I need some ideas!

[Cajun shooter]

Hi guys, happy deer season!

I need some ideas on attracting the bucks out on my lease. Let preface this discussion by admitting that I am not an experience deer hunter (but I will be). I have been hunting avidly for over 40 yrs but deer wasn't part of it.
So this year I got onto a great high fence lease to do some bonding with my tow sons and me.

This lease is 250 acres in east texas, high fence and is pretty well loaded with at least 7 bucks, 9 does, 4 fawns (camera survey). We really need to get rid of a bunch of these deer because the rancher will deposit a new buck and a bread doe every year. It is mostly very thick hardwoods, year round protein feeder, good size lake, and good size planted food plot (oats). We have trails running throughout the property with 3 corn feeders placed on some of these trails and one on the food plot.

Here's where I need some ideas. We are attempting to mostly bow hunt. We know we have the bucks out there but since the acorns have started falling we are not seeing the bucks at all, anywhere. I'm talking about not seeing them in person or on camera.

Can some of you start giving me some ideas what we might be able to try to get these guys attracted to something that's different from the corn in feeders and the food plot?

[JHarrell89]

There is not much you can do when the acorns are falling. Deer will eat acorns until they make themselves sick. Once the acorns have gone, THEN they will move to the corn. Those bucks probably also know when and where you are hunting by now. If you hunt a stand more than 3-4 times they will have you patterned and they won't show up while they think you're there. Especially if you aren't taking measures to stay scent free and hunt the wind. All that being said, there are some hunts that you just get lucky and the wind is wrong and you smell like BO and they still show up!

Get to know your place. Look on google maps, get out and scout and find where the deer are. You have a high fence place, so this should be easy IMO. They will not have any options beyond the 250 acres. Find where the deer WANT to be. Google images of scrapes and rubs so you know what to look for (if you don't already). You will figure it out.

Now to answer your question: I would try some Trails ENd #307. Dip the key wicks and hang them around your stand. It's a doe p scent. In the rut, they are focused on does.

Please forgive me if that sounds condescending at all, I'm trying to share some basics because you said that you're new to deer hunting. Just trying to help!

[Cajun shooter]

There is not much you can do when the acorns are falling. Deer will eat acorns until they make themselves sick. Once the acorns have gone, THEN they will move to the corn. Those bucks probably also know when and where you are hunting by now. If you hunt a stand more than 3-4 times they will have you patterned and they won't show up while they think you're there. Especially if you aren't taking measures to stay scent free and hunt the wind. All that being said, there are some hunts that you just get lucky and the wind is wrong and you smell like BO and they still show up!

Get to know your place. Look on google maps, get out and scout and find where the deer are. You have a high fence place, so this should be easy IMO. They will not have any options beyond the 250 acres. Find where the deer WANT to be. Google images of scrapes and rubs so you know what to look for (if you don't already). You will figure it out.

Now to answer your question: I would try some Trails ENd #307. Dip the key wicks and hang them around your stand. It's a doe p scent. In the rut, they are focused on does.

Please forgive me if that sounds condescending at all, I'm trying to share some basics because you said that you're new to deer hunting. Just trying to help!

Thanks JHarrell,

Dont worry about the condescending part. I'm here to learn not protect my feelings.

I have tried doing the Google maps bit but the trees are so thick you can hardly tell where anything is except huge open areas like the lake and food plot. It's almost impossible to see most of the trails because if the trees and they are at least 10 feet wide.
I've been searching for a better higher resolution map source but haven't found anything yet.

I didn't think that 250 acres was going to difficult to cover and scout but boy it's been a lot harder than I ever expected. Plus I did get started kind of late in the year.

I'm going to look into the Trails ENd #307. Would places like Academy handle this?

[JHarrell89]

I need some ideas!

Yes. Academy should have it as well as walmart. The sole purpose for google map is to look at the overall picture. It's beneficial to see trails, but really you are looking for natural funnels and pinch points where you think deer will travel. Deer will only come out in the open if they have to. ( for food, water, etc.) and when they do its with some cover nearby or at night. That is why you see them emerge on the side of big fields/food plots ( keep in mind there are always days they don't do what they usually do). With thick cover here in east Texas, why would they ever step out in the open unless they are moving to another location with more cover, food, bedding area, etc. So you hypothesize that deer might use a certain tree line but then you get boots on the ground and go see if there are trails, poop, any sign of deer to confirm. That's the purpose of google maps! Hope that helps. If I am wrong, someone please correct me and help our guy out here!

[Doc Peter]

Not to but in, but if you only have 250 acres you are going to be hard pressed to place more than 5 or 6 stands. Otherwise you will be over hunting an area, but that is my opinion. I just look at a stand for about 40 acres. May be able to get away with a stand/ 30 acres, but you will be visiting that stand often throughout the year. Again, just my opinion.

[Cajun shooter]

Yes. Academy should have it as well as walmart. The sole purpose for google map is to look at the overall picture. It's beneficial to see trails, but really you are looking for natural funnels and pinch points where you think deer will travel. Deer will only come out in the open if they have to. ( for food, water, etc.) and when they do its with some cover nearby or at night. That is why you see them emerge on the side of big fields/food plots ( keep in mind there are always days they don't do what they usually do). With thick cover here in east Texas, why would they ever step out in the open unless they are moving to another location with more cover, food, bedding area, etc. So you hypothesize that deer might use a certain tree line but then you get boots on the ground and go see if there are trails, poop, any sign of deer to confirm. That's the purpose of google maps! Hope that helps. If I am wrong, someone please correct me and help our guy out here!

Thanks for the help Harrell! All good info. The problem I'm having with finding the pinch points is I literally can't find most of the trails and can see any land marks on google maps because of gone tree tops. It's almost just a solid mass of trees. The only other thing I've known to do is try to walk most of it but now isn't a very good time to do that. I think? That's why I'm think I need to try to figure out how to draw them out.

Not to but in, but if you only have 250 acres you are going to be hard pressed to place more than 5 or 6 stands. Otherwise you will be over hunting an area, but that is my opinion. I just look at a stand for about 40 acres. May be able to get away with a stand/ 30 acres, but you will be visiting that stand often throughout the year. Again, just my opinion.

Yeah Doc we've only got five stands set up right now but I'm now starting to think about moving some but can't figure our where. We've also left one corner of the property (about 1/4) completely untouched (sanctuary), but now I'm kind of itching go get in there.

[JHarrell89]

I need some ideas!

A great time to go is midday, but this close to the rut, I would just chill and focus on the feeders/food plots and any scrapes you can find. Best scenario would be to find a line of scrapes and sit all day. It may not be a big buck, but a buck is making that line!

Feeders might also work because where the girls are the boys will be too! Bucks make mistakes and get killed in the rut historically!