Deer hunter Chad Weatherford loves to hunt the high rises in swamps as end of the season approaches. Despite the fact that it was a challenge to navigate because of zero tide all day and high winds, the guys made it through. The combination of dry, warm, blister-free feet makes hunting easier and more enjoyable. News, promotions and latest products delivered to you in your inbox. Filling them with fresh water periodically keeps the deer coming back. One takeaway stood out above all else: mature bucks, 5.5 years or older, are creatures of the swamp. But unless its an overlooked area hunters arent touching, or unless it offers a buck premium bedding where it can see, smell, and hear danger coming, most mature deer are farther from roads, and will be found mile, to a mile, or even further, from the closest vehicle access. When deer prefer to spend a lot of time near the water in a cool swamp, they spend a lot of time in and around it. "Mature bucks barely ever left the swamps until the cover of darkness," the authors of the study said in a National Deer Association review. by Higher elevation takes significant energy, too. THE CATTAIL CONNECTION Bucks tend to bed right in the thermal wind tunnel about 1/3 of the way down the ridge and look downhill. The rut is where the majority of mature buck encounters occur; not outside of it. Three miles north of my home acreage was a 600-acre State Waterfowl Production area with 400 acres of slough where duck hunters congregated. They can smell the does from above and below and are cruising near where they bed. Pat Hogan discusses the use of an AR rifle as a whitetail hunting option. Best Gear of 2022 for Whitetail Property Managers, Iowa Bowhunter Bags Amazing Non-typical Target Buck While Hunting with Son, Hunters Must Lead the Fight Against Invasive Species, Night Hunting for Predators Will Help Your Deer Herd, How to Develop the Best Fall Food Program for Your Deer, Adirondack Bowhunter Still-hunts His Way to a New York Giant, Nebraska Shed Hunter's Wife and Dog Find 6x9 Set One Year After Learning About the Buck, Oklahoma Hunter Shoots Target Buck That's Locked Up with Another Giant, Potential Kentucky State Record Crossbow Typical Shot in Hemp Field, 5 Common Deer Abnormalities Caught on Camera, On Target: Stopping a Deer While Using a Crossbow. When they crossed the ditch, I was drawn toward them by the sound of water. Bucks are not going to be where people think they are going to be. A 150-class 10-pointer, I knew him well as he could be seen feeding in the surrounding soybean fields on summer evenings, and occasionally that fall I would see him running across the open CRP fields during the daylight as the rut heated up. One of the best examples comes from a study conducted by the University of Delaware and the Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife. You can forget about the bottoms and the tops and all the ridges that are not leeward and end up only having to concentrate on 10 percent of the terrain. But if you have it in you, give it a try. In many cases, I can zoom in on my chosen property using my HuntStand app on my smartphone, and actually see the primary trails on the aerial photos. Stan McCollough knew there big deer on Panther Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, so he was ecstatic when he and buddy . I also like to think about the patterns of hunters even more than I consider the patterns of deer. 1529 Fish Rd. And therein lies the one Achilles heel of swamp e-scouting: If you can see it this easily, everyone else can too. 2023 Outdoor Sportsman Group. Public lands are literally everywhere. Deer hunter Chad Weatherford loves to hunt the high rises in swamps as end of the season approaches. Subscribe to our newsletter and get an extra 10% on your first purchase. For years, it is critical to develop an extraordinary game plan in order to consistently take older-age-class bucks on public lands in a number of states. Beyond PA Access the newest seasons of MeatEater, save content, and join in discussions with the Crew and others in the MeatEater community. Dan Infalt It was oftentimes regarded as a second-rate option for hunters who couldnt afford to own or lease land. Data backs up what Grandpa said. I look for edges or transitions from low elevation to high elevation, cattails to dogwoods, or swamp grass to hardwoods. All of these features visually pop on maps, as indicated by changes in color, texture, or topo lines. The islands that support oak trees can have great early season hunting because there are few oaks in wet terrain. Any hunter