Deer patterns changing

You know, it sounds reasonable, I have been hunting state land for the last couple years around Jackson and it seems that all the property owners have been seeing a tone of deer and i havent seen too many. Although that land is hunted quite hard, no one is really baiting that area too much any more.

szokr1

would make sense to me - lets face it - creatures of opportunity are going to go were the 'picking is easest' - and if thats not from a pile of bait - its going to be where the best natural food sources are found -

ferg....
maybe 'natural' isn't the best word -

Once people learn to pattern deer.-rather than just sitting over a bait pile, they should see two things. First more deer, because they are out browsing more now (thus covering more ground), rather than just bee-lining to a bait pile, pigging out then laying back down. Second the deer that they do see, will be more relaxed -because they don't expect anything is going on. (kinda like you coming home-if you smell something cooking in the kitchen you'll expect someone there-if you smell nothing then you figure you'll alone.)

The travel routes of deer will always change according to their food pattern. Early archery season has different travel routes than late rifle season. When the food source changes so does the travel routes. Now that baiting is starting to discontinue, hunters will have to learn more about the area they hunt and the habits of the species they hunt. By determining the location of water, food and bedding areas the natural travel corridors can be found. And sorry to say but because of a disappearance of bait piles the travel routes may decrease in someones hunting area and increase in mine.

Deer are definitely going to go where their easiest food source is and especially here they feel more comfortable and protected. I think that the hunters who once baited and no longer "can" bait are going to view seeing less deer as a bad season. However, in my opinion these people "might" need to brush up on their hunting skills and start hunting. They are going to have to find their preys food source and pattern the deer instead of throwing out a bait pile and waiting for deer to come in. I use to bait on state land up north and was very upset when I could no longer bait due to TB. However, the new laws made me become a better "hunter". Sure I do not see deer every time out but nor have I shot a lot of deer. But I do not messure how good my hunting season was by how many deer I see or kill. The experiences and things I see in the woods all make for a good hunt, seeing or shooting a beautiful whitetail only makes the experience that much more satisfying.

makes sense to me. I dont bait hunt I patern the deer on high pressure state land and see lots of deer. But when chatting in the parking lot with some of the "old timers" They do often tell me that there are few deer left on the land. The deer I see are comeing back with bellies full of natural brows to nap in the heavy cover. I know this from the two I took this year both were stuffed.
P.S. dont pull to hard on the stomach when gutting you will get a facefull.

I've said this before on other posts, but on our property we have never "baited". Over the last 20 or so years, we have debated time and time again why we didn't start baiting, but we just didn't feel it was right.....just our opinion. I'm not chastizing those who did bait. It was legal, and was your choice to do so. We have a little over 400 acres that we hunt. I learned to hunt the old fashioned way by learning the habits and natural tendencies of the deer. We use ground blinds and natural cover that is available placed strategically around. In the 80's when baiting started to really take off, we did see some change in the patterns of the deer because neighboring farms were baiting. One farm was going to the extreme to bait. But since the baiting has tailed off in the last few years, we now see the deer moving back towards their patterns of the "pre-baiting" years. Even though these are obviously different deer due to the time that has passed, as someone already posted the deer naturally react to changes in food sources and habitat. It's happening on our place right now. I have a feeder that I put out beginning in January which complies with the legal requirements for recreational feeding (i.e. it's within close proximity to my bay window in my house). The feeder is primarily aimed at the turkeys, although the deer hit it also. The turkeys begin to struggle when we have extended periods of deep, crusted snow that they can't scratch down through. Since the deer have become so nocturnal, I've learned that if I set the feeder to spread corn in the morning hours, the turkeys get most of it because the deer don't come out. If I spread the corn at night, within minutes I have a whole herd of deer there, but the turkeys are in the trees roosting. I only feed when the snow conditions warrant it. Turkeys and deer can get real dependent upon the feed, and I try to avoid that when they can obviously fend for themselves. It's a fun thing to do though, and it gives you an idea what wildlife you have in your area.

Whacker, it really depends on the herd in your area. Some say they see more deer than before while using bait. It could be the same doe group visiting your bait pile at different intervals or another group investigating it for the first time. I've used bait for many years and seen some wild things from it. Doe groups will guard a pile until their "family" is done feeding while the other doe group watches from afar. I use bait piles especially in November to lure does in the area and keep them there until the pre-rut begins. Bucks, while scent checking trails and scrapes will smell the does that you lured in with your bail pile. Than you just have to hunt, hunt and hunt. Good luck. Marksman72