When do you stop entering the woods before the season opener?

[SteveNY]

So the new season is upon us! I have a couple of cameras out in the woods that I have been checking about once a week for the past few months. I started thinking last week, since the season opener is getting close, that maybe I should stay out of my hunting areas for a couple of weeks before the big day.

 

I was wondering the opinions of you all out there.

 

Good luck this season!

 

 

[Uncle Nicky]

Other. No reason to be in the woods, I don't do trail cameras and I know where the deer will be, I've hunted the same spots for years. I did put a new stand up, that was about 2 months ago.

[wooly]

I try to take a stroll around my hunting grounds past my stands every day.

VERY rarely do I ever miss a hike completely.

I'll likely keep my patterns the same right up to, and throughout season unless I notice a major change I may have a negative effect on.

As long as my patterns stay the same, I don't believe the deer will change theirs much once we flip the calendars to October.

[fisher2]

my area gets alot of farm traffic so i pull my last cam 3 days before opener on camera i never even see a differance from the first day i put cams out to the second week

[thphm]

Been out there every day cutting trees for firewood one spot or another,slab the trunks up and bring them back to split.Last year I did this threw bow season and it has not effected there travels or bedding at all.

[Hock3y24]

I'll pull my cam in a few days

[LI OUTDOORSMAN]

I dont live on my hunting property so I opt not to accelerate any new activity around my permanent stand areas prior to the season that could potentially tip deer off to something being amiss..The deer are used to little or no human action so I basically do all my scouting in winter when season is over to redefine the trails they use to and from bedding areas.All my stands were adjusted and shooting lanes cleared in late May.I havent been back to those areas since

If I find a new rub or scrape I'll try to hunt it with a climber trying to keep scent to a minimum.

I'm a big believer in trying to keep my hunting area as scent free and pristine as possible.

[stoneam2006]

I small game hunt in my hunting areas and don't think it affects them to much....until the lead is flying at them at least

[nybuckboy]

I am fortunate to live where I hunt so I cut wood, drive around in the mule or 4 wheeler or on horses so I don't think they care. When late Oct comes around, I will stay out of the woods as much as possible though, except for hunting, waiting for the bucks to begin looking for the hot does.  I think if you don't spend much time in your hunt woods except come hunt season then you are more likely to disrupt things but what else can you do. 

[ATbuckhunter]

I usually don't enter the woods after mid September because I live to far from the property I hunt to be going in after I hang my stand. 

[A Sportsman]

I have some areas where I've got my stands all set, or have trees and lanes all cleared for climber.  Those areas I';ll stay out of for sure until I hunt them.  But I never really stop scouting other areas.  If I come across an area that is smoking with sign in early october, I may set a stand and hunt it that evening.  I like to intentionally leave myself a few hang on stands to use as we get in to the season. To be honest, I'm a little behind this year as I currently don't have setups prepared for every conceivable wind direction for morning and afternoon.  More of my hunting will be on the fly this year.  Maybe thats a good thing. I don't know.

[Zag]

Great q. I have 3 spots. 1st spot I havent been in since shed hunting, I just have to sneak in to secure my stand and wont hunt it till close till nov. 2nd spot my yard im in all the time. 3rd spot is our new 45 acre piece that's been visited frequently on the weekend and after this weekend wont be touched unless hunted.

[SteveNY]

I try to take a stroll around my hunting grounds past my stands every day.

VERY rarely do I ever miss a hike completely.

I'll likely keep my patterns the same right up to, and throughout season unless I notice a major change I may have a negative effect on.

As long as my patterns stay the same, I don't believe the deer will change theirs much once we flip the calendars to October.

 

 

This makes the most sense to me wooly. Although it would be near impossible for me to do this, it does make sense...

[WNYBuckHunter]

I hunt working farms. Human activity is the norm and we work on things until they are ready. We all have lives outside of deer hunting, so it gets done when we can get it done. The deer are pretty accustomed to equipment, etc, so the one thing we try to do, is stay on the equimpent as much as we can, especially if we are not in a typical working area of the farm. We are just about done with things now, and we can finish up what we need to do on any of our stands, when we hunt them. Mostly we need to replace or add some haul lines, etc.

Now, if i was hunting mostly undisturbed areas, i would go about things differently.

[sits in trees]

I rely heavily on my trail cams on where to hunt and will check them about 3 days before opening morning. And pretty much check them 2x a week thru the season. Never chk them the day before hunting a spot.

[First-light]

I have hunted stands that were put up in the morning and killed deer in the afternoon. 

[pewlodar]

I hunt public park land. There are people hiking and bike as I sit in my stand. I could have a conversation with most of them if they took a minute to look around. Deer for the most part don't care they are there.

[ants]

I like to give it a week or so, but the two spots I hunt are farms. I think the deer are use to seeing people and tractors. I have set stands and seen deer out of them the next day.

[PREDATE]

I'm throwin a kegger out there next Tuesday night. Come on out and BYOB! lol

I just checked a cam today. Next time I go in I'll be in full camo & ready to draw blood!

Edited September 21, 2014 by PREDATE

[Fantail]

It's a new ball game. Last year property was logged and I started bumping into deer way before any stand. This year cams tell a different story but I'd need a dozen to keep track. Maybe two more for next year but most don't like rechargeable battery's and I have enough jazz to do up there.

[genesee_mohican]

Stop going to the woods? What? I hunt several areas and I try to get out at least once a week during the off season. Most of my tree stand work is done so I do try and stay away from stands that are all set.

 I did set up a new stand this past weekend and I'll be scouting the next few weeks as well. I try to be scent free, stay away from known bedding areas, but I'm in the woods weekly year round.