using hounds knows exactly where deer go when dogs are on their tail. Tiverton RI 8:00am 4:00pm Apr 25 Beginner Fly Tying Location: Hope Library, 374 North Road, Hope, RI, 02831 I have shot several deer out of this tree in the early season. Most hunters arent willing to walk. Hunting is prohibited on Sundays and November 24-27, 2022 Hunt Hours You may access the refuge from two hours before sunrise until two hours after sunset. Warm temperatures do not mean that deer cannot be left outside for an extended period of time. Panther Swamp National Wildlife Rrefuge gives up Mississippi trophy deer If youre willing to keep a positive attitude, put in the work, and stay patient, youll eventually find yourself smiling ear to ear.. Look for tight spots along the ridge like at the top of erosion draws, or where rock formations or fallen trees push the bucks thru a tight spot. Many of my biggest public land bucks were shot a stones throw from the road. Pheasant hunters worked the tall grass along the edges of the swamp and a few deer hunters would drive the 20-acre patch of timber for whitetails during shotgun season. So, if cattails start shaking and water sludging, theyll know something is amiss. On the side of the ditch where the dirt was dumped there is a high and dry line of vegetation that typically (in my experience) will have buck bedding somewhere on it. When you make a mistake or make a noise, a deer will snap its head and you will be the one who is hurt. Preventing doe factories is actually quite simple. That doesnt mean your downtime between deer and turkey season should be wasted though. Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission to Meet May 4 It seems like the tree that looks great for a stand is always in a spot where the evening thermals will carry my scent to the pond's edge. Oxbows in rivers have been really good to me. Mature bucks like them because they can travel using both the wind and their eyesight to feel secure while they enter and exit them. This usually makes it necessary to use a trolling motor, canoe, or kayak, to reach smaller islands. In hillier terrain, find benches, clear cuts, hubs, leeward (downwind side) ridges, ridge endings, saddles, and water seeps. It could take days, weeks, or even seasons on a landscape to learn something like that in person. September 2019 Hunters looking to target really large public areas with the potential to get well away from other hunters might consider the. Youll be able to see where those trails come from and go to. A smart hunter needs to keep both thermals and wind in mind when setting up. A scouting camera placed on the water's edge will reveal an incredible wealth of information about the comings and goings of the local deer population. The mature buck bedding areas I find on public land are in spots with very little human intrusion. Marsh islands are really easy to see when surrounded by cattails, dogwood or some other low brush. Bucks use water every day. Trails will develop in these areas over time. This HuntStand app aerial photo shows a small, good-looking island, where on-site scouting later proved a buck was using as a primary bedding area. That way I can walk right to them and determine a way to set up an ambush point. You can be quite aggressive in these swamps. Islands that appear brushier on the aerial photos are much more likely to hold bedding.. If you can find it, give it a sniff test. Deer flock to high ground in ponds, lakes, and swamps. We also use very expensive trail cameras, which cost between $40 and $60. I know one hunter who used a 4-wheeler to drag a dead tree to the water's edge to guide the deer into his shooting range. The biggest typical buck I ever hunted lived in an oxbow in southwestern Iowa. Dangerous overhangs, outcroppings, and sheer bluffs pose problems and risks. In the Shawnee National Forest in Illinois where my brother Adam and I and our friends have hunted for many years on public lands, we'll often scout for swampy areas. How did Nantucket get so many deer? The Southeast is full of it, too. Maryland's Sika Deer Many small, secluded ponds and streams can be found by searching online aerial photos. Hunting Entry to Stalk a Swamp Island Buck - Deer Property Design, Food Location: 1B Camp E Hun Tee Place, Exeter, RI 02822 9:00am 2:00pm Apr 15 Kids Fly Fishing Day Location: Addieville East Farm - Mapleville, RI 9:00am 3:00pm Apr 15 Hunter Education 2 DAY Location: Tiverton Rod and Gun Club. Editor's Note: This was originally published October 15, 2016. Some islands are big enough that you can sneak onto it