Going to be using a .50 Beowulf, yup, you heard me, going to experiment and see how it effects one. My cousin and I are doing a hunting experiment anyway. We are proving that all these scents and camo is a waste of money, and people that avoid their bait piles/plots like a plague are really messing up. It's the absence of human presence that cause the deer to be jumpy.

We have set us a small spot, with our blind being about 100 feet from the deers bedding area and food plot if thats what ya wanna call it. I call it a lot of grass and weeds I let grow all summer. There are plenty of acorns in there for them too, not to mention a few apples because we have a couple trees around there. We have urinated on everything down there, just to get our scent spread around. For the 1st week and a half, we actually had the deer avoiding us. But now, 3 weeks in, we have several does, one very large, a large 6 point buck and a llarge buck track that we have yet to see what is making it, coming in . They have became oblivous to our scent and our presence. We have deliberatly done everything you're always told not to do, and yet, we have more deer coming around us, than any one else around here. We are doing this with minimal funds involved. Our blind is built out of scrap vinyl siding that we have had left over from jobs we have done. We go walk their trails, stand around in their bedding spots, and just act normal, and its working, like a charm !

The best part of all, we are driving a truck down to within 500 feet of our blind.

My dad got this all started, one year he got out with his 35mm Camera and started walking the deers paths around here. Eventually he got them so used to him that he got some awesome pictures out of it.

I don't know if any of you have ever tried anything like this before, and I'm not trying to offend those of you who use expenive scents, lures and camo from head to toe. This experiment has been a lot of fun, we have had a lot of doubters within our family and friends, but the POOP everywhere, and tracks dont lie. Not to mention, seeing them.

So I just felt like I would share our little adventure, thought some of ya might like to hear it. We're doing for food, as well as to prove a point, but if a trophey buck comes along, you better believe you fellas will be the first ones I show the pics to. :)

Explain to me how this is hunting?

It's really interesting your post regarding the human scent issue. Years ago when some friends were having bear problems, baits had to be at least half a mile from the nearest dwelling. The bears were pretty savvy, and avoided the baits if human scent was anywhere nearby. Since the bears didn't seem spooked around the farmhouse, orchard or packing house, we decided to saturate the bait area with human scent, much as you have done. We urinated in and around the immediate vicinity with regularity, hung the stinkiest of athletic socks from nearby trees with clothes-pins and even left a few sweaty tee-shirts hanging from the brush near the bait site.

Our bait was first class, and irresistable to the bruins, the bait that was being hit daily wasn't hit at all for nearly a week, then almost as if flipping a switch, the bears returned, with a vengance, and we had at least four big adult bears hitting the bait daily, and a couple of juveniles as well.

When replenishing the bait, we'd urinate close by, and leave a fresh smelly sock or shirt behind as well, and the first time I sat the bait in earnest, after leaving all the human scent, I saw four bears in the last hour and a half of evening light! Passed on them all, and finally harvested a bear my third time sitting the stand, but never did I NOT have a bear come into the bait while I watched in the evenings, and the stand was a mere fifty feet from the bait barrel!

Indeed the technique can be very effective, but as was pointed out, how does it hone our hunting skills, or promote fair chase practices? I'm not sure on this one, as it has far reaching moral and ethical considerations when we consider the value of and merit to fair chase conditions.

The practice, while deadly effective, indeed does invoke some questions!

Well, I have never even cared about deer hunting before, this has sparked my intrest. This season will give me a chance to learn their habits, and actions. It will probably inspire me to set out for bigger things next season.

I dont see anything wrong with what we are doing, makes a lot more since than wasting hundreds of dollars on expensive scents and cover scents. Also, I dont see how its any more wrong than going to hunt an animal in a hunting reservation (read: In a fence, AKA: shooting fish in a barrel). Just we didnt have to pay $1,000.


As to, how is it hunting ? I think it's MORE hunting than buying all the garb that most people use. Its definetly more primitive, than using man made scents, calls and camo to hide from the animals.Men with spears way back when, did not have Real Tree camo and Doe in heat to spray on, they probably depended on using their own scents to their advantage, the way we're doing it. They know we are there, we aren't hiding in the bushes in our real tree get-ups, afrraid to move because they will see ya and run. Atleast our way, we are going to be sitting there comfy in lawn chairs, shielded from the weather :) You do it your way, and I'll do it mine. I'll have the price of a bullet in it, and you'll have that mile long credit card receit from Cabelas...lol

I don't know, I don't use any kind of camo, scents, or calls.

I use natural sneakiness. :D

Tang,
The deer (and turkeys) generally ignore normal farm operations. They see the tractor and know it's harmless. It seems they get used to human activity and scents, I think that's what you are seeing. If you can spend enough time in a given area the deer will get familiar with you and your "experiment" will work. For someone who can't spend the time getting the deer accustomed to them the camo and scent blockers are an advantage. If they don't ignore you because they are familiar with you, you better make sure they don't know you're around.

