hi guys!im new here and like i said in my introduction i wanna learn.i have property in montmorency county that is mostly cedar swamp,david smith (habitat biologist DNR) said i have a lot of deer on my place and that i should plant plots to draw them out of the swamp.ive done this for 2 years now.so far my clover hasnt been touched.i planted a mix of oats,brassica,and clover 3 weeks ago so i hope its coming up.if the deer dont use these plots what is effective for hunting cedar swamp.thanx.
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mau
Mau,
I grew up hunting on 80 Acres near Atlanta, over by Rainy Lake. I love this area. We also had some thick cedar swamps. There is an old saying, if you cant beat them join them. My Uncle shot a buck on opening day of Rifle every year by sitting in that swamp, with lanes cut thru it and waited for day break. Its tough hunting, but if you can figure out where they are bedding and traveling, you can nab them coming back into there beds. The have to eat and mate, so you know that they are not sitting in that swamp full time. Scout, Scout, Scout. Look for rubs and scrapes. We used to find them on the edge of the swamps bordering our fields. good luck
I grew up hunting on 80 Acres near Atlanta, over by Rainy Lake. I love this area. We also had some thick cedar swamps. There is an old saying, if you cant beat them join them. My Uncle shot a buck on opening day of Rifle every year by sitting in that swamp, with lanes cut thru it and waited for day break. Its tough hunting, but if you can figure out where they are bedding and traveling, you can nab them coming back into there beds. The have to eat and mate, so you know that they are not sitting in that swamp full time. Scout, Scout, Scout. Look for rubs and scrapes. We used to find them on the edge of the swamps bordering our fields. good luck
Hunting in the Swamp is tough going! But oh so fun! Even though the swamp may seem the same all over, and every piece of cover looks ""Deery", typicaly there are areas that differ from one another. Find these differences and you'll find natural edges. I'm not talking real noticable edges like pines/hardwoods etc. Minor differences in terrain, plant growth etc all create natural edges that aren't always noticable to us, but the deer know they exist. Find areas that are wet during the fall that are dry most other times of the year. Sure, the deer can walk through some of these areas, but I have found that, like us, they prefer drier ground if it is available near by. In our area, some of those wet spots are so soft, your in over your knees pretty quick...so are the deer. Fingers of high ground that lead towards food, always a good choice. Take notice of ground that always seems to stay dry, if the cover is adaquete, you'll find bedding areas. In your description, it's likely the deer are staying in the swamp until dark, most likely staging in an area or two that offer some browse or most likely a foodsource they prefer that may not exist in most areas of the swamp. The deer love the Cedar, but most cedar swamps, don't actually offer a tremendous amount of Cedar that the deer can actually reach. Look for a unique foodsource if you can find anything.
One thing about the swamp, we humans tend to take the samae one or two routes in and out of the swamp everytime....I'm guilty! Hey, it's easier, safer etc but the deer will have you patterned in no time.
Another tip...Use binoculars!! Many will say, you can't see very far anyway, what good are they? Well, you want to see the deer before they see you! Often times the window of oppurtunity is small in that kind of cover, if your caught off guard your success will be minimal. Bino's will help you pick up parts of deer in the thick stuff long before the naked eye will. And when still hunting, those deer will hold very tight, they don't expect to be seen. Bino's will help pick them out before you jump them.
Also, don't relay on your ears, those deer move like ghosts in that stuff....freaky ghost like at times!
If you can't tell, I love the swamp!
What kind of acreage are you talking about? If it's small, best to keep out imo, just hunt the edges. This winter/spring scout it real good, hang a few sets or make a few stands just inside maybe and let it be until hunting season.
One thing about the swamp, we humans tend to take the samae one or two routes in and out of the swamp everytime....I'm guilty! Hey, it's easier, safer etc but the deer will have you patterned in no time.
Another tip...Use binoculars!! Many will say, you can't see very far anyway, what good are they? Well, you want to see the deer before they see you! Often times the window of oppurtunity is small in that kind of cover, if your caught off guard your success will be minimal. Bino's will help you pick up parts of deer in the thick stuff long before the naked eye will. And when still hunting, those deer will hold very tight, they don't expect to be seen. Bino's will help pick them out before you jump them.
