Encouraging Deer to Change Patterns

By GrowingDeer,

  Filed under: ,

← Grant's Answers — Ask Grant

 

Question
I hunt a powerline out of a box ground blind.  The powerline runs downhill about 150 yards and uphill 450+ yards.  I have two feeders set up 150 and 200 yards from my box stand.  I keep seeing deer at the top of the hill 400+ yards away.  What can I do to get the deer to cross closer to my stand?  Should I put up a metal stand further up the hill?

I took three paper bags and a cup of washing powder and put it around at the top of the hill. The deer still came out at the same place.  The smell of washing powder had no effect.

Rob

 

 

 

Rob,

If you have permission to hunt the hilltop where the deer prefer to travel, I would place a stand within range of that location.  Remember that being able to approach and leave the stand without alerting deer is just as important as the stand’s location.

If you don’t have permission to hunt the hilltop where the deer prefer to travel, can you determine why deer frequent that hill?  Is there a preferred food source there or nearby?  Is it close to a bedding area?  If so, can you create a better source of food or cover closer to your existing stand?  Deer usually seek out the best habitat features within their home range.  It seems there is something on the hill they frequent that is the most preferred source in their neighborhood.

Growing Deer together,

Grant