Can you over hunt a stand?

[mpoor]

I've been hunting this area for the last ten days about every other day, once per day, ususlly evening. I see deer every time, but not the cat daddy. Am I over hunting the spot?

[Wizard]

"Overhunting a tree stand" is an idea started by tree stand manufacturers to make you go out and buy more tree stands.  It's all a conspiracy started by the hunting industry.  The hunting industry knows that you have money and it wants every last dollar!!!



Seriously though, I think there are a lot of variables involved when taking into consideration if you are overhunting an area.

• Do any deer hear/see/smell you when you enter or leave the hunting area?
• Do any deer hear/see/smell you while you are on your tree stand?
• When you harvest a deer, how much noise do you make in the process of retrieving it?
• et cetera

Basically, I guess it all boils down to how much you are letting your presence known while you are hunting.

[mpoor]

That helps, I have been very careful, and as far as I know, I have not been busted. I know the deer have never seen me leave the stand, and I have not spooked deer in the stand. My mind is beginning to play tricks with me.

[ArkansasSloughboy]

Well if it helps, my little brother sat on the same stand many days in bow season and then sat on it every day from the opening day of muzzleloader (Saturday) until the next Saturday and that is when he finally saw the buck he had been hunting. He had also killed a six point from the stand on Thursday.

[Kevin]

I think it's definitely possible to over-hunt a stand, but sounds like you are giving it a break since you're only hunting it every other day, so I doubt that is the case here. If you feel like it's a promising spot, I would just keep hitting it ... like sloughboy said, never know when big daddy is going to pop out.

[mpoor]

Thanks, I guess I'm second guessing myself. I still feel real good about where I'm at, seeing a lot of deer everytime I go out, I just know it does'nt take much to mess up Mr. Big. Steady as she goes...

[buckaroo]

i think as long as you use good scent control and do not get busted walking in and out you will be fine i know guys that smoke, chew, gut deer by stands, pee off them and think the deer keep doing what they do every day i am not one of those people i slip in and out and use every thing i can to keep them from smelling me the only thing that i have is a bottle of water,no food i can do all that when i get back to camp  i allso keep a pee bottle in my stands just in case.

[Widowmaker]

The answer is ....YES!!!!!........After the very first time you step foot in the woods THE DEER KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN THERE!!!!!!.....Weather they seen you sneaking in or out are not.You have entered there HOME AND THEY KNOW IT!!!!........THE firet time in IS always the best.......

[Fly Tier]

The answer is ....YES!!!!!........After the very first time you step foot in the woods THE DEER KNOW YOU HAVE BEEN THERE!!!!!!.....Weather they seen you sneaking in or out are not.You have entered there HOME AND THEY KNOW IT!!!!........THE firet time in IS always the best.......

I agree to that widowmaker I have seen it at first hand,instead of you trying to figure the deer out ,they already have you picked out.I hunted the last part of gun season this year knowing the deer were moving in this area that mI had ba trail cam set up they were coming like clock work,I would hit the woods 2 to 3 hours before time nothing,check the camera they would come in just right after i would leave THEY HAD ME PEGGED OUT.for sure.

[buckaroo]

Going to put out some corn and a brand new wildgame inovations camera today i got from bass pro shops for christmas i am done hunting for the year but i just want to see what is coming in and at what time.

[mpoor]

Just a follow up on Mr. Big. I never did see him from the stand, although he did show a few times on the camera in the day light. Passed on some pretty good deer waiting for him, the "dance" continues next october. I might look for sheds, but the cover is really thick. I know this picture does not look very thick belive me it is. Timber cut in there about 5-6 years ago.

[buckaroo]

Good looking spot mpoor stay with it he will screw up sooner or later i passed 4 bucks most guys would have killed but when you got a mack daddy in the woods you have seen its a lot easier to let them walk.