Keen to hear your strategies.

[Tom102938]

Evening all.

So I have recently joined a synidcate and been out twice now. First outing wasn't really a stalk, more of a check zero on sight and have a pot luck walk with the thermal and rifle in case anything was around.

Today I have been up and spotted quite a lot in the early hours of the morning with the thermal, but by daylight they had all gone. I did stalk into around 50-80m of two roes and was ready to pull the trigger when the dreaded dog appears out of no where and spooks them off. I would say this land is quite sizeable at 2500 acres. Good mix of open land and wooded land, great hight seats etc. Its not a case of just a plain 2500 acres, there's quite a lot of housing and farm land with cattle/horses out etc so I have to be aware at all times. And it has me thinking I should really have a plan of action to attack it, instead of just rocking up and driving around trying to spot them with the thermal.

What I am wondering is how you guys go about a new piece of land. What's your plan of attack?

Thanks

Tom

 

[long_range_rob]

Sandwiches, thermos, map and good boots. Walk every inch, confirm boundaries, topology and runs/damage/access. Time on reconnaissance is never wasted

 

[Tom102938]

Sandwiches, thermos, map and good boots. Walk every inch, confirm boundaries, topology and runs/damage/access. Time on reconnaissance is never wasted

I have just managed to map the full boundary on an app so I will have that with me at all times.

I will plan a day where I can get out and cover it all.

 

[Hunter 6.5]

Well said, and once you have done all of the above you'll have already your strategy build up

 

[Apthorpe]

Sandwiches, thermos, map and good boots. Walk every inch, confirm boundaries, topology and runs/damage/access. Time on reconnaissance is never wasted

I'd only add that sitting still for a couple of hrs at a time at vantange points is as valuable as walking around.

 

[long_range_rob]

I have just managed to map the full boundary on an app so I will have that with me at all times.

I will plan a day where I can get out and cover it all.

I’m getting old but I much prefer a map. Batteries never run out and easier to annotate with a pencil than an iPhone.

 

[Ruby Tuesday 2]

How do the other syndicate members cover it?

 

[Apthorpe]

I’m getting old but I much prefer a map. Batteries never run out and easier to annotate with a pencil than an iPhone.

A better idea, because one is much less likely to potter around with your face in a map than a screen.

 

[Tom102938]

A better idea, because one is much less likely to potter around with your face in a map than a screen.

My screen doesn't give any light so I'm good with this one. I have a screen cover that blocks it.

 

[Tom102938]

How do the other syndicate members cover it?

Unsure. I haven't spoken to any others.

 

[Apthorpe]

It occurred to me that you might not be getting many helpful replies with good strategies, because most of us don't really have one. I do what is expedient and rely on gut feelings to decide where the deer will be. Sometimes my gut is plain wrong, but it is more often right when you are going out for the joy of the outdoors, rather than expecting to bag anything. That said, there are areas where I can never get a safe shot, so not much point spending time there.

 

[gelert]

Wind direction for me is the only thing I use to make a plan on my ground, and this past weekend the moon phase being important to understand their feeding habits and cycles. Finding the areas where they're either coming out of to feed, or generally mooching about is key, and this only comes with time spent watching and walking about. I find roe to be creatures of habit, so more than likely if you see deer in a certain spot, they'll most likely be there the following day. Making a note on your map of where you're seeing deer also helps, and productive times they're being shot. Trail cams might be a good idea too and a good thermal about when it's really dark and no walkers around.

 

[Tom102938]

Well I managed to get the first deer of my syndicate today.

About 80m through the heart.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

On a large piece of ground it can take years to get to know it. The advice above is all good.
Good luck.
JCS