How Do You Hunt Deer?

[Lon371]

  How Do You Hunt Deer?

  Do you use a climber stand, permanent stand, ladder stand(portable) ground blind, use buddies in a drive or just lean on a tree.

  I have tried them all, even have a pair of the old pole climbing spikes, that attach to your boots. Now days, I use permanent stands 3'x3' to 4'x8'(favorite). Also use a couple ladder stands. For bad weather, I hug a tree or use an old shed at one of the sites.
 I have used climbers. They were ok, fairly easy to use. But I started taking kids on hunts, climbers went by the way side. Also just never got real comfortable(read-couldn't sleep ). First couple times using climbers, I had a habit of getting a lot higher than planned(in the dark) When daylight hit, I got a little nervous.

  I will occasionally do the walk and shoot. I just have to be really careful around here, to many hunters don't know or care what the noise is, or where the boundaries are.

  I do have a ground blind. It folds up in a pack, looks similar to a dome tint. Have used it a few times. I hunt near a couple hills. So I like to watch up, well the windows are not high enough to see up the top. Is ok if you are trying to avoid frigid winds on fairly flat ground.

  If I were handicapped, they have a neat blind out that goes over your 4 wheeler. Very slick. It attaches to your 4 wheeler and folds down around it.

 Knowing Dinny"s background, he is probably going with full camo (face and hands) Grass in his hair, and sleeves. Low crawling from one end of the property to the other

So what is your preference?

Lonny

[Dinny]

  Knowing Dinny"s background, he is probably going with full camo (face and hands) Grass in his hair, and sleeves. Low crawling from one end of the property to the other
Lonny

Lonny,
  I have had some of those days. (not any more, now I'm a p.o.g. medic, not infantry) Years ago when I was younger, I would use camo paint on my skin.  Last year I climbed down and out of my tree just to find a mature buck 100yds away in the adjacent field.  He was facing me but did not appear to be startled.  I low-crawled to a place where I could get a shot and he was drawn away by a hot doe before I could get into position. 
   Usually I hunt from a Summit Viper Climbing tree stand.  I too get higher in the dark, but I like it.  To me, there's nothing more frustrating than getting all set up just to find I'm 6 ft off the ground.  Been there done that. Not anymore though.  I try to inconspicuously mark my trail with a few reflective push-pins and can always identify my tree by having 3 push-pins in it.  I have tried using the same tree, but it got blown over last year with all the windstorms that came through.
   I also have 2-3 small ground blinds.  I try to hunt, at least once, every year with my mother.  She doesn't like heights. Years past we built a small hide behind a blow-down tree and she would sit on a milk crate.  That got old for her real fast and we will use the blinds this year with a much more comfortable chair inside. My dad has finally expressed some interest in deer hunting this year. I think I will place the 2 blinds right next to each other and they will be able to hunt together. Mom will show dad how it's done.
    When I was stationed in Germany, I hunted from high-seats and ladder stands that were all homemade and well constructed.  If I had a place to erect one, I would.  They are a real pleasure to hunt from with windows, doors, and a comfortable chair and/or bed. Camo clothing isn't necessary inside a high-seat and one can even bring a wool blanket to wrap up in when the mercury drops.

Are drive-hunts legal in IN??

Be safe out there however you decide to hunt.

Thanks, Dinny

[Graybeard]

These days due to health concerns I mostly don't. I began hunting on the ground hunting them just as I did squirrels and it still is my most preferred method but these days the old body just isn't up to the hill climbing or long drags to get them back to the truck like I used to.

Not long after I took up bow hunting them I took to the trees first with a Baker Board, wow what a lousy excuse for a tree stand. I've used climbing stands, loc ons and ladders all. In '88 I got permission on some private land and began building my own stands mostly 4'x4' or 4'x6' and used them until I mostly stopped hunting. My last hunt from one I came so close to falling to the ground backward from it on the way down that I've not even considered going above ground level since. I had already stopped using climbing stands and loc ons for that reason long ago.

