Hunting apple orchards

[obbowhunts]

Any advise for hunting mid sized hill side apple orchards with hay field? We just got permission from the farmer who wants to thin the deer out.

Thanks,


obbowhunts

[airborne]

Lucky you, nobody around my place allows hunters near the orchards. This year none of the wild trees produced fruit. They do everyother year.

Get a blind. If you can let it set up, do so. If not, get the kind that is easy to set up. Deer don't seem to be to nervous around a blind. Try to get one that matches the tree or hay colors. I have three blinds.

You still need to scout to see which way they come in and what time. If it is near dark, you may not be set up in the orchard at all. You may have to move closer to the bedding area.

Good luck

[obbowhunts]

Just set up a ground blind by an incredible accorn crop and then layed in the hay field about fourty yards from the end of the apple orchard. I wasn't there for five minutes (after sunset) when there was a movement coming out from the woods near a ravine/creek bed. This eight pointed walked right across the field right towards the orchard within twenty yards of me. Time to set up the stand. The season opens in two weeks and this deer looked like the rut was starting and very healthy. Any advice on using scents?

Thanks,

OBbowhunts

[airborne]

If the rut has just started, I don't recommend you use a scent yet. There are pre-rut scents you can buy but I am not fond of them. I wait until full rut. Just my opinion.