Whats a Field ???

[oneshot]

Most people on these Forums talk about seeing Deer in open Fields.Around here there is no such thing Seems most of your Scouting is around fields.

Ok here we see Deer but no groups,other than maybe Does with one or two Fawns,maybe a couple Bucks together.

No predominate Trails.

I just look for what sign I can set up where I think they are going to come through.I do pretty good most of the time.

Ok how do you Guys hunt such areas ???

oneshot
The Big Grin needs some open floor space for Mouse Hunting.

[BornBad]

When scouting early season for deer, do not spend too much time watching over fields. Walk around areas of food sources and look for tracks 'specially after a rain.

[2BHNTN]

Most field's I have hunted the deer tend to use the same paths although their is several. I usually just setup on the most used path and time will work in my favor. Another way to be successfully is if this is a corn or bean field to put a strip of Clover, or Forage oats along the field edge. You can catch em feeding along that edge after the beans or corn get harvested.

Last but not least. I notice they tend to congregate from and to the same general area. After you have watched and patterned them some and no where they generally come out from, set up in the transition zone just inside the field edge. They will often mill around in those areas during half-light. They linger more in these areas providing more opportunity.

[oneshot]

I don't think you Guys are getting what I'm saying.We don't have fields around here of any kind,just Timber,Hills,and Hollers.Can't find tracks because of leaf litter.

oneshot

[Limbshot]

I see where you are coming from Oneshot. We have the same relative type of hutning on our farm, there are a few open areas, but mostly hardwood ridges and such. I would try to focus on known feeding areas. If you have areas of white oaks, or red oaks, I would really spend some time around them, especially when they drop their fruit. Deer love the acorns from these two types of oaks, and will really hit them hard when they start to drop. Also, look for any kind of thickets you can locate in the areas, and they may be your best bedding areas, especially if you have any kind of cedar thickets. Ridges are great places to hunt. Bucks will often travel just off the side of the ridge where they can see both down the side, and over the top, giving themselves to means of escape. Look for any type of saddle, or low laying areas along major ridges, as they will often be deer crossings from one side of the ridge to the other. This type of place can be fantastic when bucks are cruising for does during the rut. One final thing, if you have any major water source in the woods, ie. pond, creek, whatever, examine it closely. Deer can go awhile without hitting the acorns, but they have to have water. Especially during the rut, or periods of warm weather. Hope this helps some.

[lonepine]

oneshot, I go out and have a little look early spring before ticks are out, to see fall trails. food and water got to have , plus if you see a rub line take a rake and move leaves to see if trail is being used. good luck

[BornBad]

What I call a field is 3 acres of clearing between two ridges It all boils down to the same thing no matter where you hunt: food, shelter and water... the essentials: find an area where all three are in relatively close proximity should be any hunter's 1st priority. If you have the luxury; create and/or improve such an area.



Then concentrate on the behavior of the species, like Limbshot said: it is a behavior pattern of bucks to use ridges to get around and cross through the bottleneck areas.

[Tigerhaze]

Good points. I also wanted to point out that in southern MO deer can be found along the man-made "fields" (power cuts for high tension lines). These areas get enough sunlight to get really brushy and can be good bedding areas, especially where high tension towers cross tops of ridges.

[hobiecat]

... or south.