and set up right on the island. It's amazing how every portion of high-timbered ground can have a hunter per acre, but hit the cattail water edge and all pressure stops. Steam Island Saarland | Saarbrcken When scouting cameras showed that the bucks were getting to the feeding area well after dark because of a mile-long detour to a watering hole, he brought a huge cattle tank out on a trailer and filled it with hundreds of gallons of water. Large islands are almost always several miles from shore, making it necessary to use a safe, reliable boat with a good motor. Most of these swamps, especially the larger ones, have a few small islands (see above example) in them. They need to have some bedding cover, too, but there usually is some good cover along river edges. They will cruise the leeward ridges right in the thermal tunnel checking for does. If you dont see the achievement or you know 100% that you visited all of the locations, quit the game and restart it. Place to Focus On: Islands can be found along most medium- to large-sized lakes and rivers. Including General and . If the deer like to drink in an area where it's hard to make a shot, you can block off that side of the pond. Where regulations allow, some of the islands along the great lakes offer incredible hunting opportunities. Pay attention to deer sign when you are scouting out potential hunting spots. The odor of blood is slightly metallic or neutral. Thermals begin to rise when the sun comes up and starts heating the valley floor. There was one buck I found in that area often. Bucks live and thrive in wet areas. Deer Hunting. Bucks often sneak into these areas during the morning hours, then leave to feed in surrounding crop fields in the evening. The barasingha ( Rucervus duvaucelii ), also known as the swamp deer, is a deer species distributed in the Indian subcontinent. He was a beauty and I was disappointed that I didn't get him myself. Martin, CapTAIN, CAPTAIN, I GOT 1! Places to Focus On: In the Midwest, some of the best marsh ground can be found in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The land is intensely managed to maximize deer density and physical conditioning while improving antler development in . The terrain is often difficult to navigate and the weather can be unpredictable, but that just adds to the fun for many hunters. But you dont know until you try, and it can be dangerous to wade through the sticky, muck marsh. Dont overlook large public marshes; they can be a gold mine when it comes to producing big bucks. Transitions play a key role here as well. Give Connecticuts Mansfield Hollow Lake, Marylands Dans Mountain WMA, Rhode Islands George Washington Management Area, and others a try. We had a blast fishing with Tyler and Tripp. For starters, regardless of whether youre a private or public land hunter (or both), dont bash the other side. In this case, using a canoe or sneaking in with waders can put you in position to shoot a buck that is totally unaware. There is no definitive answer to this question as different deer species have different habits. To determine where to aim a deer, the angle of the shot and the anatomy of the animal must all be considered. Your takeaway? But youll have fun regardless. Panther Swamp NWR gives up 158-inch 9-point. Sticking with the water theme, marshes and swamps offer security to deer, too. PRAIRIE & CRP: TIME TO HUNT BUCKS LIKE UPLAND BIRDS When you are actually hunting, be sure to keep as quiet as possible. Sometimes its shallow. Hunting Swamp Bucks: Part 1 | Stories and Adventures | Guide Outdoors How to E-Scout for Shed Hunting | MeatEater Wired To Hunt Other times it's deep. I have seen these potholes literally laced with deer trails and beds. That wasnt always the case, mind you. They like oxbows where the dominant wind blows in from the dry land, they face the river and use the water as an escape. On hot days, the deer can lie right in the water and during cold weather, the deer have protection from the wind as they hunker down amongst the thick standing stalks and lie on a dry bed of fallen stalks. Its also very difficult to navigate, especially if you arent familiar with the property or arent good with maps and compasses. This will give you a better vantage point to spot deer, and it will also make it easier to shoot if you do encounter one. Then, arrive well before your hunt starts to get acclimated to local oxygen levels. Being able to sit in a buck bed and look at a nearby island to select your tree and appropriate height is invaluable. 