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Deer Hunting the Northwoods

hadjii
I just got back from deer hunting the great northwoods. I really enjoyed the hunt, but didn't kill anything but time. I think I need some expert advice on hunting up there. I must've found 3 or 4 different scrape lines that were pretty fresh, so that's where I hunted. Nothing ever came out. I'm wondering if the bucks are just coming in rut, or in full rut, or going out of rut up there the first week of November. I never seen any trails anywhere, and good gosh, I've never been in such quiet woods. I mean, there was nothing. Maybe a Raven would come through once in a great while, and maybe I seen 3 or 4 red squirrels in 3 days of hunting. In all fairness though, I did almost see 3 deer, all does I believe, but only one stuck her head out of an opening. Boy, them northern deer are flighty as hell. Here in Iowa, more times than not, if a doe is a little wary of something, she'll stop and look, stomp her feet, snort repeatedly, or something, but that doe, wow, she stuck her head out of this opening, and wheeled so fast and took off, I couldn't believe it. No way did she see me through the pine trees and me being up about 20 feet. Can't remember making any discernible noise to make her wheel that fast. I suppose it's possible that she may have smelled me, but that doesn't seem right either. Anyway, if there's anybody out there that can give me some advice on hunting the northwoods, I sure would appreciate it. I'm going back next year, so I figure I just as well regroup now and get some fresh ideas from people more in the know than me. Thanks
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  • andersk
    I did a lot better getting my deer every year in NB than I am doing down in MA, but this is going to be my year![:D][:D]
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  • mschexna
    Hadjii

    I am no expert by any means but I find hunting right on top of scarpes to be pretty unproductive in my neck of the woods....most mature bucks will come in down wind from there scrapes and just scent check them or only come around at night to freshen them up. My best luck has come from hunting off of scrapes and setting up down wind of the prodomenet wind during that time of year on a well travel game trail.

    Mike
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  • JustC
    Dude,..YOU STINK[}:)] Just kidding. The problem with a scrape or rub is that if you close in too much,..you mess up the entire area. Find that rub line,..and back off at 50yds from any direction.

    Use the cover scent (non scented) and some doe pee. Also,..if using a climber,..leave it high in the tree and place those climbing ladders in place. If the deer are bedding in your area,..and they hear that climber going up the tree,..you won't see anyhting other than what meanders that way.
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