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Meadows in the Rocky Mountains are called “parks,” while grassy fields in the West Virginia’s high country are known as “sods.”  The ultimate is the Dolly Sods Wilderness, which reaches over 4,000 feet with Canadian granite-style boulders and tundra-like blogs, creating the highest plateau East of the Mississippi.  The sods are scattered throughout the nearly 1 million acres of the Monongahela National Forest, creating a deer hunt with all the adventure of a backcountry elk camp.

Sunny Skies at Last

The weather on West Virginia’s opener was lousy, yet the hunting was excellent, resulting in a large-bodied 6-point buck on opening day and a mature doe a day later.  Our cabin rental ended on Monday at noon, and I asked a friend, Sam, to take me into the Monongahelia, where he had hunted for much of his life.  With fair weather, we would have hunted the public tract on opening day; however, rain fell on Saturday and Sunday, prompting the use of covered blinds.  With sunny skies predicted for Monday morning, we headed out at first light as much as a scouting trip as a serious hunt.  I had a bear license, so there was a chance of bumping into a bruin in the process.

Where Are the Hunters?

We stayed at the Revelle Campground in Bowden, West Virginia, with the Monongahela National Forest within walking distance.  Less than 10 minutes from our cabin, Sam turned onto an access road into the national forest, and we began winding our way up a gravel track.  This was the opening weekend of the archery season, and I expected to see several pickups parked along the access roads.  We entered the national forest at about 2,000 feet and drove up an additional 1,500 feet, parking at one of the sods that are often rented for cattle pasture during the summer, with the restriction that cattle must be removed by September 1.  During our 10-minute drive, we passed no vehicles and found a Chevy parked by the sods.  While we got our gear organized, a black Toyota passed us, looking like it was carrying hikers or campers.

Parked at a Pair Tree

After walking through a human-stylus gate that allowed people to enter but was too tight for cattle, we entered the sod that was newly fenced and walked toward the nearest timber patch.  After about 10 minutes, I spotted what looked like an apple tree, but turned out to be a pear tree with plenty of fruit on the ground.  Back home, deer and bears love pears, and I was excited to find such a good food source so quickly.  Sam agreed to meet me at the truck in two hours, and he took his custom recurve for a walk and stalk, his favorite form of hunting.

Sit or Scout?

As exciting as the pair tree was, there was no fresh scat and only a few pears eaten.  I sat 35 yards downwind of the tree and waited for an hour, hoping a bear would come to feed.  Since a barbed wire fence bordered the sod, I chose to walk along it and look for fresh sign.  Often, animals travel along a fence until they can find an access point, and at the first corner I came to, I found one.  The new fence would be difficult for some deer to jump over, and bears would likely avoid the barbs.  At the corner, I could see where animals passed under the wire.  Wow, what an ambush point.  If I had an extra day, I’d have spent the afternoon right here.

I had been waiting for months to get back into a treestand to pursue whitetail deer. Throughout the week, I kept an eye on the weather, hoping to get to the lease in Ohio for the opening night of hunting season. My soccer team was scheduled to play a game at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, but it was canceled at the last minute. I decided it would be best to make the hour-long drive to the lease and go hunting. To say I was excited would be an understatement! I loaded up all my gear and headed to the lease, hoping to fill a tag on opening night.

20 Feet Up

I arrived at the lease around 4 PM and dressed appropriately for the weather. It was 80 degrees and overcast, but the temperature was dropping quickly. After getting dressed, I grabbed my gear and stealthily made my way to my stand. Before climbing in, I refreshed the BuckBranch and the mock scrape that the deer had been using. I had a good feeling that the night was going to be an action-packed one.

Settled In

Safety is always a concern when climbing into or out of a treestand. To ensure I remain securely attached to the tree, I use a lifeline and a Treestand Wingman. I settled into my stand, which overlooked a river and a natural funnel. My Darton Sequel 33 hung from a bowholder to my right, and I adjusted my HHA sight to 24 yards.

When a big buck shows up on your cameras, is it better to hunt it in the morning or the afternoon? Dan hunts in the mountains of Western Maryland, where baiting is legal, and he and his family often use apples, planted cereal rye, and corn to keep deer on their property.  Apples are especially effective, since the area once held vast orchards, and deer are used to the soft mast.

