New Farm Approach

[Bucks-&-Ducks]

My brother and I just got access to bowhunt a farm. We've only seen it from the road so we're at a disadvantage from that stand point. I've reviewed various satellite photos and understand the lay of the land pretty well. We're planning on heading out there this weekend to at least sit and glass in an attempt to learn as much as we can.

I was wondering how others would approach bow hunting this farm using this scenario without spooking the deer to much and hurting the productivity.

Thanks for the opinions.

[Tigerhaze]

I would set up a climbing stand so you can get a better overall view of the area you are considering. It wouldn't take too long to set up and I would do it in the middle of the day to minimize sppoking them during the prime hours. I would also have my bow in hand, but that's just me.

[Warmouth]

I would pick a couple no-brainer funnels and jump right into it. Creek crossings, timber and/or terrain funnels, benches, and obvious evening feeding areas. See if you can determine if/where there are better areas.



It wouldn't hurt to do a quick walk through to try to find scrapes or other obvious sign, on Sunday in the middle of the day with enough time to move stands if possible for the next outing, and still leave yourself time to hunt the evening food pattern.



Basically the "I hope I guessed right" technique, with a plan for next time.

[Two Tall the Neanderthal]

I don't know, I think I would pay someone to log it all off so you could really get a good look at it.

Or just be a hunter and walk in there and kill something.

[Bucks-&-Ducks]

Warmouth,

There are definitely a couple funnels that look good from the ariels. I was thinking about walking the farm either Saturday or Sunday around lunch. Maybe the warmer weather will keep the movement down so our scouting won't cause any issues.

If that doesn't work then the logging idea sounds good.

[Limbshot]

The way I learned a farm I began hunting last year was to examine aerial photos, which you have, and I then started hunting with very light pressure along field edges, and watched for deer movement, I then readjusted stands according to my findings, but hunted it very lightly. Then after the season was over, and during turkey season, I scouted the heck out of it, and learned a whole lot more. I just kept very low pressure in the beginning. I did not kill a buck on that farm last year, but I did see 5 good ones, and killed 2 does. Then killed this year's buck in a place I found scouting in the snow last January.