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Post by sd51555 on Apr 5, 2021 17:12:33 GMT -6
I spent a lot of time looking at the ground this weekend. I noticed the leaves were extra flat on my trails where I was working late winter. I also noticed I wasn't breaking many twigs on those trails that were heavily traveled. It got me to thinking I should run my packer up and down my trails after I go through with the grader this year, to break any would be twigs now, rather than when I'm trying to sneak into one of my spots.
Good idea, or too bored on a monday? Far as I'm concerned, access trail work is never done until that access is bullet proof to all the senses.
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Post by Sandbur on Apr 5, 2021 17:23:41 GMT -6
I pick up the sticks on my access trails and have raked some of them.
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Post by terrifictom on Apr 5, 2021 17:42:56 GMT -6
I spent a lot of time looking at the ground this weekend. I noticed the leaves were extra flat on my trails where I was working late winter. I also noticed I wasn't breaking many twigs on those trails that were heavily traveled. It got me to thinking I should run my packer up and down my trails after I go through with the grader this year, to break any would be twigs now, rather than when I'm trying to sneak into one of my spots. Good idea, or too bored on a monday? Far as I'm concerned, access trail work is never done until that access is bullet proof to all the senses. I don't know about your trees by your place but by me the trees are dropping branches, leaves and twigs every day.I move the bigger branches off my walk in trail but the smaller stuff I just leave them lay. You would be doing your thing every day to come back the next day to find more stuff laying on your path. |
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Post by Catscratch on Apr 5, 2021 18:13:57 GMT -6
Man, I could write a book about the efforts I go to on entrances.
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Post by gsquared23 on Apr 5, 2021 19:50:32 GMT -6
I had a relative that would rake trails in early October to create a quiet entry for the pre-rut and rut sits. Swore it was worth it. Idk, seems like it would be more pressure than it’s worth. I also think packing trails wouldn’t be totally useless but also wouldn’t be very helpful as sticks and leaves are falling at least every week. I think your efforts are better spent on other ventures.
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Post by sd51555 on Apr 5, 2021 20:26:12 GMT -6
I spent a lot of time looking at the ground this weekend. I noticed the leaves were extra flat on my trails where I was working late winter. I also noticed I wasn't breaking many twigs on those trails that were heavily traveled. It got me to thinking I should run my packer up and down my trails after I go through with the grader this year, to break any would be twigs now, rather than when I'm trying to sneak into one of my spots. Good idea, or too bored on a monday? Far as I'm concerned, access trail work is never done until that access is bullet proof to all the senses. I don't know about your trees by your place but by me the trees are dropping branches, leaves and twigs every day.I move the bigger branches off my walk in trail but the smaller stuff I just leave them lay. You would be doing your thing every day to come back the next day to find more stuff laying on your path. I don't really get that. The trees above my access trails aren't that big. We're talking 20' tall maybe and that's it. I got my north trail cleaned up and smoothed out really well last summer, and it was quiet all the way to fall other than the fresh leaves. I've even though about ripping the soles off a pair of shoes to make the walk even quieter, providing the conditions are dry enough. I learned the power of that one on accident. |
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Post by kooch on Apr 5, 2021 20:28:42 GMT -6
Sticks and leaves are not my problem. Crunching snow is my nemesis.
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Post by Bwoods11 on Apr 6, 2021 11:21:16 GMT -6
Man, I could write a book about the efforts I go to on entrances. Write a book on here, I would be interested in some tips! |
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Post by Catscratch on Apr 6, 2021 12:27:59 GMT -6
Man, I could write a book about the efforts I go to on entrances. Write a book on here, I would be interested in some tips! My first effort is to go in during light and glass to make sure no deer are where I'm headed. This was hard for me to change as I used to get in stand 1-2hrs before light and wait it out. I burned out a lot of stands doing that. Much more successful now. Almost always have a visual screen between where the deer are and where I'm going. It can be going around a hill, behind a brushpile, walking in 90 degrees to a ridge, etc. I'll walk a long ways to sneak into a spot. Walk quiet and slow... I often realize I'm hunting within 30-40 yds of a bedded deer 10 minutes after settling in. Knowing that I don't always see a bedded deer I usually assume one is there and sneak in anyway. Often hunched over to minimize my outline. I like to walk on rocks when I can, or take a clear cattle trail. This is 2 fold; quiet and less scent left. I always wear gloves and try my damnedest to not touch anything, to the point of swinging legs around tall grass to make sure I'm not brushing up against stuff. One of the reasons I seldom hunt from a stand anymore is because I can't sneak up a tree to save my life. Climbing even a ladder stand makes it impossible to get into position without alerting nearby deer. A ground set is much easier to get into without disturbing everything. Of course there are exceptions. I shot my deer this year 15yds from the highway and from a ladder stand. With that said I used the highway to access the stand, walking hunched over in the opposite ditch... then crossing in a covert under the highway to pop out near the base of my stand without possibly being seen. Climbing the ladder was quick and chancy, but I glassed the surroundings before going up. I'm pretty sure I didn't spook anything. |
