Semi Nubie hunting questions

[Patcon]

So first a little background:
I'm 47 yrs old and have only been hunting seriously for about 3 years. I am learning on the fly and by talking to hunting friends, but I didn't grow up in a hunting family. I basically hunt in my backyard. My neighbor owns 13 acres behind our neighborhood that backs up to several hundred acres of mostly private wildlife habitat (no hunting). I have a metal ladder stand that is 24' tall and will seat me and 2 of my kids. There is a feeder out front of my stand about 45 yards and the ground rises going away from me towards the neighborhood. There is a creek behind me about 10 yards. So basically I am hunting a creek bottom area with lots of hardwoods and evergreen Privet. The deer don't really hang around long, they mostly browse for food as they move through from bedding to food areas.
So the biggest question I have is about early season deer behavior. I haven't ever hunted bow season before so this is new for me. Here in the upstate of South Carolina bow season opened about the middle of Sept. I got on the roof and sighted the Grizzly Matrix in and it shoots well out to 50 yds. Could easily shoot 3" groups with no bench rest. In the stand I have a shooting rail so accuracy should be good. I have gone hunting 5 days since last Friday and it seems Like the deer are really spooky and alert. I don't know if they are winding me, or alert to avoid bucks or if they are just seeing me in the stand because it looks different. I had a group of five does the other day and I think they winded me and moved off. A group of 2 does where one busted me moving and a single doe that stared at me for like 3 minutes before moving off.
Is it me? Too much scent because I don't have my heavy clothes on? Are they just really alert early in the season before the rut? Do they know the stand? I can normally sit and watch deer with out being noticed during gun season but this early stuff is driving me nuts!
All thoughts welcome, sorry for the novel...

[xcaliber]

Two things I highly recommend for starters. Make sure your face is covered, or painted, it goes a long way! Play the wind, thermals rise as temps go up, and fall as they cool, those thermals carry your scent! One other thing that is overlooked sometimes, especially once you get busted, hunting the same spot makes it easy for the deer to pattern you. Build a nice thick natural ground blind down wind, and switch it up.

Good luck, and it sounds like you're gonna hang in there, and I bet score!

[Deerstalker]

Please make sure that you and your kids use a safety harness and are secured to a lifeline when you are off the ground. I fell from a 16' stand and was very lucky that I could walk away. Remember it is NOT IF BUT WHEN you will fall.

[galamb]

If I had the answers I would write books on deer hunting and tour Canada and the US giving clinics

This is my 46th season hunting deer. We have only had an "early bow" (prior to the gun hunt which is during the traditional rut in November up our way) for the past half dozen years or so. So my "early season" deer experience is not significant.

Some "general" things I have noted. First, a new stand/ground blind, or any new "construction" in a deer's "livingroom" tends to put them off for upwards of a month. After that, that "thing" that doesn't do anything to them seems to become part of their "expected scenery". So if your stand has only been up a few days/couple of weeks, they may still be a little "unsure" of it.

Some guys swear by scent control. I am not one of them. I do believe that "maybe" in heavily hunted areas such as deer ranches in Texas etc, where there is a lot of pressure on the deer - or after they have been shot at during the gun season, deer do get more "spooky" and will divert from human scent.

I have not experienced that in the early season. In fact last year I lowered my crossbow and bumped a doe that was standing (un-noticed by me) directly below my stand. Additionally, two of the largest "early bow" bucks that I got both came after I had pretty much given up for the morning - poured a coffee and lit a smoke - both came in "despite" those "very human" smells. So for "me", while I make "many dollars" selling scent killing products (I sell rifles/ammo/hunting supplies), they mostly solve a problem that doesn't exist - at least where I hunt.

A side note to that. If you are hunting in a "somewhat populated" area (houses, people, dogs etc around) the deer should not be overly spooked by human scent. They are probably feasting on the neighbours hedges, flower and veggie gardens and may even associate human scent with an easy meal (like pest black bears).

Deer, to me, appear more in tune to sound and movement. If they hear something "odd" and see something move they are gone. Getting "up" like you are takes away most chances of being spotted. Deer almost never look "up" - that's not where their predators tend to come from.

And no, they don't tend to "hang around" unless you hunting over a well established "food plot" whether it's something you planted or it's a regular Ag field (corn, beans etc).

I bury minerals, put out salt blocks, apples, crushed acorns, corn etc - anything to 1) make them frequent the area and 2) make them hang around long enough to get a shot - not to hold them there for hours. I also burn one of the "curiosity" scent sticks (Tinks all season) to try and bring them around for a "look" during the early season. Deer are curious and will investigate a new smell especially if it smells like something "good to eat"

Now you are way south of me, but what we also notice up here in the early season is: Once the leaves fall and the trees are near bare, the deer disappear for a couple weeks. Our "guess" is that they get spooked by the "now wide open spaces" and it takes a bit before they get comfortable again. So in Eastern Ontario that means usually the first ten to fourteen days after the season opens Oct 1st is the "highest percentage" time to pop an early deer.

