MN_Bowhunter4
Well-known member
Driving home on Friday evening, I made the decision to hunt a totally new piece of ground on Saturday. I have one that's been marked on my onX since the summer, but I haven't had time to get down there. I awoke a little later on Saturday and made the drive down, planning to scout my way into a saddle that separated a swamp and some thick timber at first light.
There were a few other cars parked when I arrived but this WMA is pretty large. I quickly got dressed and started making my way through the woods towards the saddle. Sneaking was entirely out of the question, as the heavy frost and dead calm wind combined to make the forest floor incredibly noisy - I did my best.
I made it to the saddle without much fanfare but was surprised when I crossed an old two track right where I was intending to set up. Thinking this would be a quick access for later, I chose a tree and climbed. The morning was again uneventful, but this hunt was more of a scouting mission than anything. I climbed down about 9:45 and decided to walk that old trail to see where it took me. This property is rather peninsula shaped with parking on the north and west. The trail ended up taking me the entire length of the peninsula south, and then making a hard turn back north. I marked a few likely locations and followed one very obvious deer trail into the thick stuff opposite of where I sat. The trail eventually dumped into the lot where my car was. I did not backtrack and walk the trail to the north, but am confident that is a straight shot to the northern lot.
While I didn't see any deer on this hunt, I made sure to take note of this property. This is the second "must scout" property I've added to my to do list for this winter / spring. The mix of timber and swamp has some serious potential, I just need to figure out how the deer are using it.
There were a few other cars parked when I arrived but this WMA is pretty large. I quickly got dressed and started making my way through the woods towards the saddle. Sneaking was entirely out of the question, as the heavy frost and dead calm wind combined to make the forest floor incredibly noisy - I did my best.
I made it to the saddle without much fanfare but was surprised when I crossed an old two track right where I was intending to set up. Thinking this would be a quick access for later, I chose a tree and climbed. The morning was again uneventful, but this hunt was more of a scouting mission than anything. I climbed down about 9:45 and decided to walk that old trail to see where it took me. This property is rather peninsula shaped with parking on the north and west. The trail ended up taking me the entire length of the peninsula south, and then making a hard turn back north. I marked a few likely locations and followed one very obvious deer trail into the thick stuff opposite of where I sat. The trail eventually dumped into the lot where my car was. I did not backtrack and walk the trail to the north, but am confident that is a straight shot to the northern lot.
While I didn't see any deer on this hunt, I made sure to take note of this property. This is the second "must scout" property I've added to my to do list for this winter / spring. The mix of timber and swamp has some serious potential, I just need to figure out how the deer are using it.
