How many weeks prior to the open do you "stay out" of your hunting area?

[Leftridge]

I happen to have my feeders where a vehicle had not been for 25 years. I've noticed based off my trail cams that at one of the feeders my driving to it seems to mess up the patterning. So I'm thinking weekend after next I'll fill my feeders and not go back in at all until opening day except maybe one "scent free" walk in to check the cameras about two week prior to open. I think my feeders will last that long without me filling them.

I have one friend around Forestberg that uses only food plots and won't step foot in his hunting grounds after the end of July.

So I am curious what everyone else is doing. How many weeks prior do you "stay away", or do you?

[sailor]

I don't do anything special before opening. I visit my place on a regular basis. My theory is, deer get used to pretty much anything. your scent, your movements around the ranch, I don't even try to be really quiet. I just go about my business. That's just my thoughts.

[tuthdoc]

I'm with sailor. I visit my stands a lot. When I visit, I leave them something to remember me by. When they smell me, they know they've got a treat. I don't use scent control when I fill feeders or chum. They never feel hunted. I check my cameras pretty much daily. Unless it's a cull, the deer I kill are usually 6 1/2 or better, so it doesn't seem to hurt.

[BigL]

I don't do anything special before opening. I visit my place on a regular basis. My theory is, deer get used to pretty much anything. your scent, your movements around the ranch, I don't even try to be really quiet. I just go about my business. That's just my thoughts.

I have pretty much the same philosophy but when I fill feeders on labor day weekend, I don't go back until my first hunt.

[leebtattoos]

i only think it would effect the deer negatively if they are over pressured. if it is your place or a private lease you should be completely ok with driving. i would not go muddin' or something around my feeders, but driving wont do anything bad. but hey, its your season not mine, so do what you thinks right. my .02

[WCB]

I've walked up on feeders to fill them and spooked deer off, and before I got out of sight after filling them, they were back.
you just never know...

[nsbowhunter]

Nothing more frustrating then waiting on the feeder to go off opening morning only to find out that its clogged, battery dead, or feeder is empty. I go out within days of opener to make sure it running right and to top everything off.

[texag93]

I will set up my blind this weekend and wont be back in there until opening weekend.

[happy bowhunter]

I visit my area alot,have even videoed the day before season,i have done this on every lease i've been on,seems to have no negative impact

[Knight in Mossy Oak]

I visit mine pretty regularly checking cams and feeders and also hunting hogs!!!!!

[BIG D]

At my parents place, I tailgate feed 3 times a week now and will do the same during season. That is a lot of vehicle activity plus the filling and checking feeders. Doesnt seem to bother them much.

At my lease, I try not to mess around as much because the deer arent used to the traffic.

[Live2Hunt]

I go in there whenever I want, they move away and ease back in as soon as I am gone. At least thats what the trail cameras are sayin...

[Horitexan]

I go into my stands whenever I like. Unfortunately, because I hunt at a day lease ranch most of the time, so do a lot of other people that find out where my stads are! I've never had that keep good deer (or any other game) away. Now, I don't spend a lot of time walking around in my shooting lanes and on the trails, but I do whatever I NEED to do or check whatever I need to. Of course, I try to be as quiet as I can when i'm in there.

Even on a pressured property, it takes some pretty excessive human activity in a particular area to leave enough trace behind to spook game (including deer) out of the area. Do what you need to do, when you need to do it, and use some common sense- you'll do fine and if there are big deer in the area they'll have no problem coming to your stand.

[Leftridge]

My land is 200 acres and has not been hunted in at least 30 years and I don't really think the family hunted it much (if at all) prior to that.

So the deer seem to be affected at least a little by my driving around the back half where I hunt. Just not sure yet how much but. I only have a about three or maybe for shooter bucks out of the maybe 25 that is see regularly. But when I've driven back there those buck will disappear for a bit. But, my pond just dried up this week and I'm not sure what that has done. I don't think much.

I know at least the 175 acres to the west of my place is not hunted. The east side had an OLD blind that I don't think anyone has used in a long time.

That being said I'm not sure what other factors besides me driving are affecting my deer right now.

Interesting seeing everyones different tactics.

[Jaspro]

Being that small of a place I would be almost the deer are just coming and going anyway. Whether your in there in a truck or not. My grandparents place in Rising Star is 330 acres and that is the case there. They are always passing through. The only time they actually bed there and stay is when the weather is bad.