If you are not hunting over an Ag field or established food plot, your highest odds will be to really pattern their movements and place your stand at a decent "ambush spot" along their typical travel route. I don't mean right on top of it, but 20 to 25 yards from their "typical trail etc" (and they always go somewhere else just to trick you) will increase your odds.

Others will add their "secret formula" I'm sure. But unlike the rut, you are appealing to their "stomachs" in the early season...

[Patcon]

Xcaliber
Thanks for the tips on the stand. This stand is really not moveable and I don't really like climbers. I have used them in the past but I like the security of this stand. The first day out it was 91dF and I don't have a thin face cover. I think that has been one of the problems. The last day is was a lot cooler and I was able to cover up the way I normally do...
Deerstalker
Thanks for the advice...

[Patcon]

Galamb
I leave my stand up all year as it very heavy. It was quite the operation to get it up. We did clear some shooting lanes several weeks ago and that could be the issue.
These deer come with in a 100 to 150 yards of our homes, so I agree I wouldn't think scent would be a big issue (dogs & kids) unless scent from a different direction can throw them off. I am really elevated and it seems like a light breeze doesn't mess up things too bad but really windy seems to shut action down.
I am taking a break from the stand for a few days to see if they will settle down some. I know they haven't heard me but I believe on one occasion two does spooked because they saw me trying to get them in the scope near dark. I really don't want to try to set up a ground blind because I don't want to upset them any more than they are.
A couple of years ago they let us start using feeders, so I feed all year long. I have a number of deer which will stand under the feeder for 1/2 hour to an hour. Last week I had 358 videos on the camera for a seven day period...
I have probably seen 8 different deer in the 5 trips out so far. The action has been really good, but they act like they know I'm there. Just trying to figure it out and whether it's me or something to do with early season. The does are going out of their way to avoid any bucks in the area.
I am hoping when the leaves come down it will help some as it's really thick right now and their main travel corridor is in some heavy shadows compared to where my stand is

[acreek]

Height isn't everything as you have seen. Sometimes a person can stick out more at a higher height than they will down lower. It depends on the vegetation around you. I like to position my ladder stands in a clump of trees with branches sticking out at the same height as my platform and body. I also stick branches out from the platform and the ladder portion of my stands to add more natural camouflage. My stands look like a part of the landscape. Another key is to make sure you have cover behind you to break up your outline.

If your trees are void of limbs at your height, you might need to sit on the backside of the tree. It's a pain to always look backwards, but it can help keep you out of the line of sight of deer.

If you really want to throw a curveball at the deer, use your existing stand as a decoy. They might be looking for you in it, so keep it empty and set up a second stand to ambush them at another spot they don't know about. 15' stands work good for me.

[Patcon]

acreek
My stand has a double line rail all the way around and is wrapped in a 3d camo fabric. I am only exposed from my shoulders up and the crossbow rest on the shooting rail, which does show more than a rifle barrel. The stand is hung against a large sweet gum that is wider than I am. the sun rises behind my left shoulder so it isn't really an issue until late morning. There are some branches near me but not overly close. The shape of the stand is sort of inorganic also. I would have to think of a way to attach limbs to the outside as I enter from the front by raising the shooting rail.
jwellsy
non smoker and I agree on the movement. That is one nice thing about this set up is they can't see my hands or arms for the most part. The stand is 4'x4' square and I have a Millenium shooting chair that is very comfortable so it keeps the back pain down when sitting still for long periods of time

Next year I may try to figure out a way to setup a stand or two that I can use to hunt from different angles. There is a really thick area of bamboo behind me where the deer will congregate after crossing the creek late in the season and wait until dark to come out.

Thanks for all the ideas...

[sproulman]

hiding your face .i never did and i cannot recall a buck seeing me..not saying it does not help..scent from me walking in usually is a problem not my face ..

i have summit 180 max you can use it facing tree and away from tree .i use it facing tree in archery so i can move and use tree as rest also to lean bow on..

my biggest problem is getting broadside shot in heavy brush i hunt .you have like a 8 inch hole at times to shoot thru MAYBE in brush...many times that big butt of buck is all i see leaving at 25 yards with tail back/forth ..lol...

[xcaliber]

I have to say that hiding my face is one of the biggest payoff I've seen since I started hunting. Not comparing to wind and scent control. Those should be fundamental.

[robertyb]

Playing the wind is crucial to stand hunting. If the wind is not in your favor go somewhere where it is even if you just have to hunt from the ground. I would say you are probably getting smelled and/or seen by moving too much. If you have deer coming in and suddenly blowing at you they smelled you. If they stop and start lowering their head and jerking it back up or stomping their foot they have seen movement and are trying to get you to revel yourself. Sit very very still and they might decide they are mistaken and finally go about their business again giving you a shot opportunity.
When an old doe sees you on stand she will probably check out that tree every time she comes close to it. They have long memories. Bucks simply stop coming by usually.