So now I'm again back to the ground for what little hunting I do but I can't walk very far and likely couldn't drag one back if I shot one so am not really trying to kill a deer if/when I go. I love being out there in the woods but the desire to kill a deer just isn't in me any longer. I should just go back to squirrel hunting I guess I'm pretty sure I could still drag one or two of them out. 

[theoldarcher]

Graybeard, I remember the old Baker days--I, too, was a member of the 'red chest tree grabbing' fraternity!  Some of the youngster just don't realize how much fun they missed out on, do they??      

My equipment has gotten better as the industry has matured.  I now hunt out of four of five ladder stands, about the same number of hang on stands using climbing sticks for access (stopped the screw in steps a few years ago when I discovered i was getting older     ).  I place them on trails coming out of the swamps that lead to crop fields up here where I now live and hunt in MI.  Most of my bow shots from these stands are between 5 yards and 20 at the most.  Once up, I rarely change one because I have enough to take advantage of wind direction. 

Another concession to getting older is my elevated pop-up blind.  Last year I bought the 7' steel platform that has a pop-up blind that mounts on the platform to use opening day of gun season.  For the last number of years opening day in my neck of the MI woods has been absolutely awful weather-wise.  I finally got tired of sitting on the side of a tree under one of the tree umbrellas trying to buck strong winds and blowins rain/sleet/snow combinations.  Last November 15th, in just such weather, I was warm and toasty in my pent house!     When a buck came down the hill toward the swamp, it became broadside at about 15 yards (a chip shot with the bow, but...), so I shot it in the neck with my .12 Ga. I hated to get out in the weather to attend to him!

When I head to southern IN to hunt with my brother for black powder season opener, I take a ladder stand that packs together fairly compactly and fits in the back of my Jeep Liberty.  I usually have 'my hillside' where I set it up in a larger cedar tree overlooking several trails.  I have a climber I take if we will be hunting someone else's property with which I am not familiar.

Hey Lonny and Dinny--hope to see you two in December!

Arch

[Flatlander.54]

 Like most, I too have hunted just about every concievable way throughout the years. But, now when it comes to archery hunting, I use an old Loc-on stand.
 When gun season opens I almost always hunt from the ground. I use one of those blinds that is basically just a bunch of extendable stakes with a fabric front. I really like it because its highly mobile, can be set up in a minute, and gives very good concealment. Mine is long enough I can wrap it completely around me and still have lots of room inside.

[schoolmaster]

I usually just take a fold up chair and find a spot in a blow down or in some brush or with a tree behind me to break up my outline. I don't hunt elevated any more and have learned to sit real still. My biggest buck which scored 165+ was shot from the ground. I also have a shooting house when hunting on my inlaws. My youngest son built it for me prefab style and we hauled it down there on my pickup and assembled the roof, 4 sides, floor and installed the doors and windows in the field. Comes in pretty handy when hunting with the grandkids and in bad weather. 

[kynardsj]

You guys stirred up some painful memories talking about Baker tree climbing stands. When I was much younger I thought they were really nice but I would hate for my old fat a** to have to use one now. The hunting club I was in had nice shoot houses with comfortable chairs in them looking out over shooting lanes and greenfields. Club got sold out from under us so now I hunt from ladder stands and also my Old Man climber. Both are comfortable. I recently bought one of the portable ground blinds that is built around a folding chair. Light weight really nice toy. Like a little shoot house you take with you. Great for rainy days if the wind is in your favor.

[Lon371]

 graybeard;

I love being out there in the woods but the desire to kill a deer just isn't in me any longer. I should just go back to squirrel hunting I guess I'm pretty sure I could still drag one or two of them out.

[/b] 

 Going out and setting in the woods is one of my favorite sports(shooting or not) Gives me time away from the rat race of normal life

theoldarcher;

I, too, was a member of the 'red chest tree grabbing' fraternity!

