staying on the move

flatlander51 · May 8, 2012

my plan for this hunt is to stay on the move. im thinking about hikeing in, the first evening and glassing that night and the next morning. then still hunting to the next ridge during midday then glass from there that evening and the following morning. my plan is to do this same process every day. on my first hunt i hiked in set up camp and hunted from there for 5 days and thought i wasted to much time in one place. anyone agree or disagree with my new game plan?

mmwb · May 8, 2012

If the deer are there, stay there and kill one. If not, then move on. The problem with moving daily is that there may be some great bucks that stay under cover thay you don't see right off, that you might see another day. Don't just look for the deer. I would look for large tracks as well: particularly in saddles were they are likely to cross. I tend to be restless and probably would kill more bigger bucks if I would set still for more than a few hours. I do love to see the country though and that is part of what I love about hunting where I do, so it is a fair trade when I spread myself thin.

flatlander51 · May 9, 2012

Thanks for the advice. I am planning on playing the field. If I'm seeing deer I will hang but if I'm seeing hunters or no deer ill stay on the move.

mnmthunting · May 9, 2012

I like staying on the move, cover ground, check out the whole area. This is the stuff I've been doing for 40 years, it works.
Good Plan!

Gator · May 9, 2012

if can use this plan to kind of circle back and check area's that you have seen before and to keep checking if deer have move into those areas,Good areas will have deer in them sooner or later. BECAUSE hunters below will push deer up and away from those roads you will see way down there. Good plan now make it a great plan.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
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Sniper1 · May 9, 2012

I used to think that covering more ground was the key. If I had not seen much of anything after glassing for ten minutes I was up and headin somewhere else. I got me some good optics and decided to get up high in s basin somewhere that over looks alot of country and just sit and glass. I have never seen so many animals. Now I will go where I think animals should be and sit for hours. You will be surprised it only takes a second for a buck or elk of a liftime to stand up or move around a tree enough to where seconds before that you couldnt see him

flatlander51 · May 10, 2012

Thanks for all the help.even though deer numbers are down I still can't wait till September.

HiMtnHntr · May 10, 2012

Depends on the country. Trust your gut. Just because you don't see any deer does not mean there are no deer around. Pay attention to sign that you find and understand the season and habits of the deer. In lots of places during most common seasons, the biggest deer will be less visible. Finding a big set of tracks adjacent to water and cover will be cause for sticking around. Patience and trusting your ability identify good areas is key. If the pressure is on, the big guys will be even harder to find. Predict where they may have moved based on topography and their needs. Many deer won't move far at all, they'll just hole up in some hard to penetrate country until someone steps on them.