Tactics for pine thickets?

[schunter1128]

Looking for recommendations on hunting a 10 year old pine plantation that has not been thinned. Apprx 150 acres with a creek running through the middle. The pines/briars/brush run all the way up to the creek edge. Only a few hardwoods (willow oaks) were spared by the loggers. There are 2 roads that each run straight for apprx 150 yds with multiple deer trails crossing each so a blind on each road is an option. Thanks for your feedback!

[SHOOTALL]

dogs

[schunter1128]

Dogs are not legal in this county.

[SHOOTALL]

can you man drive it then ?

[SHOOTALL]

if not then i would try a ground blind placed close to as many paths as possible that lay between where they feed and rest . a second one where they water .

[schunter1128]

The owner only wants one person hunting the property so I am looking for stand hunting tactic suggestions. I plan on building a ground blind on one of the roads out of the loggers left overs. Hopefully I will find a spot or 2 along the creek that is open enough to hunt. Thanks for your feedback!

[SHOOTALL]

can you plant food ?

[buck460XVR]

Sounds like you have started a plan for placing stands. I would wade the creek and still hunt when I got tired of sittin' on stand. Maybe even carry a slingshot to flush em outta their beds for a shot as they crossed the creek. Deer tend to not suspect danger coming from water. On really windy/nasty/ stormy days I would still hunt thru the thick of it.

[SHOOTALL]

scent works also , if it has not been over used .
good luck , where are you hunting ?

[rickt300]

put up a feeder.

[schunter1128]

This property is in Fairfield county SC. Baiting is illegal in this county so a feeder is out. I will be trying to plant the roads with wheat/rye in Sept. Thanks for the feedback.

[SHOOTALL]

I have the most luck with clover

[rickt300]

For a quick plant to grow radishes are great, deer love the green tops and you will get them fast.  My thick planted pine deer hunting is in east Texas.  Watching trails I saw a lot of deer but never long enough to get much of a shot unless I had something in my shooting lane that interested them.  Buck urine worked as well as anything to stop them for a shot.

[charles p]

Ground blind with a couple of Montana Decoys.  Put your blind just past a curve in the path and on the inside edge of the curve.  This is so you can approach without being seen.  Clear a short cut off path through the woods that will allow you to ease into your blind without disturbing any deer that may be lingering in your path.  A few buckets of acorns down the path might draw in a deer.

[rickt300]

I have used pecans to hold deer also.  What is "bait" defined as in SC?

[schunter1128]

Thanks for your suggestions fellas! I'll try planting some wheat/rye mid September. May try scent as well. Any suggestions on scent brands? The last scent I tried was Tinks and saw several does act very uneasy around it.

“Bait” or “baiting” means the placing, depositing, exposing, distributing, or scattering of shelled, shucked, or
unshucked corn, wheat, or other grain or other food stuffs to constitute an attraction, lure, or enticement to, on, or over any area.

[deerdhunter]

I would place a tripod stand on the road or a ladder stand if possible - grunt call often and watch for the deer to cross or stick their head out.

[High Brass]

I can almost guarantee that the deer are crossing that creek somewhere, probably in more than one place.   Walk the creek as much as possible and find the easiest place to cross and likely it'll be littered with tracks.  Deer in many ways are like us, they'll take the path of least resistance.  I don't know about willow oaks but if they drop acorns, you can figure when they're dropping the deer will be hitting them up hard.  Look for travel routes to the oaks and find a few stand/blind locations around the oaks.   Look closely for other food sources that will likely be around the creek.  Deer will find something (darn near anything) to eat before and after a mast crop hits.  Good luck.