This conversation gives me hope. As I get older I hunt from the ground more. I've used many of the tactics you talked about. It's a challenge and a thrill to hunt like that. Good luck this season.
Great content as usual guys. I'm not really new to hunting, but I have never been a really serious deer hunter. I was always 'head out opening weekend of gun season, and shoot whatever presented a shot for a 12ga. slug', meat in the freezer. In the last few years I have been reduced to hunting all public land, as all my old farmer friends have passed away or sold off their places. I have never done much E-scouting until this year. I applied for Indiana's state park reduction hunts this year and got drawn for 2 days before firearm season, and 2 days towards the end of firearm season so it is duringour rut. I always joked about only needing a Twinkie and a baseball bat for those hunts, but now being faced with the opportunity I want to make the most of it, and go in as prepared as possible. More than a third of this park is a big lake right in the center, the rest is low hills running down to the water where they flooded the valleys 90 years ago, to form the lake. The whole place is covered in oaks of all varieties. I got to take an hour yesterday to look around and t he ground is literally covered in acorns. I have limited mobility so long distance walking isn't an option. What can I look for on a satellite or topo maps to help narrow down my boots on the ground scouting ?
On public land, I look for farm fields that are very close to it and try catch deer moving to or from that field. If there isnt any of those I'll cruise a creek bottom and look for where deer are crossing with rubs around and setup on that area. Hope that helps. Just two ways I hunt an area I've never been to before, and never put out trail cameras in. But I can EScout those spots/ creek bottoms and be out there before first light without having ever gone there before. Sit for the morning, walk around very little to scout for an evening sit. On public land a good back pack, a comfortable seat pad, and the mentally that you are gonna be out there all day has been the most productive for me.
The first buck I ever shot with a bow was because of Zach. I saw a video where he was ground hunting, rattled, and was thrashing around in the leafs. Well I did the same , and the deer got up from it's bed and about a minute later I got him at 12 yards. It was my first, biggest, and closest buck. It's definitely going to be a really hard hunt to top.
@@n22186 You may have found out by now, but he has a 5r55 trans that come in a lot of ford cars and explorers. This is a common problem with this particular transmission. Since you said you have a truck, I'm guessing you have an actual pickup truck which wouldn't have that transmission in it. Your problem may be related to a solenoid pack though. Find out which transmission you have and search the net and you will probably find a solution for yours.