Morning Stand Strategies

Dan’s dilemma faces most hunters in the early season when hunting in the morning, especially if you are hunting near a food source.  You not only have to work with wind directions, but your physical presence may spook deer from the area.  Although it may seem counterintuitive, one effective way to approach a backcountry stand is with a UTV, especially if the property frequently experiences vehicle traffic.  Drone studies have shown that deer become alert to the presence of a UTV, and may become alarmed, but soon resume regular activity once it has passed.

The First Morning Attempt

I talked to Dan last Wednesday, and he was frustrated about his morning hunt.  He had to rise at 3:00 am to reach his stand in the mountains and arrived around 6:00 am, well before daylight.  As the morning progressed, two small bucks came to feed, but his larger target buck did not.  Later, he examines his digital images and sees that his target buck was at his stand when he arrived.  The deer was spooked and did not return like the younger bucks.

Baiting Basics

Baiting in Pennsylvania is illegal on the theory that concentrating deer can help spread disease among the herd.  Maryland allows baiting, and hunters use corn, apples, minerals, and other attractants.  Feeding devices are ideal since they dispense a small amount of food in the morning and afternoon, providing a convenient way to administer food. However, in Western Maryland, bear populations are so high that many feeders are destroyed, whether they are on the ground or hung from a tree.  Also, it’s the consensus of our dozens of hunt club members that mature bucks do not feed at sites during the day and are typically seen only at night.  Ear corn is a viable alternative because it lasts longer and is less likely to be consumed quickly by turkeys and raccoons.

Evening Success

Three days after his initial morning set, Dan switched to an afternoon strategy.  He spotted the three bucks still hanging together as they passed by the stand out of range.  “It’s interesting to see what the deer prefer as a food source.  Sometimes, they nibble at the rye; other times, they like the corn, and some like apples.  Just before dark, the big 10-point returned to the apples, and Dan made a lethal shot.

Last week was quite busy as I focused on setting up all my early-season stands. After twelve days without rain, the skies finally opened up and watered my plots. With the season approaching, I’ve noticed that scrape activity is increasing daily. Want to know what kind of action I observed throughout the week? Read on!

View to a Kill

I’m excited about this stand placement because several bucks are consistently visiting the scrape. I quietly approached the area and used my XOP X2 sticks to hang my XOP Vanish Evolution stand. The lightweight X2 sticks and the Vanish Evolution stand are easy to set up and comfortable to use while hunting. The stand is positioned on the inside corner of a bean field that is frequently used by multiple shooter bucks. If any of the shooters come by to investigate the scrape, I will have an open shot of less than 20 yards. My expectations for this spot are high.

Welcome Back TT8

The Tall-Tined 8, or TT8, has been the top buck on this farm since I first spotted him in velvet back in June. I know him well, as I passed him up several times last year. I believed that if he was able to reach 4.5 years old, he would become a truly special buck. I’m pleased that he made it through last season and has returned to the farm again. In the SpyPoint Flex Dark video, you can see him enjoying the beans in the field well before sunset. TT8 seems comfortable coming out to eat beans and visit the mock scrape. I hope he maintains this pattern for another week.

The weather can significantly impact activity at your scrapes. If you’re experiencing unseasonably warm weather, you may notice that scrape activity occurs more frequently after sunset. Conversely, during dry conditions, you might find that scrape activity decreases due to the lack of moisture in the ground. In hot and dry weather, deer tend to be less active at scrapes. 

In Northwest Pennsylvania, we’ve had a dry fall, but temperatures have been below normal. Despite this, I’ve observed a consistent level of deer activity at my scrapes, and I expect it to increase soon.

My Scrape is Not Your Scrape

The young buck in this video came in to work the BuckRope and then bedded down in the scrape. As he was bedded down, other bucks tried to work the scrape, and he wouldn’t let them. I have seen this type of behavior many times before, but it is usually later in the fall during the rut. A well-placed community scrape will attract does that will bed down in the scrape and wait for a buck to come breed them.