[/b]

 Reminds me of a stand STILL 15' up on a neighbors property. I built a climber with a top climber and platform. Well the top part is still out there. The platform and I decided to slide down the tree, like a fireman . Every time i see it up there, I rub my chest and keep walking LOL. I believe I still have one of the old Baker platforms(it don't get used anymore)

Dinny, not sure about the deer drive. I will check into it.

Lonny

[woodsie57]

Usually use an old lawn chair,parked on a flat spot on a hillside where there's decent visibility [not too much underbrush]. I bring some camo mesh along,to give some concealment. Mostly hunt morgan-monroe S.F., pretty hilly area. I have a climber stand, dont usually use it, partly because I dont feel comfy in it,and I dont want to carry it around. A 12 ga. w/ slugs, nothing fancy; origionally used an old Hopkins @ Allen single shot, added a rear sight from a BB gun, held on with a hose clamp.Works great, still use it. But now I have a msbrg. 500, rifled, w/scope. Better with the old eyes. I have carried my .44 redhawk a few times, but,I can hit better a little further away with the shotgun,so It's usually first choice. Also admit to sipping from a flask of antifreeze and enjoying a smoke now and then;I don't expect to see a deer downwind anyway, so ,whats the difference. Use a doe bleat now and then, It amuses me, and doesn't seem to do any harm. Same with scent products-dragging a sponge soaked in deer urine though the woods on a string probably does no harm that I can see, but I think success is more a matter of "right place, right time" than any modern gadgets.

[teddy12b]

I take my father in law out hunting with me.  He has bad knees and isn't too agile.  We setup pop-up ground blinds and toss a lawn chair in it.  It's a light, cheap and a simple setup that works.  We set them up last weekend so the deer will have one month of seeing them to get used to the blinds being there before we start hunting out of them.  I really like the ground blinds just because it keeps some of the rain & wind off of you if it starts to get nasty..... like it did last year.

[Lon371]

 Teddy12b

  Congrats on taking your father in law out with you and help him get set up.. I wonder just how many old timers gave up hunting, because they didnt have a good pardner to help.

  I read a post recently where some guys have all but gave up hunting, because of health issues. I think that is a shame, but I understand it being hard on them.

  As far as the pop up blind and lawn chair. I can really catch up on my sleep that way ;]

Lonny

[bigvarmnt]

I never thought about it but I guess sleeping and deer hunting do go together. Several years ago I sat up against a BIG old tree. All the sudden there was a guy standing in front of me jumpin up and down yellin "Did you see em? Did you see um?" I says SEE WHAT! He says all them deer ran right past you. All I saw was the back of my eye lids.
Last deer I shot: I saw several right before season and put my loaded M.L. by the patio door. The whole season passed and none came by. I was sleeping in my recliner in the basement and my wife yells down Deer out back! I woke up and there was about 15 mins legal time on last day. I groaned and climbed up the stairs. Saw a big doe at 100yds, grabbed the smokepole and stepped out on the patio. She started walking away and as it was late I didn't want to have to track her so I decided to wait till next year and headed towards the door. I turned to look and she was coming towards me and turned broadside, I pulled up and shot. she piled up about 20 yds. Now That's Huntin!
I have a ladder stand up this year and hope I DON'T (FALL) asleep in that.    

[Lon371]

 Bigvarmint

 Now that is Almost cheating Bet that was the best tasting deer ever though

 I have platforms that i use mostly. 2 have folding chairs and short walls. A fellar can get real comfortable in them

Lonny

[bigvarmnt]

Lonny, I'd like to see a picture of your platforms. I want to build some sides on my stand. I'd like to be a little more IN something.
Wasn't my proudest most worked for deer. But I got a taste of some good jerky and snack sticks. I got away from deer hunting for several years. They are thick here. I planted several trees a couple of years ago and the bucks like to fight with them and have almost ruined them all. I watched 7 bucks wandering around in my yard a couple months ago.
A neighbor said that another neighbor got some kind of permit that allows him to take a large amount of deer. I'm not sure he knows what he's talking about. I guess they are eating too much of his crops.
Anyone know what he's talking about and how many this guy can take? Seemed like way too many. 