449 S 12th St.Tampa, Florida 33602United States, How To Hunt Deer In Deep Snow: Tips And Tricks, Designing Lanyards for Corporate Events: Dos and Donts, Unlock The Benefits Of Stabilized Binoculars: Discover Why You May Need Them And Which Ones Are Best For You. Hunting Swamp Islands; Strategy - YouTube You can unsubscribe at any time. Some of it is passed down behaviorally from does to their fawns. Keep an eye out for small ponds, creek crossings and swamps the deer have been using. 2021 TerraStride Inc. All Rights Reserved. Wildlife Management and Hunter Education - Rhode Island Generally, these islands are surrounded by a sea of cattails or rushes, and the trails are obvious. June 2019, All Observing Deer Videos In cattail marshes, these are really easy to pick out on an aerial. He graduated from N.C. State University with a degree in fisheries and wildlife sciences and is a certified biologist and professional forester for Southern Palmetto Environmental Consulting. They flock to water when danger approaches. Most people know bucks head to these islands when hunting pressure gets intense, but think about the reason why. You can learn the basics of e-scouting by reading up on it, or by watching tutorial videos, but thats purely academic. Finally, finding deer isnt easy, either. When they are thirsty, deer will drink whats available. Deer head for these remote islands to escape hounds and other hunters, and Weatherford will sometimes encounter one of these good bucks on the approach to these isolated areas. Read Hunting Swamp Bucks: Part 2 and more Bowhunting, Hunting, Whitetail Hunting adventures, along with tips, news and gear reviews in SportsmansGuide.com's Guide Outdoors. Ground blinds, which are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, give you the appearance of being on the ground while concealing you from view. Wearing camouflage is a good way to blend in with your surroundings and make it more difficult for deer to spot you. In flatter terrain, pinpoint edge habitat, such as where hardwoods meet conifers (cedars, pines, and spruce), creek crossings, and other areas that deer tend to use. In Wisconsin, the Pine Island Wildlife Area has several tracts that are surrounded by water. Find a creek crossing between their bedding area and their feeding area, and you have found a place where you can sit for long hours in warm weather with a lot of confidence. They walk into the wind thru the mouth of the bowl. Deer can monitor it with wind-blown scent. Being willing to put in that kind of effort isnt on the table for many hunters. Visibility is poor in head-high cattails and swampy areas that perpetually look the same. Sometimes it's shallow. Some deer species may bed down in swamps while others may not. The woods should be a safe place for everyone, and it is also critical to instill in you critical skills for success. If theres a deer in there, why not shoot it? This means in order for a smart hunter to kill the buck, he must hunt an off wind. Places to Focus On: While big timber can be found throughout most of the country, the Northeast is king. We are a family-minded club that promotes an enjoyable environment to hunt, camp, shoot, and ride. The Eastern wild turkey is one of the largest gamebirds in North America and is a prized bird among hunters. A standard freezer can typically hold an average deer weighing around 2 pounds. As such, big bucks survive by going where they seldom smell people. Once on site, check the pond banks/edges for fresh tracks, and be sure to set up within range of the place deer have been accessing the water. Saarbrcken is a great city for shopping, theater and concerts. Hunting over 16,000 acres of land encompassing the Tombigbee River swamp, the hills of Naheola, and the ridges of Mississippi, Pushmataha offers hunters the opportunity to harvest a fair chase whitetail deer. They are terrific places to waylay a buck during the evening hours. July 2019 More so than with any other habitat type, online aerial maps lay out the secrets of swamps like a picture book. I listened, and I've experienced the wisdom of those words in the years since. These bucks are going to the islands because they have prior experience feeling safe there. Subpar access makes properties harder to hunt, too. 1. Water is critically important in the everyday lives of whitetails; in fact, far more so than most hunters realize. WMA GIS Data Download Acadiana Conservation Corridor WMA Alexander State Forest WMA Atchafalaya Delta WMA Attakapas Island WMA Bayou Macon WMA Bayou Pierre WMA Ben Lilly Conservation Area Big Colewa Bayou WMA Big Lake WMA Biloxi WMA