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Post by Bob on Apr 6, 2021 14:32:34 GMT -6
Write a book on here, I would be interested in some tips! My first effort is to go in during light and glass to make sure no deer are where I'm headed. This was hard for me to change as I used to get in stand 1-2hrs before light and wait it out. I burned out a lot of stands doing that. Much more successful now. Almost always have a visual screen between where the deer are and where I'm going. It can be going around a hill, behind a brushpile, walking in 90 degrees to a ridge, etc. I'll walk a long ways to sneak into a spot. Walk quiet and slow... I often realize I'm hunting within 30-40 yds of a bedded deer 10 minutes after settling in. Knowing that I don't always see a bedded deer I usually assume one is there and sneak in anyway. Often hunched over to minimize my outline. I like to walk on rocks when I can, or take a clear cattle trail. This is 2 fold; quiet and less scent left. I always wear gloves and try my damnedest to not touch anything, to the point of swinging legs around tall grass to make sure I'm not brushing up against stuff. One of the reasons I seldom hunt from a stand anymore is because I can't sneak up a tree to save my life. Climbing even a ladder stand makes it impossible to get into position without alerting nearby deer. A ground set is much easier to get into without disturbing everything. Of course there are exceptions. I shot my deer this year 15yds from the highway and from a ladder stand. With that said I used the highway to access the stand, walking hunched over in the opposite ditch... then crossing in a covert under the highway to pop out near the base of my stand without possibly being seen. Climbing the ladder was quick and chancy, but I glassed the surroundings before going up. I'm pretty sure I didn't spook anything. Your approach to your spots must look something like this... |
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Post by sd51555 on Apr 6, 2021 15:06:22 GMT -6
Write a book on here, I would be interested in some tips! My first effort is to go in during light and glass to make sure no deer are where I'm headed. This was hard for me to change as I used to get in stand 1-2hrs before light and wait it out. I burned out a lot of stands doing that. Much more successful now. Almost always have a visual screen between where the deer are and where I'm going. It can be going around a hill, behind a brushpile, walking in 90 degrees to a ridge, etc. I'll walk a long ways to sneak into a spot. Walk quiet and slow... I often realize I'm hunting within 30-40 yds of a bedded deer 10 minutes after settling in. Knowing that I don't always see a bedded deer I usually assume one is there and sneak in anyway. Often hunched over to minimize my outline. I like to walk on rocks when I can, or take a clear cattle trail. This is 2 fold; quiet and less scent left. I always wear gloves and try my damnedest to not touch anything, to the point of swinging legs around tall grass to make sure I'm not brushing up against stuff. One of the reasons I seldom hunt from a stand anymore is because I can't sneak up a tree to save my life. Climbing even a ladder stand makes it impossible to get into position without alerting nearby deer. A ground set is much easier to get into without disturbing everything. This is the recipe I follow very closely. One thing that was new to me, walking on rocks to get to the stand. Now you've got me thinking about putting down pavers to my ground blinds. Maybe not all the way back to the cabin, but that might be handy as hell those last few steps. I've got to really be in love with those spots if that's gonna happen though. Would also need to recess them if I'm ever to flail the trail.  |
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Post by wklman on Apr 6, 2021 15:25:11 GMT -6
My first effort is to go in during light and glass to make sure no deer are where I'm headed. This was hard for me to change as I used to get in stand 1-2hrs before light and wait it out. I burned out a lot of stands doing that. Much more successful now. Almost always have a visual screen between where the deer are and where I'm going. It can be going around a hill, behind a brushpile, walking in 90 degrees to a ridge, etc. I'll walk a long ways to sneak into a spot. Walk quiet and slow... I often realize I'm hunting within 30-40 yds of a bedded deer 10 minutes after settling in. Knowing that I don't always see a bedded deer I usually assume one is there and sneak in anyway. Often hunched over to minimize my outline. I like to walk on rocks when I can, or take a clear cattle trail. This is 2 fold; quiet and less scent left. I always wear gloves and try my damnedest to not touch anything, to the point of swinging legs around tall grass to make sure I'm not brushing up against stuff. One of the reasons I seldom hunt from a stand anymore is because I can't sneak up a tree to save my life. Climbing even a ladder stand makes it impossible to get into position without alerting nearby deer. A ground set is much easier to get into without disturbing everything. This is the recipe I follow very closely. One thing that was new to me, walking on rocks to get to the stand. Now you've got me thinking about putting down pavers to my ground blinds. Maybe not all the way back to the cabin, but that might be handy as hell those last few steps. I've got to really be in love with those spots if that's gonna happen though. Would also need to recess them if I'm ever to flail the trail. Facebook marketplace is your friend on that stuff. |