Tang,
The deer (and turkeys) generally ignore normal farm operations. They see the tractor and know it's harmless. It seems they get used to human activity and scents, I think that's what you are seeing. If you can spend enough time in a given area the deer will get familiar with you and your "experiment" will work. For someone who can't spend the time getting the deer accustomed to them the camo and scent blockers are an advantage. If they don't ignore you because they are familiar with you, you better make sure they don't know you're around.

Very true, thanks for putting it like that. Now I can clearly see both sides of the spectrum :D

you can start baiting them too, a bag of potato chips here a bag of tortilla chips there. Pretty soon I bet they'd eat out of you hand, then you don't even need a bullet, just take out your pocket knife.

Whats the fun in that ? Point blank produces awesome results...lol

Hey Niner,
You suppose if I fed them tortilla chips they'd taste like taco's?:confused:
We have a serious problem with the deer population here, they do a lot of damage, eat crops, wreck cars, etc. The farmers around here say it's not worth picking the outside four rows of corn, there aren't any ears left. When I shoot them on my farm it's more like "harvesting" than "hunting". I see them every day and know where they are. The DNR says we should shoot the does, a landowner tag is $1.00. These are corn-fed fat healthy deer. You might not consider it hunting, but they taste great. By the way, no rifles in Iowa, we use shotguns with slugs. Normally less than 100 yards.

Tang, I don't see a dog gone thing wrong with your approach, many ...many years ago I saw this hunter on a TV program state the same thing about scents and such, he even went to the point of saving his piss in one of those huge pickle jars and would just pour it all over places where the bucks would rub their racks on.....he even video tape the bucks coming to the spots and smelling his piss. It was a trip to watch them.

David

Hey Niner,
You suppose if I fed them tortilla chips they'd taste like taco's?:confused:
We have a serious problem with the deer population here, they do a lot of damage, eat crops, wreck cars, etc. The farmers around here say it's not worth picking the outside four rows of corn, there aren't any ears left. When I shoot them on my farm it's more like "harvesting" than "hunting". I see them every day and know where they are. The DNR says we should shoot the does, a landowner tag is $1.00. These are corn-fed fat healthy deer. You might not consider it hunting, but they taste great. By the way, no rifles in Iowa, we use shotguns with slugs. Normally less than 100 yards.

When you are "harvesting" do normal hunting laws apply? I figured if you have all the proper permits, you would be able to "harvest" them in anyway possible, i.e. rifles, because it is not considered hunting at that point.

Niner,
I always observe the laws.
A land owner is allowed to hunt both the early and late seasons, a total of about 3 weeks. Iowa doesn't allow rifles anywhere, but land owners are allowed any legal firearm (shotgun, pistol, muzzleloader, etc.). A land owner is allowed to buy all the normal tags, plus you get 3 additional tags. Most counties have extra seasons (either early or late). I think you could get 8 deer if you wanted all the tags.

As I mentioned before, we have a problem with overpopulation. Sorry if it doesn't fit your definition of "hunting".

Niner,
I always observe the laws.
A land owner is allowed to hunt both the early and late seasons, a total of about 3 weeks. Iowa doesn't allow rifles anywhere, but land owners are allowed any legal firearm (shotgun, pistol, muzzleloader, etc.). A land owner is allowed to buy all the normal tags, plus you get 3 additional tags. Most counties have extra seasons (either early or late). I think you could get 8 deer if you wanted all the tags.

As I mentioned before, we have a problem with overpopulation. Sorry if it doesn't fit your definition of "hunting".


Are rifles allowed for any kind of hunting?
What are housing/property costs in that area?

Michael Grace

As I mentioned before, we have a problem with overpopulation. Sorry if it doesn't fit your definition of "hunting".


Backacre, they are getting pretty heavy around me. They wrecked my neighbors garden this year. He usually has a lot of stuff in a 10 acre opening below us, but the deer didnt even leave him enough to harvest himself.

Deer are our only big game, centerfire rifles are not allowed for any game animals. There are a lot of coyotes, too, and centerfires are allowed for them. For deer they allow shotguns 20 gauge or bigger (with slugs, not buckshot), muzzleloaders, and handguns (.357 and larger pistol calibers).

Farm ground goes for about $3000 an acre, but you need at least 30 acres to be zoned "agricultural".

Last year the DNR put a statement on the book of deer regulations that almost sounded like a threat. They said if hunters don't start taking more does to get the herd under control they'll look at new rules such as a requirement that hunters shoot a doe before they can get a buck tag, or making one season "does only", etc. The say 96,700 does were taken last year and they're issuing more doe tags this year than last.

