Tips for Hunting in Pine Trees

[lab man]

Hunt the transitions between different timber stands. Young pine/Mature pine, Pine/hardwoods and clear cuts.

[AntlerCollector]

Man you can always count on seeing posts of spotlights, poachers, and no deer when East Texas is in the thread title

A climbing stand is a pine trees best friend. I have used a ground blind and ladder as well. Hunt as close to the hardwoods as you can if they produce acorns. Deer will walk by corn to eat acorns. If you're using a bucket feeder put it high in the air so it looks like hand thrown corn and deer won't associate it with a feeder. I've placed 5 gallon bucket feeders 20 feet up in an oak tree. Seen lots more bucks eating that way vs under a big feeder.

[txstate14]

Typically you can find a old push road or logging road with several trails or crossings to hunt. Alot of guys like to hunt pipelines/highlines too because you have the oppurtunity to see a heck of a lot farther than you can in the thick stuff. Personally, I sit in my box stand on the pipeline pre-season and watch to see which trails have most of the deer activity and hang bow stands accordingly

Agreed. Highlines are always a good starting point and not a bad thing to change up to.

[Arlington BowHunter]

If I'm actually in a pine tree I plan on getting high up 25' or so. There's typically not alot of cover like when in an oak or other hardwood. If your hunting in a pressured area be prepared to sit longer than anyone else. Deer pattern humans just like we pattern them. In a lot of cases the 10am-1pm can be the ticket.

This, get up high and carry a THERMACELL!!

[AntlerCollector]

I put my clothes in a scent bag with pine needles when I'm hunting out of my climbing stand. Pine makes a good cover scent and its free!

[E.TX.BOWHUNTER]

If you are hunting pine thickets, deer love to travel thru the thicker ones. If there is 3 feet of clearance under the branches, I would set up on the ground. These would be smaller trees and you would not put a climber on them. The taller trees yes, get as high as you can comfortably. The edges of any changes are your best friend. For example pine to hardwood, tall trees to short trees, any brushy dense edges against any pine or hardwood would be a starting point. Some times deer like the draws and the other time they like the ridges. If they are not using one try the other. I have seen deer go around high spots for weeks at a time and then they suddenly will go directly over the high spot and wont go around it any more. You will learn to be flexible. Check all bushes no matter what for ends being chewed. That will tell you what they eat. The leaves, small branches, etc. They will favor different plants at different times.

[Goodfellah]

I haven't had much luck in the pinewoods with a pop up. I believe in 20' + in a tree over hand corn. Harness and a thermacel are a must for October. This 3 yr old was traveling with a shooter early this past season. I was able to draw on the shooter but he winded me and stopped behind some brush. Eventually he left, this younger deer walked two circles around my tree before he figured out something wasn't right. Good luck to you, there are some big deer in Nac co.

[Eric T.]

Stay awake. Pine thicket where I hunt is difficult because if you are not on your game they can walk right by and you catch the tail end of em.. The Pines are not yet tall enough to allow a good view through them, and of course good luck.. I will need it also. 93 days until and I cannot wait

[Grndchecker]

Good information so far. I will also add, at least where I hunt, the bucks will travel just outside of an area with oaks. If there is a way to set up on the edge of the oaks and pines with a clearing, try that. The majority of the scrapes I find are on the downwind edge. The does will be eating acorns and the bucks will cruise the downwind side scent checking for a hot one.
I hope that makes sense.

[dc1211]

Last year was my first year in east tx and I didn't have much luck although I did kill my first deer with a bow (doe). Good luck to you, my only advise would be to spend as much time in the woods as you can.

[mechhead]

DO NOT screw in bow or accessory holder directly above stacking sticks or ladder rungs. Sap will cause a sticky mess.

[systemnt]

Sell the popup and get a climber.
You'll increase your chances of seeing deer by 90% AND you'll decrease your chances of being spotted by the meth lab guards by 45%..

[DamonJ]

Climb down, drive a couple hundred miles west!!

[kd8jgu]

Climber yes
Good harness yes
I have not hunted pine thickets her but hunted them a lot in Ohio
If you can find a good traveled path they use you can drop some pines to were you can control them closer to you
If in a mix of pine and hardwood with many paths coming in we would drop pine blocking a few of these travel ways so we could control how they would enter and exit

[AntlerCollector]

Climb down, drive a couple hundred miles west!!

Then look for a high fence and beg the rancher to hunt his pet deer!