Under the Scrape

Young bucks are like adolescent boys; they love pushing each other around to see who’s in charge. After shedding their velvet, young bucks walk around the woods as if they own it, looking for another buck to push around. These two bucks met at the community scrape and decided to have a little tussle. Turn up the volume and listen to the antlers hit each other. The older buck takes a short break to work the licking branch before the younger buck comes at him again. This type of interaction will become more frequent as the deer gear up for the rut.

An early-season doe makes incredible table fare.  As the season begins, most bowhunters have exhausted last year’s venison supply, and harvesting a fat doe in early season makes sense on many levels.  The video, “5 reasons Deer Hunters Should Harvest Does Early,” concludes this post and is very well done.  Before proceeding, I’d like to add a few reasons of my own.

Confidence

Does and fawns are just as wary as a buck, yet they tend to feed and move much more in daylight than early-season bucks.  You have been practicing for months, and making a good shot on a big doe will significantly increase your confidence for later in the year, as well as prove the competence of your gear.  Any deer with a bow and arrow is a trophy of sorts, and if you come up short, it demonstrates how you need to double down on successful tactics.

Venison Excellence

Sam Zircle, shown above, is a good friend and hunting buddy who lives in Central West Virginia and helps me with “game management” when I hunt there.  Since the archery bear and deer seasons open on the same day, Sam was gracious enough to process my big doe while I tried for a bear on the evening hunt.  He skinned and quartered the doe soon after the harvest, and we cooled it with ice in a large cooler.  I was able to bring it home and take it to my favorite butcher, who adds 25% bacon ends to the ground meat, rendering it absolutely delicious.

Here’s the Video

The Corn Moon, also known as the Harvest Moon, occurs in September, signaling that archery season is just around the corner for most hunters. In the past, I would begin creating my mock scrapes around the time of the Harvest Moon, as it seemed that bucks were becoming more active during this period. Bucks would shed their velvet, change their food sources, and establish their social hierarchy. Nowadays, I maintain scrapes year-round, and my main tasks involve hanging new cameras or relocating existing ones deeper into the woods.

Timber Ridge Scrapes

A few days before the Harvest Moon, I started to notice bucks active during the daylight hours, working scrapes in the timber. This community scrape, located on a ridge of the 40-acre farm, experiences plenty of activity from September through December. I observed a buck using his nasal gland to scent-check both the licking branches and the scrape itself. When he interacts with the high-licking branches, he tends to tip his head back, allowing me to see the length of his main beams. Watching this great scrape interaction is truly exciting!

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“JD is so excited,” said his grandfather on the eve of opening day.  “And, I’m even more excited,” he exclaimed, “We’ll meet you at your camp’s clubhouse at 5:30, ready to go.”  That was the plan, but despite the practice, dressing and getting all the gear, including snacks and drinks, arising at 4 am is a challenge for a 10-year-old boy.

To The Stand

Deer parallel a stream just below the clubhouse, and posted along a trail is a two-man ladder stand that is ideal for two people, especially an adult and a youngster.  Only two ladder sections were deployed, resulting in a height of approximately 12 feet.  I drove the duo to the edge of a field and walked them within sight of the stand, waiting until they were settled in.  It was humorous to see JD climb the ladder like a squirrel while Grandad wrestled with a pack containing all the treats for the morning. I snapped the above picture through a window in the foliage as they settled in.  JD had been practicing on a 3-D target with a Barnett Wildcat CRX and had shown the ability to put an arrow precisely in the kill zone.

Ready and Waiting

Grandad, not immune to the excitement, left his cell phone in his vehicle, which meant I had to wait to hear of progress.  I returned to the cabin like an expectant father, hoping for a “delivery.”  I planned to pick them up at 9:00, thinking that two hours in a stand would be about the longest a youngster could wait out; however, at 8:30, the duo showed up at the cabin, choosing to walk back.  Sitting still and quiet had reached its limits.