These are nice size deer, last year I weighed the meat from one doe (cut, deboned and wrapped), it was just over 70 pounds of meat. Not bad for a $1.00 tag.

Hey Niner,
You suppose if I fed them tortilla chips they'd taste like taco's?:confused:
We have a serious problem with the deer population here, they do a lot of damage, eat crops, wreck cars, etc. The farmers around here say it's not worth picking the outside four rows of corn, there aren't any ears left. When I shoot them on my farm it's more like "harvesting" than "hunting". I see them every day and know where they are. The DNR says we should shoot the does, a landowner tag is $1.00. These are corn-fed fat healthy deer. You might not consider it hunting, but they taste great. By the way, no rifles in Iowa, we use shotguns with slugs. Normally less than 100 yards.

Hey BackAcre, I'd be happy to come out from Wa. to help harvest a few. Does Iowa allow land owner sponsor hunts? I'd use black powder, pistol or shotgun to keep the range to a minimum. :D

Around here, its difficult to find a good hunting area because most private land is posted to only leases and public land with all the City slickers in orange gets pretty hairy.

Sorry, no sponsor hunts.
In fact they recently raised the non-resident fees to the point where they're discouraging out-of-state hunters, I think it's over $300 for a hunting license and whitetail tag.

Sorry, no sponsor hunts.
In fact they recently raised the non-resident fees to the point where they're discouraging out-of-state hunters, I think it's over $300 for a hunting license and whitetail tag.

Ahh drats. :D

Deer are our only big game, centerfire rifles are not allowed for any game animals. There are a lot of coyotes, too, and centerfires are allowed for them. For deer they allow shotguns 20 gauge or bigger (with slugs, not buckshot), muzzleloaders, and handguns (.357 and larger pistol calibers).

Farm ground goes for about $3000 an acre, but you need at least 30 acres to be zoned "agricultural".

Last year the DNR put a statement on the book of deer regulations that almost sounded like a threat. They said if hunters don't start taking more does to get the herd under control they'll look at new rules such as a requirement that hunters shoot a doe before they can get a buck tag, or making one season "does only", etc. The say 96,700 does were taken last year and they're issuing more doe tags this year than last.

These are nice size deer, last year I weighed the meat from one doe (cut, deboned and wrapped), it was just over 70 pounds of meat. Not bad for a $1.00 tag.

That's pretty good - I think I hit the 70 lb. mark on about my third Texas whitetail doe, all three put together!

After two good years (at least) most of the state here is overrun with deer. Shouldn't have a problem filling all the tags that I want to.

An uncle lives in northern MO and talks about the big deer that they have up there, but he doesn't hunt any more or I'd pester him to take me.

Things are going well for us. Got the blind dried in, and now we have a bear crossing our path. Seems they like to annoy the yellow jackets around us, and eat apples.

Going along with this thread, I remember as a youngster
in SW Idaho we were nearly overrun with jackrabbits.
I mean the roads were paved with fur & guts to the point
of being dangerously slick around some corners where there
was water available for the jacks.

Well, the next year we were chuck full of coyotes.
They would come up and eat cats right off the back porch.
(Barn cats OK, but they ate my little sister's house cat too)
Big brother thing ---You Know....

If you set up a blind and had a long range rifle you
could harvest a few. But if you kept a 22 on the tractor
you could idle around and pop a couple every evening.
It didn't take long to clean out our area for the year.

I believe that it has the most to do with what the animals
see everyday as normal.

If you are outside of that picture they equate it as trouble.

Cheers,

Big Mike G

This is a great thread. It really keeps ya thinking. My main consideration this year has been processing prices. They are just about out of hand. We have some 100# does but a yearling doe would be around 60# and processing on this deer if it was already dressed and cleaned will run close to 40 bucks. That is prohibitive for me so I have to pass on what I consider a good management deer for our area.

Any tricks or thoughts on processing?

Also, any thoughts on storage of deer before you can get to a processor if it will be a day or two and you have no electricity?

Learn to cut them up.... it's not hard. A book on butchering / sausage making is helpful. Bring plenty of ice to camp, that solves the storage problem. I have my own methods, who's to say they are better than anything else. Maybe one of these days I'll do some pictures.

First couple you do at home may be a bit ragged, but the meat tastes the same. If you get a small grinder to turn the scraps into sausage / burger, there isn't any waste.

If you can load ammunition.... you can surely cut up a deer!

lol...I cant do either, Im just getting into all this. Next year, the place we're on now, we're going to disc up with a tractor, lime it, fertilize it and plant a deer plot. Along with build a nice little hunting shed with windows :D

Going rate here is around $50 if you bring in a whole deer or one that's been field-dressed. Some are higher, some lower. I always field dress, but I've seen them brought in whole.

Personally, it's worth it to me, it'd take me hours and I'm afraid they'd be more than a bit ragged.:)

The longest I've had to keep one before taking it in was overnight. It was field dressed, washed with a garden hose, and hung in the barn, temperature was about 30.

