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Post by smsmith on Dec 13, 2019 12:54:30 GMT -6
I would kind of disagree with that, but I am not sure. I know there are sanctuaries in metro areas that are 10 acres and full of human scent. We have a 15 acres sanctuary south of Glenwood that is very productive, but I am pretty sure our scent goes through that on occasion. When human scent suprises deer they take offense. Same with sights and sounds. The surprise is what upsets the deer. I agree. I also think intensity of scent has something to do with whether a deer spooks or not. A mature buck catching a whiff of me from 200 yards is different than catching my scent at 50
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Post by benmnwi on Dec 13, 2019 13:12:30 GMT -6
Sanctuaries are important and are about the best way to keep old bucks in the area since they seem to be the most sensitive to human activity. I like thick, nasty bedding in sanctuaries, but not food. If they want to eat the good food I want them to have to walk by my stand to get there.
My MN sanctuary is only maybe 10 acres, but in our area that's enough to hold an older buck most of the time since the adjacent properties are not as thick as mine.
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Post by sd51555 on Dec 13, 2019 13:20:06 GMT -6
I don't get too tied up in knots about making a buck sanctuary on my place. I don't know that it could even be done on 40 acres in my area. Whenever those types of bucks are sighted, they are way far back or way deep in the woods. You don't see them from the road without binoculars, and that may be once/year.
I do get excited about deer sanctuary in the middle of my property. Don't know the politics or how many can call that home, but it seems to keep deer around. Lots of grumbling this year, but I thought it was a pretty good season by me. I just need to get my place knocked down before the clear cut behind me gets too mature.
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Post by nhmountains on Dec 13, 2019 14:33:54 GMT -6
In metro areas there are few if any spots for a deer to completely escape human intrusion and scent. Deer are adaptable. There are good sized chunks of ground all around the lake/swamp that I live on where a deer could spend most of it's life without getting much human scent. I believe those areas are where the mature bucks around here spend most of their lives. That’s my issue. The big woods bucks can stay up in the mountains and not have to worry about humans except maybe in November when they get careless. They do have to be alert for our coyotes 24x7 365 though. I’ve got areas of sanctuary with cover that you Midwest guys would drool over that they could live in but, they’re going higher for thermals and much thicker cover. They’re tough to pattern up there because they may travel 2-3 miles if bothered by the coyotes.
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Post by Bwoods11 on Dec 13, 2019 15:47:24 GMT -6
Do you do hinge cutting in your sanctuary?
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Post by Freeborn on Dec 13, 2019 16:56:35 GMT -6
I agree in my area sanctuaries are a 9.5. My area is a mix of Ag and Oak timber. Each patch of Timber holds deer. I have 40 acres I have designated as a sanctuary and I have zero ATV trails into the sanctuary. I never go into the sanctuary unless its late winter for chainsaw or tree planting work. The deer in my area will often be on the edge between the woods and field and when they see me they just run into the woods.
When I'm hunting I avoid having my scent blown into the woods so stand choice is key. I don't want the deer to know a human is near their sanctuary particularly if I have to walk fairly close to the sanctuary. Honestly I have allot of area I would like to hunt particularly for bow but I don't because I don't want to spook deer. Rifle hunting makes the difference as I can reach out and catch those deer transitioning between cover.
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Post by sd51555 on Dec 13, 2019 17:42:30 GMT -6
To me, a sanctuary is not only a place you don’t go, but sight and sound buffer around that as well. I don’t go more than 30 feet in from the edge of my woods when I hunt. I keep all the improvements about 100 yards in from those edges. That’s why I only count about 12 acres of my place, despite not going into 90+% of it.
I don’t want those deer bedding or feeding near my access paths.
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Post by chummer16 on Dec 14, 2019 5:46:04 GMT -6
I never have bucks stay on my property. My sanctuary is for the does with food close by. Keep the does fat and lazy and wait for the hormones to kick in. With thousands of acres of good cover I have to have food close by then I just stay out of where I know the does bed.
