Ever been the only bowhunter on a lease?

[jerp]

I was real close to not having a lease for the second year in a row when I was invited by some friends to join theirs. I know most of the members and they are exactly the kind of guys you want to hunt with so I said "sign me up". I went and checked the place out Saturday - 1,800 acres and 6 hunters. Here's the deal that's got me wondering about strategy. One guy bowhunts a little but the rest are full-time rifle hunters and they've got the place fairly well covered with stands and feeders. Anybody can hunt any stand that's open, and they said I'm welcome to set up bowstands around a few feeders if I want to. Here's what I'm thinking - there are a few really thick areas that are not conducive to rifle hunting and not accessible enough to easily set up a feeder. My thought is it might be good to forget hunting feeders all together. I would just set up 3-4 tripods/loc-ons or ground blinds on trails and travel routes in the thick stuff. (maybe hand throw some corn when I'm hunting) I'm thinking that after the 6-7 years these guys have been hunting the same spots, the deer probably have them well patterned.
Any other ideas for a lone bowhunter on a rifle lease?

[Aggiebow88]

Sounds like you have the basis for a VERY good plan. Look for Oaks etc. as well.

[DWI Lawyer]

I was real close to not having a lease for the second year in a row when I was invited by some friends to join theirs. I know most of the members and they are exactly the kind of guys you want to hunt with so I said "sign me up". I went and checked the place out Saturday - 1,800 acres and 6 hunters. Here's the deal that's got me wondering about strategy. One guy bowhunts a little but the rest are full-time rifle hunters and they've got the place fairly well covered with stands and feeders. Anybody can hunt any stand that's open, and they said I'm welcome to set up bowstands around a few feeders if I want to. Here's what I'm thinking - there are a few really thick areas that are not conducive to rifle hunting and not accessible enough to easily set up a feeder. My thought is it might be good to forget hunting feeders all together. I would just set up 3-4 tripods/loc-ons or ground blinds on trails and travel routes in the thick stuff. (maybe hand throw some corn when I'm hunting) I'm thinking that after the 6-7 years these guys have been hunting the same spots, the deer probably have them well patterned.
Any other ideas for a lone bowhunter on a rifle lease?

I think that is a good idea, and agree that the deer will have the feeders patterned. You can definately use that to your advantage, plus you might nab the big boy who isn't stupid enough to hit the feeder during daylight hours.

[gonehuntin68]

That's what I would do. Also check out if there are any water holes that are secluded.

[DH2000]

I am in the exact same situation this year. Although I have been trying for several years to get on this place because it is close to my house (about 4 miles away). They have it covered and I am the only bowhunter peroid. I have found a few places to set up in thick cover away from the feeders as well. Hopefully our plans work.

[JW]

Best lease i was ever on, I was the only Bowhunter. The guys were all managment minded and it worked well...

[tuthdoc]

My brothers and I were pretty much the only bowhunters on our section of the Junco. Last year, a hunter we guided and got started bowhunting joined as a Associate and he's eaten up with archery right now. Everyone else rifle hunts. We use chum to find deer and set up on them. We try to go places where no one rifle hunts and find little hidey holes that aren't ideal for rifle hunters. Works like a charm. We stay out of the way and kill deer.

Feeders aren't necessary for success, but can be fun to hunt. In your situation, I'd forget the feeders and use hand corn. You can carry it in in your pack and keep areas that won't be rifle hunted primed. Sounds like you have a good plan. You also might be surprised that while you bow hunt and are successful, you might get a couple full time recruits.

[Tuffbroadhead]

I'm the only bowhunter on our 6500 acres, the other hunters will show up MAYBE once a year because its so far to drive....They have told me that all stands are open, but I set mine up so that a rifle hunter cant hunt it, and I will not hunt theirs, just not interested in hunting other people spots...

But in all honesty I put the most work in on filling feeders and keeping mine full , they are truly seasonal hunters....

So I feel oh so lucky!!!

[MountainMan]

I think it would be hilarious if you killed a P&Y buck your first year on their place just cuz you bowhunt....it'd show all them rifle guys.

[elliscountyhog]

Sounds like a great group of guys to be hunting with that is for sure!!! I think u have a GREAT idea and plan... Good luck

[keep]

I have twice before and if you lay down any decent deer or quanity of deer. You will soon have new bowhunters joining you the following years.

[nsbowhunter]

I would do what you are stating plus I would go ahead and have a back up plan with a stand on a feeder somewhere. Maybe one of theres that is bow freindly. This way if things are not working you have something to fall back on.

[Javelin]

I was and it was BAD. My dad was the member but since I was in school I could still hunt there. We were allowed to have three stand locations, well two of our stands were on a pipeline 200 yards from each other with a feeder between them. I put a lockon stand up next to the feeder and they made me take it down only because the president and board member both had a stand just down the pipeline and didnt want me to kill the deer before them. The had known about several other members with multiple stands around a single feeder for years, but because I was close to them and I could hunt before them they shut me down. Got out and never looked back

[Miki]

Burnt,cheri and me are the only ones. I would hunt te feeders.

[BIG D]

I was the only bowhunter for several years. Now, 3 of the 5 guys on my lease bowhunt.