Maybe I'm nuts, most certainly in the minority, but the woodcock finally started showing up down here. I have a small, private lot to myself and even though deer opened yesterday, I'm indulging myself and my dogs on this too-short-lived bounty.
Other hunters think I'm screwing myself because all of my tromping through the woods will certainly scare the deer away. I disagree - I think that as long as the deer can make your position well ahead of time (dog bells, beeper collars), they will just slowly move out of the way. I think it may even reassure them to occupy an area where they know what's where instead having to be on high alert the whole time. Bear in mind the setting - fairly densely populated, agricultural land separated by strips of 20 - 100 acre woodlots.
Other hunters think I'm screwing myself because all of my tromping through the woods will certainly scare the deer away. I disagree - I think that as long as the deer can make your position well ahead of time (dog bells, beeper collars), they will just slowly move out of the way. I think it may even reassure them to occupy an area where they know what's where instead having to be on high alert the whole time. Bear in mind the setting - fairly densely populated, agricultural land separated by strips of 20 - 100 acre woodlots.