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Post by Catscratch on Dec 14, 2019 7:00:48 GMT -6
There is always a shift of deer from season to season on my place. Half of the summer bucks dissapear in the fall and new bucks show up. It's a total change in population demographics. The rut really changes things too. Lots of spots on the place that I won't step foot on for most of the yr, but does it really matter if they aren't using the place for a quarter of the yr? I tend to think it does but sometimes wonder.
I'm connected to about 32 square miles of continuous land without a road. That's a big sanctuary. If a buck wants low pressure it's not hard to find it. I suspect most of the deer that I have the pleasure of watching grow for a couple of years, ends up dieing of old age out there. The young and energetic can have the hustle and bustle, the old wonder off and live in solitude.
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Post by MoBuckChaser on Dec 14, 2019 8:12:05 GMT -6
If you are hunting big deer, almost everything needs to be considered a sanctuary in my opinion.
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Post by MoBuckChaser on Dec 14, 2019 8:14:55 GMT -6
There is always a shift of deer from season to season on my place. Half of the summer bucks dissapear in the fall and new bucks show up. It's a total change in population demographics. The rut really changes things too. Lots of spots on the place that I won't step foot on for most of the yr, but does it really matter if they aren't using the place for a quarter of the yr? I tend to think it does but sometimes wonder. I'm connected to about 32 square miles of continuous land without a road. That's a big sanctuary. If a buck wants low pressure it's not hard to find it. I suspect most of the deer that I have the pleasure of watching grow for a couple of years, ends up dieing of old age out there. The young and energetic can have the hustle and bustle, the old wonder off and live in solitude. That should be a lesson for all sons growing up out there. Go to an out of state school in good deer hunting country and find some chick who's dad owns sections, and not quarter sections and marry her! No better way to get good hunting then banging a farmers daughter! JMO
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Post by Catscratch on Dec 14, 2019 8:23:38 GMT -6
There is always a shift of deer from season to season on my place. Half of the summer bucks dissapear in the fall and new bucks show up. It's a total change in population demographics. The rut really changes things too. Lots of spots on the place that I won't step foot on for most of the yr, but does it really matter if they aren't using the place for a quarter of the yr? I tend to think it does but sometimes wonder. I'm connected to about 32 square miles of continuous land without a road. That's a big sanctuary. If a buck wants low pressure it's not hard to find it. I suspect most of the deer that I have the pleasure of watching grow for a couple of years, ends up dieing of old age out there. The young and energetic can have the hustle and bustle, the old wonder off and live in solitude. That should be a lesson for all sons growing up out there. Go to an out of state school in good deer hunting country and find some chick who's dad owns sections, and not quarter sections and marry her! No better way to get good hunting then banging a farmers daughter! JMO Lol, it's been a while since you brought that up, I was starting to worry about ya Mo!
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Post by MoBuckChaser on Dec 14, 2019 8:25:21 GMT -6
That should be a lesson for all sons growing up out there. Go to an out of state school in good deer hunting country and find some chick who's dad owns sections, and not quarter sections and marry her! No better way to get good hunting then banging a farmers daughter! JMO Lol, it's been a while since you brought that up, I was starting to worry about ya Mo! You are the smartest guy on here Cat! I bow down to you!
Edit: and she don't have to know how to cook, thats what burger king is for. And you can buy love on a street corner. So going for hunting land for these young kids only makes sense to me....
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Post by Catscratch on Dec 14, 2019 8:29:58 GMT -6
Lol, it's been a while since you brought that up, I was starting to worry about ya Mo! You are the smartest guy on here Cat! I bow down to you! Not smart, lucky as hell! I was head over heels for her long before she showed me the home place.
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Post by MoBuckChaser on Dec 14, 2019 8:30:59 GMT -6
You are the smartest guy on here Cat! I bow down to you! Not smart, lucky as hell! I was head over heels for her long before she showed me the home place. Read my edit for the kids in college right now.
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