Advice: Bumping Deer in the morning

[jrussell]

Hey guys, I've been hunting a thickish 18 acre property for the past few seasons. More often than not I'll spook deer while walking to my stand in the am. The doe's tend to bed down with their fawns during the early morning. I'm wondering if any of you have a similar issue and if so, what do you do? Continue to hunt mornings and disregard bumping doe's? Or just focus on hunting afternoon and evenings?

[Merlot]

Not much acreage to work with. If possible, I would adjust stand location to get between bedroom and dining room and minimize bumping into deer. Eventually the spooked deer may seek more peaceful grounds and not hang on your property as much . Perhaps dial in to hunt on specific days of the season when bucks are seeking/chasing so as to minimize spooking deer.

I like the last 2-3 hours of the day to hunt, if I had a choice. 

 

[UpStateRedNeck]

Are you going in at first light?  If so maybe wait an hour or two.  Does not apply to chase/rut activity.

[GreeneHunter]

I bumped one last year on the way in at about 6:30 am and roughly 15 minutes later he came grunting through and I nailed him with the crossbow (and yes it was crossbow season) ! You never know , I think by crossbow season the rut is on !

[stubborn1VT]

I have had luck going in before daylight with the wind in my favor.  Even if you bump them, they usually don't go far.  Of course, if it happens over and over they will move on.

Another option is to wait until legal shooting light and still hunt your way in to your stand. 

I have done both on a 6 acre piece.  I have been successful hunting mornings there.

[Hock3y24]

Some people may not agree, but when its quiet out i don't try to be super sneaky on my way in and just walk normally in. The deer where i hunt return after awhile if they were able to leave the area before i got to close to them. Now if its windy out i sneak right in. 

[G-Man]

bump deer walking in the dark.. i also suggest clearing last 50 yards or so of trail to your stand. some middle of the day to make the last 50 yard very quiet and learn to walk with out usuing a flashlight .. simple trimming of limbs and clearing a trail will let you walk quiet (you know your off trail when you crunch leaves or brush limb tips)