[teddy12b]

Congrats on taking your father in law out with you and help him get set up.. I wonder just how many old timers gave up hunting, because they didnt have a good pardner to help.

The thing with my father in law is kind of a special thing for us.  Growing up my dad never hunted with me and was always working.  My father in law had three daughters so that wasn't a part of his life that he got to develop as much as he would have liked.  He's not a bigtime hunter, but he'll go.  Neither of us are as experienced as many here are, but we enjoy it and try.

As far as the pop up blind and lawn chair. I can really catch up on my sleep that way ;]

Believe me when I say I love to catch a few zzzz's when I go deer hunting.  Hunting is time to relax and think about the important things in life and relax.  I always say some kind of a prayer when I start any day hunting and say that if a deer walks by while I'm awake then it's fair game, but if one goes on by while I was napping, then it wasn't meant to be and I won't have any hard feelings about it.  I really feel bad for the guys who get all worked up about hunting and forget to take a relaxing nap. 

[Lon371]

Lonny, I'd like to see a picture of your platforms. I want to build some sides on my stand. I'd like to be a little more IN something.
Wasn't my proudest most worked for deer. But I got a taste of some good jerky and snack sticks. I got away from deer hunting for several years. They are thick here. I planted several trees a couple of years ago and the bucks like to fight with them and have almost ruined them all. I watched 7 bucks wandering around in my yard a couple months ago.
A neighbor said that another neighbor got some kind of permit that allows him to take a large amount of deer. I'm not sure he knows what he's talking about. I guess they are eating too much of his crops.
Anyone know what he's talking about and how many this guy can take? Seemed like way too many. 

I am going out today if I get time, I will get some picts.

as far as the permits, I think land owners who use their property to make money need nothing(permits) to harvest deer or varmints doing crop damage. I will check.

Teddy 

He's not a bigtime hunter, but he'll go.  Neither of us are as experienced as many here are, but we enjoy it and try

I am not a big time hunter. But I am experienced in enjoying and trying

Lonny

 

[Lon371]

bigvarmnt
  Below is an excerpt from Indiana DNR site, here is the link also.

http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/2378.htm


Hunting

You must have and carry a valid license and applicable state stamps to hunt any wild animal, with exceptions as follows

Residents or non-residents participating in a field trial sanctioned by the DNR director.
Landowners, or lessees of farmland who farm that land and are residents of Indiana, their spouses and children living with them, while hunting, fishing or trapping on the land they own or lease.
Residents of Indiana engaged in full-time military service and who are carrying their leave orders and a valid Indiana driver’s license or Indiana voter registration card.
Non-resident military personnel on active duty and stationed within Indiana may hunt or fish with a resident license.
An individual who is less than 13 years of age; does not possess a bow or firearm; and is accompanied by an individual who is at least 18 years of age and holds a valid license.

Here is a little from page 3 of the hunting guide.

License Exemptions
The following are exempt from license
requirements:
 Residents or non-residents participating
in a field trial licensed by the DNR.
 Landowners or lessees of farmland
who farm that land and are residents of
Indiana, their spouses and children living
with them, while hunting, fishing or trapping
on the land they own or lease. This
exemption does not apply to land owned
by a business, corporation or partnership
unless the shareholders, partners, members
or owners are comprised solely of
the members of an immediate family and
farm that land. Farmland means agricultural
land that is devoted or best adaptable
for the production of crops, fruits,
timber or the raising of livestock, or is
assessed as agricultural land for property
tax purposes.

Just a side note. My wife checks deer at the general store next to the house(Mauks General Store, Washington County). She said DNR does NOT supply any paper work or guide lines to who is required what type of license. Now that just dont make sense 

  I think they left out some of the details in the hunting guide. Under the deer section there are no specifics to land owners. I am pretty sure no deer permits are required. You just have to fill a piece of notebook paper, the details of the kill(like on a tag) and check in at the local check station.

