ADK deer tips

[stoneam2006]

Yea sportsman I have met many people who love to sit by themself....I actually do all my hunting trips to adks with a buddy of mine (city boy lol) who's grandfathers been hunting up there for 20 or so years but always sits in same exact spot so we always walk and stalk together makes it tougher no doubt but we have a good time and its fun teaching him what my old man thought me and vise versa. Good times great memories. That's what its all about....my boys 3 and I can't wait to hunt.with him....we already trap and fish together.

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[nyantler]

I think one of the biggest mistakes hunters make when hunting in the ADK's is how they enter the woods. Especially when you have a couple other guys with you. Sound and smell travel a long way in the big woods... many times the deer know you are there before you start hunting... one person can make enough noise and leave enough scent by himself that will send deer packing... add a few more guys and forget it.. you don't stand a chance of seeing a deer. It is absolutely necessary to be quiet and use the wind... right down to where you park your vehicle and how noisy you sre getting out of it.

You have to remember how little human contact ADK deer have... they are not like the suburban deer that smell and see humans all time. You will very seldom get a second chance if an adk deer knows you are in the woods. That means that it is probably a good idea to hunt elsewhere when the leaves are dry... snow or wet conditions are best... and scent control and playing the wind are an absolute necessity.

Using a call can be helpful while still hunting, especially early season when bucks are getting all fired up for the rut... remember that big bucks will always try to get downwind before coming to the call... so if your facing into the wind don't be looking directly in front of you because the buck probably won't come straight in... keep your attention to your right and left to catch him circling in to the wind.

[stoneam2006]

Yea...on the rut do mt deer go earlier than deer downstate bc the weather gets worse faster?

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[nyantler]

Yea...on the rut do mt deer go earlier than deer downstate bc the weather gets worse faster? Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk

Not necessarily... hormones are the trigger for the rut so weather doesn't affect it too much... when not hunting on snow you really have to know the area that you're hunting so you can put yourself where the deer are. It can take years to learn an area of the ADK's... lower deer density makes it harder to just happen on the deer in the area... some good spots though would be draws between two hills or mountains... usually these areas have water and cover for deer... although bucks tend to bed on hill or mountain sides depending on the wind and weather conditions, they like to travel in these draws where it is harder to see them moving. ADK bucks don't do a lot of traveling during the day, probably far less than a suburban buck. Without snow your chances of seeing one bedded before he sees you can be very slim... like someone said here sometimes a man hunt towards one another works well... not trying to drive deer just both hunting separately hoping maybe to push something in the other guys direction. One guy hunt high the other hunt low, but slowly hunting toward one another starting anywhere from 1/4 mile to a mile from each other.

[NFA-ADK]

A couple of Vermont guys who hunt in the same area I do use this.  They still hunt on opposite area's like NyAntler said, possibly one up high and one in a valley or opposite sides of the mountain.  They are pretty successful.  The good thing about doing this is if its a new area you will get a better understanding of the amount of deer in a area.  I am sure many times while still hunting I have passed deer with NO knowledge of them gained due to them staying in tight cover causing me to pass right by.   

 

PS:  Loved your story Joe with the muzzleloader last year!  Epic!

[nyantler]

A couple of Vermont guys who hunt in the same area I do use this.  They still hunt on opposite area's like NyAntler said, possibly one up high and one in a valley or opposite sides of the mountain.  They are pretty successful.  The good thing about doing this is if its a new area you will get a better understanding of the amount of deer in a area.  I am sure many times while still hunting I have passed deer with NO knowledge of them gained due to them staying in tight cover causing me to pass right by.   

 

PS:  Loved your story Joe with the muzzleloader last year!  Epic!

Thanks.. it might have been the most exciting and demanding hunt I've ever had... just lucky to physically be able to still pull off a hunt like that.

[NFA-ADK]

Thanks.. it might have been the most exciting and demanding hunt I've ever had... just lucky to physically be able to still pull off a hunt like that.

My heart was pumping the first time I read it and was thinking, how far is this deer going to go!!!???  Crazy story.  Congratulations!  Too cool!

I had to reread it today again.  Now that was a hell of an adventure! 

[ncountry]

Thanks.. it might have been the most exciting and demanding hunt I've ever had... just lucky to physically be able to still pull off a hunt like that.

 

I need a link. I think I may have missed it?.... I like a good deer story.

 

[A Sportsman]

Yes.  Please, that link would be appreciated.

 

Something else that should not be overlooked when planning out your hunt in mountainous country is where the sun will be at various times throughout the day.  Trying to still hunt in a direction that puts the sun in your face puts you at a significant disadvantage.  Try to limit it as best as you can. This may seem obvious. But for me at least, if I don't actively think about this variable, I sometimes get stung by it.  mountains twist and turn, the sun moves...

 

Sometimes if your hunting a plan with a group, there may be no choice but to have one or two of you with a "lousier sun" than the others. Life goes on.

 

As Stoneam2006 mentioned earlier, this hunting is so very different from stand hunting. Totally different strategies, the deer themselves behave differently, etc.  I hunt most of bow season on long island from stands.  By the time rifle season starts, its such a welcomed change.

 

 

[Four Season Whitetail's]

Looks like there is a good book you can buy right here on this site about hunting the Dak's. Looks to be some good reading!

[stoneam2006]

I would also like to see the hunt that everyone is talking about....anybody know where to find it?

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[nyantler]

http://www.nyantler-outdoors.com/2013-servello-buck.html

[ncountry]

Sounds like a fantastic hunt! Thank god for snow.. Deer are amazingly strong.

[stoneam2006]

Great story....thanks for link

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[nyantler]

Sounds like a fantastic hunt! Thank god for snow.. Deer are amazingly strong.

Yes without snow I don't think I'd have seen that deer before he saw or heard me... I would have been very upset if the same situation happened and I lost a wounded deer.. I'm sure it would have been nearly impossible to have caught up to that buck again if not for the snow... Thank God things worked out like they did.

[A Sportsman]

Awesome story Joe. Thanks.

[NFA-ADK]

I think Luck always has a part, sometimes bad.  Working on my shooting has made for much better luck for me and is why I stress it so much.  So many factors when the moment of truth comes.  One thing I have learned is being prepared in deep ADK woods is key.  Extra food, proper clothes, hydration and knowing when to stop or slow down if exhausted or overheating, good maps, compass and GPS, flashlights and good navigation skills. 

 

Taking it as more of an adventure vs just trying to kill a deer makes it a journey.  With that attitude the deep ADK will never disappoint!

 

I now realize I need a pair of good binoculars!

[stoneam2006]

I hate binos but with your opinions I may have to try and use them

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[A Sportsman]

Once you've got eyes on a buck that you want to shoot, making the right moves to allow yourself a shot is a whole nother variable. Sure sometimes you can get lucky and have a deer come in and present a nice shot. But often, you'll have to read a situation and make the right moves to allow yourself a good shot opportunity. Sometimes if you can just move a few yards you can open up a much better vantage point. Sometimes you may need to creep down a whole level, on your butt. Every situation is different. Crunchy/calm days obviously there isn't much you can do. But you definitely can use your calls. I've noticed some guys go into a paralysis when they spot one, sorta hoping it all works out. And for them it usually doesn't.