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Post by Catscratch on Apr 6, 2021 19:52:00 GMT -6
My first effort is to go in during light and glass to make sure no deer are where I'm headed. This was hard for me to change as I used to get in stand 1-2hrs before light and wait it out. I burned out a lot of stands doing that. Much more successful now. Almost always have a visual screen between where the deer are and where I'm going. It can be going around a hill, behind a brushpile, walking in 90 degrees to a ridge, etc. I'll walk a long ways to sneak into a spot. Walk quiet and slow... I often realize I'm hunting within 30-40 yds of a bedded deer 10 minutes after settling in. Knowing that I don't always see a bedded deer I usually assume one is there and sneak in anyway. Often hunched over to minimize my outline. I like to walk on rocks when I can, or take a clear cattle trail. This is 2 fold; quiet and less scent left. I always wear gloves and try my damnedest to not touch anything, to the point of swinging legs around tall grass to make sure I'm not brushing up against stuff. One of the reasons I seldom hunt from a stand anymore is because I can't sneak up a tree to save my life. Climbing even a ladder stand makes it impossible to get into position without alerting nearby deer. A ground set is much easier to get into without disturbing everything. Of course there are exceptions. I shot my deer this year 15yds from the highway and from a ladder stand. With that said I used the highway to access the stand, walking hunched over in the opposite ditch... then crossing in a covert under the highway to pop out near the base of my stand without possibly being seen. Climbing the ladder was quick and chancy, but I glassed the surroundings before going up. I'm pretty sure I didn't spook anything. Your approach to your spots must look something like this... Yes! Her and I hunt together. I always let her go first, don't mind following that! |
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Post by Catscratch on Apr 6, 2021 19:54:09 GMT -6
My first effort is to go in during light and glass to make sure no deer are where I'm headed. This was hard for me to change as I used to get in stand 1-2hrs before light and wait it out. I burned out a lot of stands doing that. Much more successful now. Almost always have a visual screen between where the deer are and where I'm going. It can be going around a hill, behind a brushpile, walking in 90 degrees to a ridge, etc. I'll walk a long ways to sneak into a spot. Walk quiet and slow... I often realize I'm hunting within 30-40 yds of a bedded deer 10 minutes after settling in. Knowing that I don't always see a bedded deer I usually assume one is there and sneak in anyway. Often hunched over to minimize my outline. I like to walk on rocks when I can, or take a clear cattle trail. This is 2 fold; quiet and less scent left. I always wear gloves and try my damnedest to not touch anything, to the point of swinging legs around tall grass to make sure I'm not brushing up against stuff. One of the reasons I seldom hunt from a stand anymore is because I can't sneak up a tree to save my life. Climbing even a ladder stand makes it impossible to get into position without alerting nearby deer. A ground set is much easier to get into without disturbing everything. This is the recipe I follow very closely. One thing that was new to me, walking on rocks to get to the stand. Now you've got me thinking about putting down pavers to my ground blinds. Maybe not all the way back to the cabin, but that might be handy as hell those last few steps. I've got to really be in love with those spots if that's gonna happen though. Would also need to recess them if I'm ever to flail the trail. I've got rocks sd. You can have as many as you want. What kind of mileage does your sub get? |
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Post by badbrad on Apr 7, 2021 12:26:31 GMT -6
My first effort is to go in during light and glass to make sure no deer are where I'm headed. This was hard for me to change as I used to get in stand 1-2hrs before light and wait it out. I burned out a lot of stands doing that. Much more successful now. Almost always have a visual screen between where the deer are and where I'm going. It can be going around a hill, behind a brushpile, walking in 90 degrees to a ridge, etc. I'll walk a long ways to sneak into a spot. Walk quiet and slow... I often realize I'm hunting within 30-40 yds of a bedded deer 10 minutes after settling in. Knowing that I don't always see a bedded deer I usually assume one is there and sneak in anyway. Often hunched over to minimize my outline. I like to walk on rocks when I can, or take a clear cattle trail. This is 2 fold; quiet and less scent left. I always wear gloves and try my damnedest to not touch anything, to the point of swinging legs around tall grass to make sure I'm not brushing up against stuff. One of the reasons I seldom hunt from a stand anymore is because I can't sneak up a tree to save my life. Climbing even a ladder stand makes it impossible to get into position without alerting nearby deer. A ground set is much easier to get into without disturbing everything. Of course there are exceptions. I shot my deer this year 15yds from the highway and from a ladder stand. With that said I used the highway to access the stand, walking hunched over in the opposite ditch... then crossing in a covert under the highway to pop out near the base of my stand without possibly being seen. Climbing the ladder was quick and chancy, but I glassed the surroundings before going up. I'm pretty sure I didn't spook anything. Your approach to your spots must look something like this... I would hit it. |
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