Buckhorn WMA Boeuf WMA Bodcau WMA Bussey Brake WMA . Interestingly, deer do so anyway. There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on a variety of factors such as the specific location of the swamp, the time of year, and the deer population in the area. Big bucks hide out on swampy islands to avoid hunters - Carolina Sportsman The key puzzle pieces are found when bowhunters locate deer eating, drinking, and resting. This also provides extra time to scout, which is necessary when determining what elevations deer are spending time at. E-Scouting for Mule Deer These factors can make deer hunting in a swamp a challenge, but there are some tips and tricks that can help increase your chances of success. Wearing camouflage is a good way to blend in with your surroundings and make it more difficult for deer to spot you. That might get the job done on young bucks and does. Youll prepare, charge ahead, tackle the elements, and just might fill a tag. In order to hunt deer in a swamp, hunters must take into account the unique conditions that come with this type of terrain. The Cheat Code When you look out over the cattails or swamp, look for small groups of trees or lone trees where there may be some hard ground to support buck bedding underneath. These are mountainous or hilly lands, and much of their makeup is challenging, and even unforgiving. Water is at hand any time they need it, and they can move to a small island or hummock to lie in a dry area if they want to. Some of the best island hunting is located up and down the Mississippi River, especially from the Illinois side. Why Swamps? By the time you reach your bowhunting age, youll have amassed a large collection of hunting equipment in your garage. There are many different types of animals that can be found in swamps, so it is a great place to go if you are looking for a particular type of game. Water is at hand any time they need it, and they can move to a small island or hummock to lie in a dry area if they want to. Research shows most hunters stay within a half mile of an access road. If you cant access on food with rubber boots or waders, its time to deploy a canoe or kayak. Deer call these places home for a reason: its hard for hunters to access these. These small ponds can be natural or man-made, and they are deer magnets, possibly one of the most effective ways to shoot a buck during daylight in the early season. Getting the wind right is crucial, and hard when you have limited access. Like river, lake and ocean islands, dry ground within marshes and swamps offer sanctuary. Visit the following pages to learn about John E. Phillips eBooks and books on hunting deer, including his newest deer-hunting book. It is not simple to beat a deers senses, but paying attention can do the trick. Jacob Lamar of Athens, Alabama, holds the world record for the highest buck ever shot. Mature bucks have an uncanny ability to find these isolated hotspots and to hide and live out there lives there. Whitetail Deer Hunting Inside the Mind of the Big Buck Serial Killer Dan Infalt of The Hunting Beast consistently tags mature whitetails on public lands by getting ultra-close to their beds. But considering its old town, there isn't as that much that Saarbrcken can offer you. Bowhunters must shift gears as the arrow passes through their bows in order to learn more about the deer. Become a D+DH Insider for FREE! Deer oftentimes bed and feed in these areas, never really needing to come out, especially if water borders or cuts through fields. A Whitetail deer prefers an area with water as a resting place. Subscriber Services. On Target: Are AR Rifles a Good Option for Whitetail Hunting. especially where it meets a transition such as open marsh, different vegetation type, or a 90 degree turn in the ditch. If deer see, hear, or smell you coming, its over before it starts. Long Island Public Hunting Areas - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation If you zoom way in on this HuntStand app screen capture, you can see the actual trail leading to land the buck has been using to access the swamp island. Neither public nor private land hunting is easy. It is impossible for deer to pass through anything that is difficult to pass through. If youre looking to make cuts, sausages, or ground venison out of your deer, take it to a processor or butcher. As deer get older, they realize these places protect them from hunters. Most hunters dont like to hunt these, though. Too many hunters just stay home during hot early-season weather. 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