Lonny

[bigvarmnt]

Lonny, I have the regs. The neighbor I talked to said something like 25 deer. The one that owns the land doesn't hunt ?? but lets some others. I was told about this and as I said I'm not sure this guy knows what he's talking about. Then a few days later he stopped by on his 4-wheeler and said he rode it on this guys property and now the guy said he don't want him riding it on there any more. That he was messing up the deer killing. He used to be OK with it. I asked what he was killing them with and he said 30-30 I guess. I think that's illegal and was before archery season. Just wondered if they came up with some extermination permit I hadn't heard of. I'm beginning to think it may be a case of sour grapes. I think maybe they are not getting along with each other. Most everyone around here doesn't know what the word neighbor means anymore. I try to steer clear of most all of them.

[Lon371]

 Evedently there are some sort of special permits. Here is an excert from http://www.btny.purdue.edu/PPP/newitem8.pdf

c. Indiana Department of Natural Reassures: Contact your IDNR
District Wildlife Biologist
1. A Goose Permit (goose roundup, nest destruction) authorizes the
holder to destroy the eggs of Canada geese, or to round up
flightless Canada geese.
Requirements
(continued)
2. A Deer Control Permit authorizes the holder (up to 5 people) to
take white-tailed deer out-of-season due to severe property
damage or a safety hazard. The number of deer (1-10) and the
method of taking are described on the permit.
3. A Special Purpose Control Permit authorizes the holder to take a
state endangered species on a case-by-case basis. The permit
is approved by the District Biologist with final authorization from
the Indianapolis Office.
4. A Nuisance Wild Animal Control Permit authorizes the holder to
take a mammal (game or nongame that is causing property
damage or posing a safety hazard. Approved by the IDNR
District Biologist or the IDNR Law Enforcement office with final
authorization from the Indianapolis Office.
5. A Salvage Permit authorizes the holder to collect

There a load of web sites on the subject. But this one looked like the only one talking about land owners. I will try to find some more. I have heard of special permits as you stated, but I dont know where it was from, or if it was hear say. I will try to find out more.

Lonny

[bigvarmnt]

Sounds like #2 on that list may be what he is talking about.

[Lon371]

Bigvarmint
Here is a few picts of my hiding place during deer season

[Lon371]

Another. Walls are 2 feet high. Appears I have lost my piece that covers the ladder hole. also had a piece for the end. Hmm need to do a little miner work. Platform is 14 feet up. 4x8 when i cover the ladder hole. The 2 legs away from the tree are treated 4x4's bolted. Floor frame is treated 2x4's.  The shed in the background is my bad weather hangout. The distance to the field from stand is 35 yards. From the stand to the far side of the field is 85 yards. This stand has seen several deer climb in my truck. The one in my avatar was taken to the left looking at the field.
Lonny

[bigvarmnt]

Thanks Lonny, The only pic my old puter with dial up would open was standcreek Download file box came up and then said it couldn't open or couldn't find. Don't remember that box for any other pics on here. I kept trying and it kicked me off. >:(I hate it as much as it hates me. I will try again later.

[bigvarmnt]

Was just watching Buck McNeely hunting deer in Alabama out of a stand house that looked like it was made of plastic like the new outhouses. I may go to a construction site and take one and hang it on a tree. Already has a seat in it.
I might have to take your skunk hide in there with me as a cover scent.

[Lon371]

Bigvarmint

Was just watching Buck McNeely hunting deer in Alabama out of a stand house that looked like it was made of plastic like the new outhouses. I may go to a construction site and take one and hang it on a tree. Already has a seat in it.
I might have to take your skunk hide in there with me as a cover scent.   

 I have seen those outhouses. They would be nice if you had a safe place to put one. Around here it would disappear quick!  Now if you hung one of the construction type, it might last a few days Would definitely need that hat.

Pictures, I may have to delete them, and try again. I see the thumbnails, but I can not open them either. I am also on dial up.
Lonny