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strategy 640 acres solo? #2443173 07/20/11 11:15 PM
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Rob Lay Offline OP
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lease is about 640 acres 40% timber and 60% grass/plum thickets. I was on 200 acres last year of no timber and I still didn't attack it with the best plan or figure out 100%. smile

think I have a good initial plan putting my tower blind 125 yards from the only pond with water and loaded with sign and then other direction a sendero with more sign I will place a feeder.

I'm thinking 3 other feeders in or close to woods to concentrate in areas I can setup bow stands or ground blinds as I will mainly hunt bow.

just overwhelmed right now with all the land and how to attack it solo. I certainly don't want too many feeders for the headache and expense, but mostly afraid that will spread them out.

should I run all feeders morning and night or run 2 morning and 2 night?

correct in focusing on the water and breaks in trees? except in rut I don't expect to catch much out in the wide open although there are some great plum patches.


Re: strategy 640 acres solo? [Re: Rob Lay] #2443180 07/20/11 11:18 PM
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Find your best spot for food, water, and bedding and the does will be nearby. Put out your feeder and maybe do a small plot. Deer are lazy - if they can get everything they need without moving, they won't move (does). If you have does, you'll have bucks.

Your plan sounds good with the pond.

640 acres to yourself is not a bad problem to have. That's a square mile. Nice.


Re: strategy 640 acres solo? [Re: cameron00] #2443188 07/20/11 11:20 PM
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No to even mention that with that much land to yourself you can hunt over the feeder in the morning and then get out and walk and see if you can jump something up. You're not going to have to worry about someone else shooting in your direction or you accidentally walking into someone's lane.

Yes sir, I do envy you. Good luck.


Re: strategy 640 acres solo? [Re: Rob Lay] #2443195 07/20/11 11:24 PM
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got a map or google earth picts?

Dave


Re: strategy 640 acres solo? [Re: lubbockdave] #2443219 07/20/11 11:31 PM
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I think you should rethink your strategy.....you can let me be your hunting partner grin I wish I was in your shoes. Good luck on the season.


Re: strategy 640 acres solo? [Re: lubbockdave] #2443234 07/20/11 11:36 PM
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Rob Lay Offline OP
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Originally Posted By: lubbockdave
got a map or google earth picts?

Dave


key is in bottom right for current planed tower blind and (4) feeders. I also need to consider different wind setups and only entrance is that trail top left of property. also high fence on north and east lines.

that bottom right feeder is right on deep creek bed, thick trees, and managed deer lease on other side of low fence. a bunch of sign right there and might be my favorite bow place, but they will also move up the line towards the pond and will put another bow stand on that feeder and trails too.




Re: strategy 640 acres solo? [Re: Rob Lay] #2443435 07/21/11 12:57 AM
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The "O" closest to "X" would be high traffic area. That is a natural funnel to the tank. Actually all along that finger of trees would be a good natural funnel. I would move your "X" to the small patch of trees to the east to give you a little better cover for your tower. I wouldnt place your tower in the wide open. especially so close to your water source.




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Re: strategy 640 acres solo? [Re: sportsman] #2443457 07/21/11 01:05 AM
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Rob Lay Offline OP
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Originally Posted By: sportsman
I would move your "X" to the small patch of trees to the east to give you a little better cover for your tower. I wouldnt place your tower in the wide open. especially so close to your water source.


I thought about that. Those 2 trees to North makes 115 yards to middle of pond, but 275 yards to that feeder. Those 2 trees down to the current X are on a hill, drops off towards the pond and clump of trees to east. From clump of trees to pond is 250 yards. I really wonder how much having tower in wide open will be a problem, don't they think it will be another tree?


Re: strategy 640 acres solo? [Re: Rob Lay] #2443465 07/21/11 01:08 AM
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here's a picture of stand at last lease.




Re: strategy 640 acres solo? [Re: Rob Lay] #2443469 07/21/11 01:10 AM
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Nice stand up


Re: strategy 640 acres solo? [Re: BMD] #2443497 07/21/11 01:19 AM
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your set-up looks good, where is camp and is there any creeks on this property?


Re: strategy 640 acres solo? [Re: YankeeATX] #2443514 07/21/11 01:25 AM
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I do envy your problem and i love checking out the google earth maps to try and figure the best set up scenario as well.

also i have a tower blind on top a hill wide open no cover and never had a problem killing deer, turkey or pigs out of that stand. So i don't think that is an issue.


Re: strategy 640 acres solo? [Re: sportsman] #2443556 07/21/11 01:39 AM
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Put me in the "I wouldn't sweat the blind being out in the open" camp as well. It's a blind. That's what it's for. Once the deer get used to it, they learn to expect it to be there and won't even think twice about walking past it. My blinds couldn't be more in the open and I could spit my gum out and hit deer a lot of the time.

Place looks awesome.


Re: strategy 640 acres solo? [Re: YankeeATX] #2443559 07/21/11 01:41 AM
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Rob Lay Offline OP
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Originally Posted By: YankeeATX
your set-up looks good, where is camp and is there any creeks on this property?


no camp setup yet, no previous camp ever made. there are a few little creeks, pretty deep creek bed now dry that runs accross the southeast corner. I actually think this is one of the better spots and previous hunters must have thought so as their old stand and fenced in food plot is there.


Re: strategy 640 acres solo? [Re: YankeeATX] #2443590 07/21/11 01:53 AM
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Rob,

I was in a similar situation last year. Had 150 acres to myself. If you are like me - I DONT envy you....I wanted to put a stand everywhere cause a lot of spots looked good smile I ened up putting up way too many but had know way of knowing until I went through the season. Big part of my problem was I lucked out and found the lease in September and had to bust my hump to get spots setup fro archery season. Was still hanging stands right before November smile What is crazy is what you think are the best spots are often not the case. Here is my two cents:

1) no need to end another google map but take a wider look at what is around you (surrounding properties) as opposed to just what you are on. That was a mistake I made last season.

