Camping on hunting ground

[arm]

I own a small Southern Iowa 12 acre tract about 2 hrs from my primary residence. There is a 300 sqft living quarters on the south side of property leaving me about 11 acres of all timber. I'm hoping I wouldn't be disturbing/spooking the deer if i stayed there while hunting in oct/nov. I don't notice much deer activity around the cabin but they definitely use that section from time to time especially when coming in from neighboring property to the south. Any thoughts? There isn't electricity so i'd be running a wood stove for heat.

 

[HorseDoctor]

It's Iowa. Deer are pretty accustomed to at least some human activities and smells compared to some places where deer never have to deal with human presence. I don't think it will change their activity much. During October/November bucks are cruising & looking for love. You won't change that much. You could also stay there a few times prior to then when not hunting to get them a bit more accustomed to your presence. Good luck.

 

[AIRASSAULT]

I have 10 acres with a house and 3 acres of it are my yard. I have about 7 acres of timber and have killed all of these bucks on it with my bow since fall of 2010. I missed a 155" from my front yard last year. I was only standing about 10yds in front of my front door. Nothing seems to bother them during the rut, however, I never see anything decent early season. They'll follow doe's right up to the house.

 

[arm]

Excellent responses guys, I was hoping I'd hear that. So what you're saying is I should just hunt out of my cabin with a warm fire instead of climbing up a cold tree
Thank you!

 

[StickersNKickers]

It's Iowa. Deer are pretty accustomed to at least some human activities and smells compared to some places where deer never have to deal with human presence. I don't think it will change their activity much. During October/November bucks are cruising & looking for love. You won't change that much. You could also stay there a few times prior to then when not hunting to get them a bit more accustomed to your presence. Good luck.

I was going to say something similar. I would also recommend being there more than just hunting season, so they get used to someone coming and going. It's amazing how well they can tell the difference between "normal" activity and "not normal".

I have 10 acres with a house and 3 acres of it are my yard. I have about 7 acres of timber and have killed all of these bucks on it with my bow since fall of 2010. I missed a 155" from my front yard last year. I was only standing about 10yds in front of my front door. Nothing seems to bother them during the rut, however, I never see anything decent early season. They'll follow doe's right up to the house.

Nice! I need some timber in my back yard! My dad gets a lot of deer in his yard too, and they have to cross thru an open hay field to get there. He's seen several nice bucks, but mostly after dark.

Excellent responses guys, I was hoping I'd hear that. So what you're saying is I should just hunt out of my cabin with a warm fire instead of climbing up a cold tree
Thank you!

Cabin...the ultimate in ground blinds. Cut some bow windows in it and you're set. Just don't forget the window in the bathroom!

 

[madplotter]

AIRASSULT...that is awesome. Just proves what many good hunters say year after year, hunt small areas well instead of large areas poorly. Those are some great pics.

Good luck ARM. There is something special about owning your own ground and harvesting game from that farm.

 

[Daver]

Excellent responses guys, I was hoping I'd hear that. So what you're saying is I should just hunt out of my cabin with a warm fire instead of climbing up a cold tree
Thank you!

One of my neighbors shoots very nice deer right out of an abandoned mobile home on his place. He slips out his cabin quietly while it is still dark and walks, oh, about 40 yards from his door and slides into the back side of this old trailer he leaves out just for this purpose. He even has a LazyBoy in the "living room" of the trailer that he sits in until deer get close enough for a shot.

Now that's not the only place he hunts on his farm, but it is a nice, easy and effective one.