Clio Area Deer Numbers.

[cshqck]

I spent quite a bit of time this year hunting some land in Thetford Township (Clio). The woods I was hunting were surrounded by bean fields. I hunted their every other weekend and saw evidence of deer traffic. I even found a decent rub. I put out a little bait based upon my neighbors suggestion. I had two different stands set up and split my time among the both of them. I put out some trail timers on one occasion and had deer activitiy at around midnight and around 8pm. Neighbors that border the woods are both hunters. I saw one deer the last day of rifle which I was able to harvest. That was the only deer I seen all season. I took the week before rifle off for vacation and hunted morning and night for five days straight without seeing either neighbor on stand. Does somebody know something I dont? Is the hunting not very good when beans are planted? I do recall the neighbor saying hunting was always better when corn was planted. I'm just trying to get a better gauge on what to expect next year. Any suggestions from people whom know the area would be appreciated. Thank you.

[skipper34]

I also hunt Thetford twp. I took a nice 8-point day after Thanksgiving. The photo is in the gallery. We have seen a drastic reduction in deer numbers on our property over the last few years. I believe that the predators(coyotes) are really taking a toll on our spring fawns. As for type of crops, I have seen as many deer in the beans as in the corn. I think the best way to hunt our deer is to forget the bait piles and find the bedding areas and set-up between those and the food sources. During the rut especially, find where the doe groups are bedding because the bucks will not be far from them. My feeling on baiting in our area is that all you are doing is advertising your presense.

[Bomba]

I hunt just north of Clio in Birch Run, this is by far the worst season I've had as far as seeing deer. I had trail cams out and got pictures of a few different bucks
one nice one, but every picture on my cams were between 8pm, and 5am,
I never saw any of these bucks during daylight hours, and I am pushing 200hrs.
in the stand this year..
It could be worse I guess.

[swampstand]

I would certainly try bait now if you are a bowhunter.

[cshqck]

Thanks so much for the info. It really helps cut down on trial and error tactics. I have about 25 acres off of center rd between vienna and dodge and only about 8 of it is nicely wooded. the front 2 acres is where I'm currently building my home. The back 15 acres is vacant and up until two years ago was leased to a local farmer. I plan on planting a bunch of pines throughout the vacant 15 acres to provide me with more woods to hunt. I know it will take awhile for the pines to grow but my thinking is that in about 10 years they should be decent enough to provide some added cover for the deer to enjoy.

[skipper34]

Swampstand is right, now is the time to drop some bait out, sorry if I sounded anti-baiting. I'm not, just that I have found that the deer don't usually hit the bait til after dark, unless it is like right now, then you may see some action during shooting hours. I hunt my family's farm on the northeast corner of Center and Vienna. We also have land south of Vienna 1/2 mile East of Center. I walked the entire perimeter of the south 40 last Sunday and found no tracks in the snow. Must be a field of standing corn somewhere nearby, or the deer are up on the north ridge of the main farm looking for acorns. Seeing as how we had alot of nuts this year, the deer didn't move far to get them. We have a gas pipeline cutting through the main farm on Center rd., and we would like to put a food plot where it cuts through the woods, about 5 acres or so. Maybe I'll get a chance next spring, sure couldn't hurt. There are some nice bucks along the powerline corridor that runs north and south between Center and Genesee rd. I've seen a few during bow season, but nothing close. The buck I got this year came across that powerline from the east.

[Huntsman27]

I havent even seen deer moving around here while out goose hunting or duck hunting. However, havent seen these coyotes much either but planning on doing some vaminting this week off from work.