Author Topic: Got any advice on a bow spot and stalk in Hoosier National for deer?  (Read 1150 times)

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Offline 8uck5nort

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My brother and I are planning on a weekend bow hunt in the mid to late part of October. We usually hunt our families farm in the Northern part of state and know it well, small woodlots seperated by large flat fields with beans and corn. Have lots of success setting up in travel corridoors in woodlots between fields. However, this is our first time in this territory and what I would call a real forest with no significant agriculture that attract and hold the deer in very predictable areas. So I know we will have to adapt our strategy to a different environment. We will be primarily doing spot and stalk hunting with our bows. Anyone ever do this during this time of year in the HNF? What have you done to be successful? Looking for some strategies or places to start to give us at least a half way decent chance to get us into some deer. I will be happy just see something. If we can manage to get close enuogh to take a ethical shot, that would be a bonus in my book. We will be starting around the Smithville area just south of Bloomington. Appreciate your advice.
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Offline ChrisK

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Re: Got any advice on a bow spot and stalk in Hoosier National for deer?
« Reply #1 on: August 21, 2012, 07:47:50 AM »
It will be pretty hard. Good luck.

Offline Swift One

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Re: Got any advice on a bow spot and stalk in Hoosier National for deer?
« Reply #2 on: August 31, 2012, 06:07:00 AM »
Before I really got into hunting and trapping, I spent alot of time remote camping in the HNF.  That included some serious Solo hiking. There are some giant bucks back up in those hills.  I have always seemed to have luck stumbling across more than my fair share of deer and good bucks when I was quietly walking the bottoms in the morning and afternoons.  They seem to use the same contours of the creek bottoms that a hiker would.  I have on several occasions come a round a hill or big tree in a creek bottom and had deer standing well withing primitive bow range of me.  I have also noticed that the further you get off the beaten path and roads, the more "curious" the deer are of you when you run into one.  What I mean is, they tend to stay around for a few seconds more, before they decide that you are a threat.
 
Now, post shot and dragging it out- be prepared for quite a workout.
It's all a hot mess...........

Offline 8uck5nort

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Re: Got any advice on a bow spot and stalk in Hoosier National for deer?
« Reply #3 on: September 11, 2012, 04:52:31 AM »
Appreciate the info SwiftOne. I have been practicing with a small day backpack and shooting from less than ideal stances to simulate those types of encounters. Sounds like we need to get off the beaten path, get in the valleys and just go slow. Find some game trails and move with wind in our face as much as possible. I guess the rest is up to the deer really.
Cartridges for My Entertainment: .22 S,L,LR, .223 Rem, 7x57, 30-06, 8x57, 357 mag/max, 35 Remington/Indiana, 35 Whelen, 44 mag, 445 SM mag. Adding the 6.5x55 swede!

Offline srussell

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Re: Got any advice on a bow spot and stalk in Hoosier National for deer?
« Reply #4 on: September 11, 2012, 08:43:09 PM »
just were are you looking to hunt. i live in perry county. i could put you in some good woods after that your on your own ;D

Offline bulletstuffer

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Re: Got any advice on a bow spot and stalk in Hoosier National for deer?
« Reply #5 on: September 12, 2012, 03:23:27 AM »
Buy a topo map, call the dnr and ask if they have maps of the hiking trails, hunt the creek bottoms.  I used to hunt there many years ago close to Monroe reservoir.  And yes there are some really big deer there.  I was walking down a ravine one morning and came across a big wet cat track on the limestone.  That will make you feel alive!  Almost stepped on a grouse there too still hunting.  Thought I was going to have the big one ;D   It is a beautiful area.


Good luck,


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Offline 8uck5nort

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Re: Got any advice on a bow spot and stalk in Hoosier National for deer?
« Reply #6 on: September 14, 2012, 06:27:43 AM »
just were are you looking to hunt. i live in perry county. i could put you in some good woods after that your on your own ;D

My brother lives just south of Bloomington so we will be hunting around the lake Monroe area.  Who knows, if we have a good experience out in the northern part of the Hoosier Forest we just might take you up on that semi-guided offer.  :)
 
I am hoping this is kinda like basice training for a public land elk hunt in Colorado one day.
Cartridges for My Entertainment: .22 S,L,LR, .223 Rem, 7x57, 30-06, 8x57, 357 mag/max, 35 Remington/Indiana, 35 Whelen, 44 mag, 445 SM mag. Adding the 6.5x55 swede!

Offline 8uck5nort

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Re: Got any advice on a bow spot and stalk in Hoosier National for deer?
« Reply #7 on: September 14, 2012, 06:34:46 AM »
Buy a topo map, call the dnr and ask if they have maps of the hiking trails, hunt the creek bottoms.   
Almost stepped on a grouse there too still hunting.  Thought I was going to have the big one ;D   
Good luck,
Bulletstuffer

I am looking at getting the topo map and something that shows property boundries.
 
I walked in to covey of quail one time in the dark heading to my stand. I am pretty sure I let out a yelp boardering on a scream, embarressed to say. ;)
 
 
 
Cartridges for My Entertainment: .22 S,L,LR, .223 Rem, 7x57, 30-06, 8x57, 357 mag/max, 35 Remington/Indiana, 35 Whelen, 44 mag, 445 SM mag. Adding the 6.5x55 swede!

Offline 8uck5nort

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Re: Got any advice on a bow spot and stalk in Hoosier National for deer?
« Reply #8 on: October 21, 2012, 01:28:36 PM »
Just got back from my weekend hunting trip. We (My brother and I) ended up in the Fairfax State Rec Area adjacent to the HNF. We saw one deer in a day and half of hunting. That is a tough place to spot/stalk or still hunt this time of year. There were little to no scrapes/rubs nor clearly defined game trails. Lots and Lots of cover still around. Every place "looks" like a great spot for a deer. Problem is there is a ton of them places in there. Beautiful is understatement.
 
I think the next time we try and hunt that this time of year I will hike in with my climber and set up on a trail along a transition zone.
 
Oh well, got a great cardio workout walking up and down the ravines.
 
Good luck everyone.
Cartridges for My Entertainment: .22 S,L,LR, .223 Rem, 7x57, 30-06, 8x57, 357 mag/max, 35 Remington/Indiana, 35 Whelen, 44 mag, 445 SM mag. Adding the 6.5x55 swede!

Offline omegahunter

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Re: Got any advice on a bow spot and stalk in Hoosier National for deer?
« Reply #9 on: October 22, 2012, 01:26:51 AM »
Too bad.  Was hoping to hear that you had ran into a big 'un.