2) I know this year is a tough one (cause its so dry and deer are not moving much at all) but put up as many game cams as possible in areas you think may have some action - even some spots that you think dont. If you have any 5 gallon feeders put them out temporarily to attract whatever is in the general area around your cams. This is what I did last year. Lucked out and found a spot where there was consistement movement. Hung a ladder stand. week before archery season. First morning, first bow hunt, first trigger pull at at deer - one doe in the freezer. Game cams are your best friend.

3) if you think you have a shot at hanging on to this lease next year and have the trees for it, i would get a climbing stand. This will allow you to cover as many spots as possible and the results this year will give you permanent spots for a couple of heavy duty blinds next year. Another thing I did last year was build a 5x5 elevated platform and put a popup blind on it. Served me well. Had i put a big box blind up in this spot last year it would have been an absolute waste.

4) sounds obvious but ask the landowner or anyone else familiar with the place where they have killed and/or seen the deer in the past. I thinkthe spot you picked is most logical but you just never know. 600 acres is alot of area for one man to scout.

Good luck to you and congrats. Nothing like having a place like that to yourself. I know my 150 are llease has spoiled me. Hope I hang on to it.

David

oh yeah - what will make you mad as anything is when you check game cam cards from the stands you chose not hunt that morning smile


Last edited by Bonner; 07/21/11 02:10 AM.
Re: strategy 640 acres solo? [Re: Bonner] #2443604 07/21/11 01:58 AM
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I would do away wiht the O/corn feeder furthest in the southeast corner. I wouldnt put the tower in the open.

Looks like a great property to hunt, best of luck to you.

matt



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Re: strategy 640 acres solo? [Re: cameron00] #2444993 07/21/11 06:23 PM
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Originally Posted By: cameron00
No to even mention that with that much land to yourself you can hunt over the feeder in the morning and then get out and walk and see if you can jump something up. You're not going to have to worry about someone else shooting in your direction or you accidentally walking into someone's lane.

Yes sir, I do envy you. Good luck.


X2! Go find them as opposed to waiting for them to come to you.



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Re: strategy 640 acres solo? [Re: Rob Lay] #2445741 07/22/11 12:40 AM
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If you put 4 feeders/cameras out, 1 towards each corner/group of trees of the property. You could potentially get different pictures of different bucks on the the feeders/cameras. In my experience a buck range, although miles in diameter might not encompass a whole 640 acres. And sometimes, even with feeders it can be hard to change a bucks range.


Re: strategy 640 acres solo? [Re: Spence] #2445876 07/22/11 01:30 AM
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#1 from bonner is a very wise tidbit. I learned from one of my neigbors that our crop rotation has a significant effect on deer patterns year to year. It is very good to know what your neighbors are doing if you can find out. Especially the one to your left.

1. Figure out the 2 wind patterns that you are likely to see most of the time and pattern your main set ups on those. Set up secondary spots for the others and ONLY HUNT WHEN THE WIND FAVORS THEM.
2. I'd take his 3rd suggestion and put a couple of hang feeders & cameras in the trees on the 2 left middle corners to see if anything moves in the area.

My personal opinion would be to stick a protein feeder in the middle of the trees in the top left and treat it like a sanctuary but to each his own.


Re: strategy 640 acres solo? [Re: jhptxrancher] #2445976 07/22/11 02:03 AM
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Rob congrats on landing what looks to be a great property. Is this the Oklahoma place you were looking at? Is the timber hardwoods or lots of cedars and scrub brush? Cedar thickets are great bedding areas. Is there cultivation in the surrounding area?
If you can plant a food plot I would consider planting a food plot in the hidden field next to the O closest to the X. I would set up a couple of different stands on the field to be able to hunt in various winds.
Is there cattle on the property? If so that rules out the food plot without the cost of a fence and most cattle ranchers do not want to lose any native grass.


Re: strategy 640 acres solo? [Re: jcoutdoors] #2446262 07/22/11 04:04 AM
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I wish I had your problem!



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Re: strategy 640 acres solo? [Re: jcoutdoors] #2446657 07/22/11 01:39 PM
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Rob Lay Offline OP
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hey Mark.

Originally Posted By: jcoutdoors
Is this the Oklahoma place you were looking at?


maybe. wink

Originally Posted By: jcoutdoors
Is the timber hardwoods or lots of cedars and scrub brush? Cedar thickets are great bedding areas. Is there cultivation in the surrounding area?


Some good big hardwoods with cedar mixed in. Plum thickets out in grass which we've already seen the Deer love. Very little to no cultivation in this area. Already a fenced food plot that was used 3+ years ago.

Originally Posted By: jcoutdoors
Is there cattle on the property?


not right now and foreseeable future.


Re: strategy 640 acres solo? [Re: Bear Charge] #2446663 07/22/11 01:42 PM
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Originally Posted By: asartor
I wish I had your problem!


after what I went through on my Olney lease I deserve it. smile first of all the place was terrible, very little Deer, a few nocturnal young bucks. my lease was through August, but lease manager and owner had might in March and I haven't been on it since. All I got was 1 hog and a few ducks.

lease is through an outfitter here on THF and I'm thankful. part of a deal they will hunt it sometimes for duck and also will do some work for land owner clearing trails, which might disturb the Deer a little in short term.

possible once we get this going in future we will bring a couple others guns on with me.


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