How would you hunt this?

[jeepntx]

This is part of a lease I may get on for 2014 north of Colmesneil. Paint did a crappy job and pixelated it pretty bad, but hopefully it's still somewhat clear.

The yellowish "square" in the left-center of the picture is the area I'm thinking about setting up in. The blue squiggle on the right of the "square" is a creek that holds a little water, but not much. The red diagonal line is a highline right-of-way, and the white lines are roads. There are hunters to the right of the creek, but the square has not been hunted for years. It was clear cut around 8 years ago, so it's all young pines and thick underbrush, but the area just above the heavier white line was clear cut only 2 years or so ago. The thin white line running up/down through the "square" is just big enough for a 4wheeler to travel comfortably, so there's not alot of traffic, but the heavier line is a county road that leads to a few houses.

Biggest disadvantage is its THICK. But thats part of the appeal to me. Guy on the lease says there is alot of animal traffic around the area, but none of the hunters want to mess with it since it's so thick.

EDIT: Each hunter is allowed 2 stands, 1 permanent and one portable.

[tkuehn5410]

From my experience with the females, any place to hunt next to highway 69 will undoubtedly produce for you. Good luck! I've had more success at intersections or just slightly north of the intersection. Hope this helps!!!!

[Davoh]

Man there's a lot of good looking spots(from above) in that section, to have only 2 stands. How portable can your portable stand be? Do you have to declare all the sites, or can you be fairly flexible? Scouting is going to be the key, to make sure you're in the right spot.

I like the look of that hardwood funnel between the 4wheeler trail and the river, north of the pipeline. I would probably walk the trail south of the pipeline, looking for sign crossing, trails and such.

I'd probably scout the boundaries between pine and hardwood, and that mixed area to the west. Look for trails, old rubs and such. If you can set up a couple good stand sites in those areas for a climber, and be able to reliably get into them, could be good hunting. Hard access though.

Might look at the topo for sloughs and ridges in those hardwood breaks, on the side towards the creek. I wouldnt go too far east, to avoid interfering with the leasemates.

[jeepntx]

Man there's a lot of good looking spots(from above) in that section, to have only 2 stands. How portable can your portable stand be? Do you have to declare all the sites, or can you be fairly flexible? Scouting is going to be the key, to make sure you're in the right spot.

I like the look of that hardwood funnel between the 4wheeler trail and the river, north of the pipeline. I would probably walk the trail south of the pipeline, looking for sign crossing, trails and such.

I'd probably scout the boundaries between pine and hardwood, and that mixed area to the west. Look for trails, old rubs and such. If you can set up a couple good stand sites in those areas for a climber, and be able to reliably get into them, could be good hunting. Hard access though.

Might look at the topo for sloughs and ridges in those hardwood breaks, on the side towards the creek. I wouldnt go too far east, to avoid interfering with the leasemates.

Those spots were in my top choices. As far as flexibility on the portable, I was told as long as I'm a reasonable distance away from another member's set, and no one is hunting the set that would be the closest, the lease is pretty much wide open. I know it's vague, but I'm going to get more clarification on that.

EDIT: I was already told that if I wanted to hunt that area, I would be the only one in it. That area supposedly totals 40-50 acres

[firemedic2105]

The funnels are what jumped out at me first. Hard to say for sure, but the one to the south looks like it may have a pretty good transitional area just above the creek, may be an illusion but it looks like it kinda opens into a field that isn't as thick.

What about the open areas to the northwest, what's the proximity to the road on those two and are they as bare as they look? Maybe a food plot on one of those edges if that's allowed?