Move or Leave Deer Stand

  • peter_ben
    Eyota, Minnesota
    Posts: 9
    October 30, 2012 at 4:45 pm #203352

    Hey guys,

    I have been hunting a deer stand this season and it hasn’t been producing at all. The owner of the land parked his Jeep and Snomobile Trailer almost right on top of where my stand it. The deer have been skirting the area, just out of range for me to shoot. Yesterday he removed the vehicle and trailer back out so I could have a better hunt. So I am torn if I should now leave it where it is and give the deer a chance to fall back into the old routine, or set up on the new trails they have made on either side of the property.
    I found a great location to move to, the only thing is, I don’t want to ruin my chances for the rest of the season by changing the lay of the land(stand and shooting lanes) and spreading scent in this new area at this point of the season.

    Any advice?

    Good hunting!!

    Justin Schneider (Woods & Water Insurance)
    Hugo, MN
    Posts: 1938
    October 30, 2012 at 5:19 pm #125824

    If you have to cut shooting lanes for that new stand location, my advice would be to stay put. Now is not the time to educate deer of your presence.

    Those previous trails in front of your current stand were being used for a reason. Provided those new trails were made due to ease of travel or safety and not directly related to a changing food source, once you take away the reason why they felt they needeed to make new trails(Jeep and Snowmobile Trailer) they should slide back into their old patterns.

    Good luck and let us know how it turns out, whatever you decide to do.!

    Nick Dennison
    Rochester MN
    Posts: 324
    October 30, 2012 at 5:19 pm #125825

    Hang another stand in your new location and hunt ur current one for a few weeks

    lawdog7
    Posts: 17
    October 30, 2012 at 9:20 pm #125838

    I say move, if you see their pattern move to them.

    flatfish
    Rochester, MN
    Posts: 2105
    October 31, 2012 at 12:09 am #125844

    Go into your current stand with a drag rag w/doe pee on it they’ll be using the old trails again real soon I’m bet’n

    Steve Plantz
    SE MN
    Posts: 12240
    October 31, 2012 at 11:00 am #125865

    Quote:

    If you have to cut shooting lanes for that new stand location, my advice would be to stay put. Now is not the time to educate deer of your presence.

    Those previous trails in front of your current stand were being used for a reason. Provided those new trails were made due to ease of travel or safety and not directly related to a changing food source, once you take away the reason why they felt they needeed to make new trails(Jeep and Snowmobile Trailer) they should slide back into their old patterns.

    Good luck and let us know how it turns out, whatever you decide to do.!

    I agree with Justin stay put. Will you be gun hunting this spot or do you just bow hunt?

    johnee
    Posts: 731
    October 31, 2012 at 3:44 pm #125895

    Everything depends on how much disturbance you have to cause to move. Is your stand portable?

    As Justin mentioned, if you have to cut new shooting lanes or make other mods, it’s a no-go at this point. Way too much disturbance.

    If you have to do something, I’d be tempted to try to gently improve shooting lanes so you can better see the travel path that they are using. Whatever you can do with a pole saw, hand pruners, and hand saw. I would wear rubber boots and use scent blocker spray on clothing to minimize the human scent left in the area from your work.

    Grouse

    tres_pezon
    Plymouth, MN
    Posts: 94
    November 1, 2012 at 1:52 pm #125929

    Lots of bucks get shot the same day a new stand gets put up…move it quietly and you’ll be fine. I’d move it during the 12-2pm time frame.

    Nothing worse than hunting in a spot, in which you lack confidence.

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