Anyone else having trouble finding Deer

[Guest clutepc]

Anyone else having issues trying to find deer these days.

It's seems shortly after gun season started and then they lowered the water in the lake the deer just not around like they were..

I know they are still using the area by their tracks everywhere but I was seeing 3 to 5 deer just about every time I was in the woods. Now I'm lucky if I see one.

I've tried the mornings and afternoons not much change really, I did see a few doess last week right at sunset but just really not seeing anything.

I'm open to suggestions if anyone has any.

I'm hunting public land and I know it's seen a lot of pressure so I'm sure that has added to problem with the deer staying hidden.

[Guest m&pc9]

Exotic Petting Zoo and Horseback Riding Stables in Sevierville, Tennessee near Dollywood, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

[gregintenn]

If everyone in Tennessee wearing orange was shooting at you, you'd be hard to find as well. Hunt the food sources. I often have good luck hunting midday instead of morning and evening like everyone else.

[Guest Jcochran88]

Yep, but this happens every year. After a lot of hunting pressure deer change to a more nocturnal pattern.

[Guest clutepc]

Yep, but this happens every year. After a lot of hunting pressure deer change to a more nocturnal pattern.

That's kinda what I thought but it never hurts to ask..

I'm going to keep after it and see what comes of it.

Would like to get one more in the freezer before the season it up.

[DaveS]

This weather will start keeping all but the most dedicated hunters out of the woods. I see a few on public land, but usually right at daylight. On our private land, we are still seeing family groups and some nice wiley bucks. We are in the proccess of culling some scrubs and other selected animals for better deer next year. It's hard to hunt by our self set rules right now as you sit in your stand and watch deer after deer move through the area. The public land area is covered in duck hunters...so the deer move there with the quacker action. I was out there in my canoe yesterday and one poor little woodduck flew over and a battery of anti-aircraft fire opened up on him. I left the area due to the steel shot falling into the canoe....morons! But the deer are still there...take everything going on around you and play it all to your favor. As fewer and fewer folks hit the woods...the deer will settle down some. Think "thickets" near food sources.

[Guest KarlS]

There's some good ideas in response to your question clutepc. The deer have to eat and drink sometime and under pressure that sometime is at night. Around here anyway the trail cameras show them coming out anywhere between 11:30 and 1:30! I would also agree with gregintenn that they will try and sneek out during the middle of the day but they stay tight to the thick stuff. You may have to alter a bit. You might try moving back in closer to bedding areas without actually disturbing them there. That's where you may be succesful in the middle of the day. We have a habit of sitting on food sources at dawn and dusk, but once they go nocturnal it may be time to move back into the travel lanes.

I could only dream of having your problems. We up here had the worst season ever. You're down to seeing one deer a day and many I know hunted hard all season and never saw one! Our population in this area had dwindled drastically. I hunted hard all season and saw one deer in beech thickets so thick you had to push your way through.

Good luck! Be persitant. If you know the deer are there by fresh sign it's only a matter of time before you figure out their habits.

[oldogy]

Yep, when the pressure is on think nocturnal and thickets. The doe and fawns are coming into my place during dark hours. I did see what I thought was a buck heading for the pine thicket early Saturday morning, too far for a positive ID.

oldogy

[Guest walkingdeadman]

Throw some corn out and hunt on top of that....i kid, i kid. Seems like thats what happens this time of the year, there is a big article about that in this months issue of deer and deer hunting.

[DaveS]

Went out for a couple hours this morning (private land) during the drizzle and see 4 unidentified deer (white butts) heading through the thickets and "ol gray ghost". Watched that sucka bed down.....dang bow season!

[Guest clutepc]

Went out for a couple hours this morning (private land) during the drizzle and see 4 unidentified deer (white butts) heading through the thickets and "ol gray ghost". Watched that sucka bed down.....dang bow season!

I only bow hunt ,,, let me know if you need some help with the population up there ..lol

[Guest clutepc]

I have to admit I got spoiled the first part of the season getting the 2 great bucks I did harvest.

I'm going to get back in the thick stuff a little more and be a little more patient.

It's good I'm having to work at it, it's all part of my learning and it'll make the season all the better if I do get another.

Thanks for all the help everyone, I'll keep you up to date!

[Guest pig832]

There is a heavy mast this year, so the deer are staying more in protected areas, I hunt a largely lightly wooded area, and have seen about half the deer I normally do, but that was enough!