Deer sign

[growalot]

I read a post that alluded to little interest in woodsmanship. Now I know there is an interest and many here are great woodsman. I only wish I could have Woody's skill. You just have to read through and remember posts. We've all discussed at one point or another reading winter sign is great, but can be a world away from spring ,as to summer and fall. Patterns change with feed,cover and breeding needs. That's not to say going out now and finding those late rubs and heavy trails,  nipped off branches and counting beds and sizes isn't valuable. That such thing can't tell you if and how the deer herds have changed. 

This year I have had a change in movement patterns. Now when it first occurred it was right at hunting. Nothing to be done then because factors out of my control caused this and at a critical time. This change clearly showed up in my winter hikes. I found totally new rub areas and all winter tracks changed..some not to far from old ones. This may not seem like a big deal..but as those tracks continue it becomes one. Bedding changed and feed patterns as well. This had me looking at what I knew and didn't know as to why. I already knew two new hunting groups showed last year. I found one stand that is positioned as to blow their sent correctly across a major run and bedding area. I don't know how or when accessed ,but all ways visible, blow scent into that and the feeding/bedding field from  entrance to stand..unless used in a east south east wind. The other change from another group is yet unclear. This will continue to change patterns through out the year as that groups activity increases. Natural changes such as big down falls and water access,drought, Chang habitat and movement.

That's one thing,beds sizes numbers and urine. I know where fawns have grouped and bedded and numbers in the group. Frequency of an area lets me surmise if this will stay as a home range. Same with doe/ fawn bedding. Though I will add spring summer sightings to it as time goes on. Single buck beds and size. Ones where they have urinated tells me buck as well as size...foot directions coming to and leaving..I always back track. Then look during the spring and summer with binos to see if it's a resident with that home range.

Seed dispersal some tend to over look this. I do not,I know where and when plants will emerge and how long they will be viable. I know every favored wild plant out there for deer and Turkey.  When  there is a new flush of a certain plant to an area I know this to be a stomping ground for either or both. When I see swaths of a new plant going through the spring woods I have a new travel pattern harboured during a time after fruiting started. One particular great plant for this is  May Apple's. A few others being ,elderberry,goose berry/currents,poison ivy and brambles. Some plant seeds need to go through mammal digestive tracts ,others Bird for germination. Which brings us to other shite to consider  Where, color, moisture,density,shape for both deer and Turkey can tell you much. I'll stop for you guys to chime in ...

 

[nodeerhere]

Grow! What exactly are u trying to do with this post? U rambled a bit! Lol. And as for the other groups making ur deer movement different. How much property are we talking? Is it a lease and they have access? Is it there land and they are stopping the movement to urs? 

[growalot]

Sorry you saw it that way. I did 3 distinct paragraphs,out lining and giving  3 distinct observation and reasons for different deer movements and signs to look for as to feeding, bedding and health. Thus the group bedding, seed dispersal and dung observations.

I assumed others could constructively touch on and add to any or all 3 to get a discussion going.  You honed in on the mention of the hunting groups changing patterns. This I mentioned because state land hunter have to deal with this on a regular basis. Us land owners sometimes do as well. But knowing what your seeing and wind direction  ,lay of land can allow compensations. Such things can and do Chang patterns.

Perhaps I was wrong in my assumption ,wasting  mine and your time.

Edited February 8, 2017 by growalot

[Zag]

I'll say last yr I had a spot that was buck heaven after deer season, I had loads of buck pics. The spot was on the corner of a pine block leading into hardwoods.This yr the spot is dead. I have found a new trail about 50 yards away. I have to move a cam to that spot to see if I'm right. Could simple be the ladder stand I hung their last fall.

[Doc]

That is what makes current scouting essential. I think that a lot of people think that deer set up their patterns, and it never changes. And so their hunting is based on what they have been doing for years. There are all kinds of changes from one year to the next (sometimes from one week or day to the next). Even from one season to the next, feeding and bedding patterns change. That is one reason that I don't put a whole lot of stock in post season scouting. It is only useful in assessing how the herd made it through the hunting season, but certainly the feeding locations and content, and the bedding cover are totally different from what will meet you when bow season begins in the fall.

I think some of these changes are a result from more varieties of human activity than what used to be. The woods never gets a rest period. The hikers and bikers have filled in the summer months with constant pressure even through the summer months. The hunting pressure has backed off considerably and hunting patterns are certainly much different, but the invasion of the "health & fitness crew" has its impacts on deer patterns that add one more variable into the mix that never existed years ago.

[bkln]

I'm with Doc on this one, only one constant here is change we need to improvise, adjust and overcome (just like USMC does :-)). Size also matters, smaller land patches tend to change more often IMO, large well covered areas can provide asylum for longer periods of time. When in doubt go and scout, then scout some more...