Also, don't relay on your ears, those deer move like ghosts in that stuff....freaky ghost like at times!
If you can't tell, I love the swamp!
What kind of acreage are you talking about? If it's small, best to keep out imo, just hunt the edges. This winter/spring scout it real good, hang a few sets or make a few stands just inside maybe and let it be until hunting season.
Thats a tough call. Depending on the layout etc, not sure if I would want to spend a lot of time in there. Some of that area is undoubtably part of their sanctuary...you want to keep it that way imo. If you hunt it, I would be very careful and keep those intrusions to a minimum. I bet it will be a big draw once the guns start going off....if you can put yourself on a path those escaping deer will take, you might just find the perfect spot. Guess it depends on the surrounding terrain though as well. For bowhunting, quiet access is important in that small size.....any noise and you can forget it. Mornings would be the best time to hunt it though, you can get in early and let things settle before the animals start filtering back the the beds. Sneak out mid morning or sit all day.
Actually hunting in the thick cover on relatively small parcels is really tough and most likely you push animals that you never know are there. Sometimes it pays to be aggressive, but you have to carefully pick the right time to make those aggressive moves or you stand a good chance of educating every deer in the vicinity.
No easy answers for ya really, trial and error may be the only answer.
Actually hunting in the thick cover on relatively small parcels is really tough and most likely you push animals that you never know are there. Sometimes it pays to be aggressive, but you have to carefully pick the right time to make those aggressive moves or you stand a good chance of educating every deer in the vicinity.
No easy answers for ya really, trial and error may be the only answer.
I love cedar swamps. build a blind in it and cut 1 or 2 shooting lanes. They dont have to be wide. And if you do any lumbering yourself. You might want to leave one of the cedars you cut lay in the swamp so the deer can clean the branchs for ya.
Did I say that.
Did I say that.thanks alot guys,i guess ill see what happens with the plots this year.there should be some decent bucks in there cuz i seen some nice scrapes while walking the woods after the season and for the past 6 years i have only shot does.avg.3 per year,not that i dont shoot bucks i just havent seen anything bigger than a spike.
I love cedar swamps! Once you figure their bedding area in it, try to leave it alone all season hunting only around it. Do this and every day is like opening day.
mau,
My friend hunts family property up near Atlanta. Never had much luck with bucks until last year when they put in some food plots. Also less hunting pressure than past years as other family members have kind of slowed down. He got one last day before firearm with a bow and then firearm got an 8 point.
Said foodplots helped, I think they just planted rye? but not sure. Saw more does (which the old family rule is to not shoot) and also more bucks.
My friend hunts family property up near Atlanta. Never had much luck with bucks until last year when they put in some food plots. Also less hunting pressure than past years as other family members have kind of slowed down. He got one last day before firearm with a bow and then firearm got an 8 point.
Said foodplots helped, I think they just planted rye? but not sure. Saw more does (which the old family rule is to not shoot) and also more bucks.
I could tell you the secret but I think it's best if I Show you instead...:evil: ..lol I have hunted the cedar swamps for about 20 years and to tell you the truth you almost have to cut some sort of lane or clearing.I have been in the swamp and could hear deer walking right by me.I had to get down on my hands and knees to see them,and then it was only their legs...Try to get some trees thinned out and maybe accidentially not be able to haul them all out.. .
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The swamps I hunt in SE Mich aren't cedar but I'll bet they're just as thick. I've had decent luck doing what SwampMonster and Jacob said: scout in winter to find areas they frequent, cut lanes and hunt fringes. There's a lot of pressure where I hunt but few venture into the swamps. So, another tip is to hunt ALL day. Don't move unless you're tracking a deer you shot. The guys on high ground push deer to me every year. Finally, since this is usually 'up close and personal' hunting, scent control is critical.
When I was a kid we hunted near Frederic and there were lot of cedar swamps there. Man, I'd love to get back up there.
Good luck,
John - Ypsi
When I was a kid we hunted near Frederic and there were lot of cedar swamps there. Man, I'd love to get back up there.
Good luck,
John - Ypsi
Try to hunt the edge, or best yet, if you can find a dry knoll even just 100 feet wide, in the middle preferably with some hardwoods on it and you are golden. anything different in the midst of the swamp will be a deer magnet.
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