I suppose in 30º weather you dont have anything to worry about.

Interesting how different parts of the country have different issues/concerns.
Our season is December, no insects and cool enough to not worry about hanging them a few days if necessary.

Hey Chief,

Don't let processing prices keep you from managing a deer herd! Like Mike says, it's not that hard... a book or two and go to town.

Sharpen up the knives, bring in a good cross-cut saw and sanitize it, buy $6 worth of freezer paper and go at it!

We've butchered all our own game for a quarter of a century, and wouldn't have it any other way. Admittedly doing an elk and moose take more than one day, but deer are a simple proposition. My son last weekend helped a paraplegic friend of his skin and butcher his deer. It was Alex's first time through entirely by himself without my assistance. He went from an unskinned carcase to cut and wrapped meat in the freezer in something around four hours total! Not too bad for an 18 year old kid's first time solo through it.

Dana, you can too.... go hunting, get a deer and dive in! After you've done it once you'll wonder what all the fuss was about!

Just don't scrimp on packaging... it'll save your meat from freezer-burning! We double wrap in plastic-wrap, then once in freezer-wrap, seal with 1" masking tape then label with a Sharpie marker.

Give it a try!

God bless,

Wish I could just hang it up for a few days. I heard that is how you make the meat very tasty anyway. But here you have to store it in icechests, unless you got a walk-in refrigerator/freezer.

Going to be using a .50 Beowulf, yup, you heard me, going to experiment and see how it effects one. My cousin and I are doing a hunting experiment anyway. We are proving that all these scents and camo is a waste of money, and people that avoid their bait piles/plots like a plague are really messing up. It's the absence of human presence that cause the deer to be jumpy.

We have set us a small spot, with our blind being about 100 feet from the deers bedding area and food plot if thats what ya wanna call it. I call it a lot of grass and weeds I let grow all summer. There are plenty of acorns in there for them too, not to mention a few apples because we have a couple trees around there. We have urinated on everything down there, just to get our scent spread around. For the 1st week and a half, we actually had the deer avoiding us. But now, 3 weeks in, we have several does, one very large, a large 6 point buck and a llarge buck track that we have yet to see what is making it, coming in . They have became oblivous to our scent and our presence. We have deliberatly done everything you're always told not to do, and yet, we have more deer coming around us, than any one else around here. We are doing this with minimal funds involved. Our blind is built out of scrap vinyl siding that we have had left over from jobs we have done. We go walk their trails, stand around in their bedding spots, and just act normal, and its working, like a charm !

The best part of all, we are driving a truck down to within 500 feet of our blind.

My dad got this all started, one year he got out with his 35mm Camera and started walking the deers paths around here. Eventually he got them so used to him that he got some awesome pictures out of it.

I don't know if any of you have ever tried anything like this before, and I'm not trying to offend those of you who use expenive scents, lures and camo from head to toe. This experiment has been a lot of fun, we have had a lot of doubters within our family and friends, but the POOP everywhere, and tracks dont lie. Not to mention, seeing them.

So I just felt like I would share our little adventure, thought some of ya might like to hear it. We're doing for food, as well as to prove a point, but if a trophey buck comes along, you better believe you fellas will be the first ones I show the pics to. :)

Interesting experiment.

I started bow hunting in 1966. There was no camoflauge. There were no scents. There were 2x4's wedged in the fork of a tree to get above ground.
I have peed out of my tree and it never bothered the deer, I've walked to my stand, gotten in it only to look back and see deer walk the same path.
The first "scent" we ever used was vanilla extract, it works. Then we found a big Cedar tree that was full of big cedar berrys that we crushed and rubbed into our pant legs. It seemed to work as well.

Deer get used to anything, but movement scares them more then the other stuff, but you already know that.
I have an old jeep that I hunt out of a lot. I will park on the ranch road and watch them 100 yards away fine, but 75 yards and closer and they get alarmed. I guess that is their sense of survival 100 OK but not 75-
I've got to laugh now when I go to Bass Pro Shop and see all of the variations and patterns of "camo" people use to go sit in an enclosed hunting blind.

I am now a "mature deer hunter"

That means:
I can wear my levi's because they're comfortable, I don't need camo
If a need a grunt call, I just grunt!
The best scent is none at all, shower that morning if possible.
I don't use a big caliber but what I use, I shoot well.
Dead branches without bark, make the same noise as "rattling antlers"
If you are hunting for big bucks only, it doesn't matter if you have a feeder.
Listen to the weather report, it will tell you when to schedule your hunting time
Don't get impatient, the best bucks are usually the last ones to show themselves in the pasture.
It is no disgrace to come home empty handed.

With that, I hope everyone has a good hunting season

Tom

Way to go Tom :D :D