Do you think this set up is fine?

[cajuntec]

OK... It's time for me to admit that I probably don't know what I'm doing. Granted, I'm limited on where I can hunt, but I feel like I'm just not doing it right for a great many years. Hard to admit, but I can't stand going another season without a deer. Before I describe the spot, I want to say that if I owned this property, I wouldn't even be worried about this - I'd cut shooting lanes and set up where I want to. That's not the case here.

I hunt on Camp Bullis. Rules state that I have to be within 150 meters (492 feet) of the designated center point of my spot. I'm also not supposed to cut limbs that have a base 3" or larger, so I have to be careful where I put my spot. Even though a limb might be smaller than 3", if the base of that limb is 3" or larger, I can't cut it at all.

This year, my center point is on the side of a hill, in some fairly thick stuff. In order to haul in my feeder and blind to get really close to the center spot, I'd have to do a lot of cutting (not legally allowed), and haul my feeder and stands uphill. They would also all be sitting sideways on the hill - not exactly my idea of an ideal setup. I don't think I could even sit in my ground blind without feeling like I was going to tip over. My new Quad-Pod might work, but even with it, I'm still in some really thick stuff.

Looking at my spot from overhead, to the NW of my spot is one entrance road. To get to the center from that location, I have a fairly steep uphill climb, and then thick vegetation with very few openings that don't really last long before closing up and getting thick. I'm ducking under and navigating around a ton of small trees while crunching through a thick layer of old leaves.

To the SW of my spot, I can come in fairly easily, but I'm again climbing straight uphill, crossing over rocky terrain where rocks are constantly slipping out from underneath me. I think I'm making more noise that way than through the leaves. I'm going "up and over" to get to the center of my spot.

However... about 400 feet to the S / SE of my spot, the base has cleared a ton of cedar trees, leaving a fairly open spot peppered with the remaining oaks. The ripped up cedars and brush are piled high (15 to 20 feet or higher) in a large line surrounding the back of the spot. There is an access road coming in that way, giving me much easier access to the back side of my center point, although it's still uphill to get to the center. There are deer trails and scat all over the place there.

So, what I did was this - I went to the edge of the woods, where the trees still were in clumps, 3 to 7 trees to a clump, about 20 yards apart. There is a grassy area that shows plenty of deer sign. It is between the tree clumps and the border of the thicker woods. I set up in a "pocket" in that grassy area. My feeder is in the middle of the open oval shaped pocket, with about 25 to 45 yards of open space from end. I set my ground blind up to the SW of the open area, and put my Quad Pod to the SE of the open area.

I "think" the deer come out of the woods and follow along the man-made barrier created by the cedar piles, but I'm not 100% sure. I put up cameras to check this week.

I know this was a long post, but I want to know - am I thinking wrong? Should I be buried in the thick stuff on the side of a slanted hill, hoping for a shot in a small opening, or am I doing this right?

It's been hard for me to admit - but I'm really doubting my abilities and skills lately. I'm left scratching my head, wondering what I'm doing wrong. It might just be the restrictions I'm left with, but if I am adding to the problem, I'd want to know. Please be kind - but honest.

All the best,
Glenn

[kraigrrr]

what direction is the wind most times....I know the spot I hunt most usualy has a south wind.... you need to see where the deer are coming from... I doubt they would head up the hill much( not sure how tall the hill is) they will hang in the bottom most of the time... give it a couple of weeks, check the camera and let us know what you see....

[cajuntec]

Hunting Bullis for the past couple of years, I noticed most of the time the wind was coming from the south. It was hard to tell where the wind would be coming from in the spot I chose because the hill blocks it from the North, and the brush piles were blocking it from the South. I did get a slight breeze the afternoon I set up that seemed to be coming from due East, like it was following the tree line / hill side. I need to spend more time out there to make that determination. Thanks for the reply. Will check the cameras and post my findings. I do have one fear - that they might be bedding down in the bottom. Is that the norm? If so, I might be really jacked up.
All the best,
Glenn

[BirdRanger]

If the wind is blowing in your face and they are coming off the crest or a saddle of a hill, my question to you is this, are there any brush piles in the middle of this small opening if so and the winds permit, I would put the GB at the tail end of the brush pile and brush it in with the stuff that is already cut down, make it part of the scenery. I think you got a good idea with the cameras, figure out a travel route, and I would put my feeder where the small opening and the timber meet as long as the winds are right you should be OK, I have done the near vertical stuff before, it is not fun, if you got time you could dig in, but I bet cause it is camp bullis you need a dig permit also, chack with Range Control before you scratch dirt. I think as of now with no sat imagry you are good to go brother happy hunting.

