sounds familiar!!), so it'll take some time. 

My brother in law is a Navy Captain and he has been trying to get me to Hunt West Point and Stewart Airport with him for some time now. I guess I'll give it a try. I'm more inclined to hunt Stewart though, I've seen some nice looking bucks up there and the military side gets little hunting pressure.

The freshest tracks still have feet in them.

  SNY,
Yep, I love Stewart.  I hunt there A LOT (now, more so during gun season)!!!  Took a nice 7 point well into the gun season in 2006.  I still get a doe permit there, too.   It does get a lot of pressure, but as one of the Rangers said...ya gotta go deep!  And get to the gate early!!
  I have seen some HUGE rubs on BIG trees there.  So, I know they have some "slammers" there.
   I take my youngest brother there 'cause I figure with all the pressure, some one will push a deer to him.  Pressure's not too bad during the week, but heavy the weekend...

Jeff

I've hunted the public side of Stewart going back many years and have taken plenty of deer, turkey and ducks from there. It's tough getting in there fpr opening week though. When I spoke of my brother in law I meant hunting on the military side which is not open to the public. I hear there are some real monster bucks in there because very few folks hunt it.

The freshest tracks still have feet in them.

Opening day Saturday. I'm more than ready. The bow is tuned and laying them in there very nicely, thank you very much. I know exactly where I'm placing my stand. (either one of two different locations depending on the wind) I need only get a little break with the weather. Of course I want perfect conditions like that's going to happen. ha, ha. Sounds like we have a little rain coming this way but at least the temps will be somewhat moderate. I need to get that doe behind me so I can work on that big buck that I've seen.

The freshest tracks still have feet in them.

I've got one ladder stand to put up but, first i will have to put a log chain on it. it seems that on this one farm my stands grow legs and walk away.

What makes people do that sort of thing. I could never conceive the idea of stealing someone elses property. I will admit that I used someones permanent stand once. Arrowed a real nice buck from it too but I would never steal another sportsmans equipment. What go around comes around.

The freshest tracks still have feet in them.