High Adventure

JD and Grandad heard sticks cracking behind their stand, but didn’t see any deer from the stand.  I needed to replace a battery on a mountain-top camera and asked JD if he was up for a little mountain climbing in my UTV.  A big smile answered that question, and we bumped and bounced along logging roads for the two miles to the top of the hill.  JD rode shotgun in the side-by-side, while Grandad wrangled a bench seat in the back like a bucking bronco.  Nearly there, deer suddenly jumped up all around us, standing and staring at this noisy intruder.  “Step out and shoot,” whispered Grandad, but JD’s rubber boot strap had snared the seat flange, and he couldn’t leave the rig.  He pulled, and I pried, but it would not let go.  Eventually, it broke free, but by that time, the deer were 50 yards away and fleeing.

Hot Mock Scrape

When I replaced the camera battery more than a month ago, I made a mock scrape and was delighted to see that it had been “freshened” recently with no leaves on the open dirt.  I used a large stick and dug deeper in the ground, and then the three of us “natuized” the spot.  What 10-year-old ever dreamed of such a prank?  Supposedly, human urine works the same as that of deer, and the camera will tell the tale.

Labor Day has come and gone, marking an exciting transition as we shift our focus to the eagerly awaited hunting season! Whitetail deer hunters across North America are buzzing with anticipation for the start of archery season. Some lucky hunters are already celebrating filled tags, while others are busily preparing food plots, hanging stands, and refreshing their mock scrapes. With daylight dwindling and temperatures starting to drop, I’ve noticed some increased activity at the scrapes, which is thrilling! On the evening of August 31st, I had the incredible experience of watching six different bucks visit one of my scrapes over a six-and-a-half-hour stretch. I captured all the action with my SpyPoint Flex M camera—it’s a must-see! 

Twilight Action

The BuckRope that I hung in the inside corner of a bean field has been attracting plenty of attention since April. Last week, on the evening of August 31st, the BuckRope was a hotspot. Around 8:30 PM, a group of does arrived and began interacting with the rope. A few minutes later, a young buck walked in, using his forehead and preorbital gland to mark his territory with his unique scent. Still in velvet, the buck wasted no time claiming the scrape after the does had worked it. You can see in the video that he was enthusiastic about using the BuckRope.

#1 Arrives at 10:57 PM

Last week, I introduced you to the top buck on my farm. Since his arrival and rise to the top of my list, he has been visiting the BuckRope scrape more frequently. Two and a half hours after a spike deer worked the scrape, my #1 “Hit List” buck showed up and took over the scrape. This buck really enjoys being in front of the camera and worked the rope multiple times before heading to bed for the night. I’m confident that he will shed his velvet in the next week, and I hope he continues to stay on the farm! However, if he keeps tempting me, I might have to use a Black Eagle Spartan on him.

Labor Day has come and gone, marking an exciting transition as we shift our focus to the eagerly awaited hunting season! Whitetail deer hunters across North America are buzzing with anticipation for the start of archery season. Some lucky hunters are already celebrating filled tags, while others are busily preparing food plots, hanging stands, and refreshing their mock scrapes. With daylight dwindling and temperatures starting to drop, I’ve noticed some increased activity at the scrapes, which is thrilling! On the evening of August 31st, I had the incredible experience of watching six different bucks visit one of my scrapes over a six-and-a-half-hour stretch. I captured all the action with my SpyPoint Flex M camera—it’s a must-see! 

Twilight Action

The BuckRope that I hung in the inside corner of a bean field has been attracting plenty of attention since April. Last week, on the evening of August 31st, the BuckRope was a hotspot. Around 8:30 PM, a group of does arrived and began interacting with the rope. A few minutes later, a young buck walked in, using his forehead and preorbital gland to mark his territory with his unique scent. Still in velvet, the buck wasted no time claiming the scrape after the does had worked it. You can see in the video that he was enthusiastic about using the BuckRope.

#1 Arrives at 10:57 PM

Last week, I introduced you to the top buck on my farm. Since his arrival and rise to the top of my list, he has been visiting the BuckRope scrape more frequently. Two and a half hours after a spike deer worked the scrape, my #1 “Hit List” buck showed up and took over the scrape. This buck really enjoys being in front of the camera and worked the rope multiple times before heading to bed for the night. I’m confident that he will shed his velvet in the next week, and I hope he continues to stay on the farm! However, if he keeps tempting me, I might have to use a Black Eagle Spartan on him.