[cajuntec]

Thank you. I was skeptical about putting my ground blind at the end of the brush pile, although the thought did cross my mind. I didn't do it for these reasons:

1) I'm not sure what they are going to do with those brush piles. Probably just leave them there. But if they burn them.....

2) Snakes. Just looking at those brush piles, I envision hundreds of snakes. I know they can still get into my ground blind at the current location, but put up with the brushpile, I just think it's more of a attraction.

3) I saw a small animal - believe it to be a fox, but didn't make it out completely, sneaking in and out of the brush. I didn't want them to take up residence in my ground blind.

However.... I haven't "completely" ruled it out yet. I still may do that. Thanks for the suggestions and information. I appreciate you taking the time to help.

All the best,
Glenn

[black dallas]

a google maps screenshot might help everybody. i myself would try and play the south wind . its usually predominant here in texas. then factor in the approach trails of the animals. if i got it pictured right the hill might be the ideal spot to put your blind. due to heighth, scent and so on.

[cajuntec]

I tried my best to mark it up so everyone could see what I'm trying to describe:

[cajuntec]

The big yellow circle is what I have to stay in. Dot in the center is the point I can't venture more than 150 meters from. I can't venture outside of it. Small yellow circle is the area I chose to set up. You can see the little gap between the thicker woods and the clumps of trees. The red marks are where the huge piles of brush are located. They didn't show up on the map, but they are there. The gray oval is the entrance that I spoke about that has a lot of loose rock. You can't see it from the overhead, but underneath that tree canopy is rock. The light green oval is the entrance that I spoke about that has a lot of thick brush at first, with a ton of leaves on the ground. It opens up to that rocky area that you can see in the clearing, but then goes back to the thick stuff before you get to the middle. There are two blue dots on the map, and those are the areas I parked. The one to the NW is on a firebreak and all that "open" terrain between the truck and the treeline is covered with loose rock and small brush / tall grass. The one that is S / SW is in the thick of the woods, before I come out into the cleared area. I will probably park further back, prior to coming into the wooded area, right outside of the circle (South-West). I hope this helps. Sorry the map is sideways. Thanks for looking.
All the best,
Glenn

[black dallas]

with a predominantly south wind your gonna have to get realllll **** about scent control with your current entry areas. by the time you get to your setup youve already scented up almost the whole area walking down the road. which i dont blame you raking the road! anyway you can approach from the east?

[cajuntec]

I can approach from the east, but it requires me to drive around the entire perimeter of the area to the south, along some pretty rough stuff. During daylight hours, I navigated it, but there are some huge rocks that just look like they are going to take out something vital under my truck. If I drive in on the access road to the west, then head south around the perimeter of the treeline, coming back up north and following a dirt grader path behind those cedar brush piles in red, I can stop about midway to the opening between the two brushpiles, and then hoof it in until I get to that trail you see and then follow the trail up. Not my "preferred" way of doing it, as I'm nervous about taking out my transmission or something else on that rocky road, but it might have to be done.

You are most likely right - I'm going to have to be really picky about scent control. I've always showered in scent free soap before heading out, and I usually put on my boots right before walking out to my stand. This year, I might keep all of my clothes in a scent free bag along with my boots and change out when I get there. Anything else I should consider in regards to scent control? I have used sprays on my boots before and I'm not sure if they do any good.

Thanks again for helping me. Any more suggestions would be appreciated.

All the best,
Glenn

[black dallas]

red fox pee is a good cover scent. just be careful with it!! it stinks!!! being completely scent free is almost impossible. breath, sweat, skin, all kinds of things smell. glad i could help

[cajuntec]

Thank you. I appreciate all the help.
All the best,
Glenn