| Funnels and Honey Holes | | Print | |
| Written by Mark Crescenzo, NJ-Hunter.com Staff Writer |
| Monday, 01 January 2007 00:00 |
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When it comes to finding big bucks here in New Jersey there are several different camps of thought. Many would tell you to look for big pieces of land, with large tracts of rich, fertile soil. Such land is found on many of the private farms of Hunterdon County and the large open spaces of Western Monmouth and Mercer County. These areas are certainly good spots to scout and very often do yield large bucks. All the ingredients are there; food, cover, water and fertile soil rich in minerals for good antler growth. These are the textbook places to find big bucks. Unfortunately, many hunters go to these places to find these deer and pressure is high and the largest bucks often are forced into strictly nocturnal movement. Every so often a whopper does fall to an experienced hunter who puts his time in and his efforts are rewarded. This is not the only way to kill a really nice deer however, and surprisingly many hunters, myself included, drive past much smaller areas holding large bucks only to sit in the perfect spot, in the perfect county, under ideal conditions, suffering disappointment time and time again. I had the pleasure this year of spending some time with a very successful big buck hunter and you would be surprised as to what makes this hunter successful year after year. After bowhunting for over twenty years I've settled into a pattern of setting up several stands, having exclusive private tracts of land to hunt in Monmouth and Hunterdon County and basically settling into one of my pre-set stand locations depending on wind and time of day. I've been relatively successful and last year killed two ten pointers with the bow and a seven pointer on opening day with the shotgun. I documented one of the hunts in an article entitled "Never too late for rutting tactics" which gave me the entre to the NJ Hunter website. Key word here is, "relatively" successful. Being a competitive person, as most of us bow hunters are, we always seem to want bigger, more impressive deer year after year. People often ask me, if I ever?harvested a massive deer that scored over 170, would that be "the one",?the deer that would make me put the bow down forever We all know the answer to that question hence the reason for writing this article. My hunting method probably sounds familiar to many of you ?relatively? successful bowhunters. It should, I think it covers most of us who have been enjoying all this sport has to offer for so many years. Plus, it?s a rather comfortable way to enjoy the hunt. Well think again. There are a few bow hunters out there who operate ?out of the box? when it comes to pursuing monster whitetails. Here?s what my new friend John Coger does and how he does it. This method has worked extremely well for him and if you adopt even a few of these secrets, your "big buck" success rate will improve. Look for funnels that may hold deer. Funnels connect two larger tracts of woods or fields and force deer movement through a particular area. If there are big bucks in an area, they are forced to move through these funnels. Scout them not only during the early season but look for big buck sign in November. Large rubs, scrapes and other big buck sign become very evident in November. Don't give up on new spots just because the season is half over. Funnels can be found in small areas and don't ignore what might seem like a ridiculous place to scout deer. John has killed large bucks in places that I've driven past a hundred times, that I never even considered to scout. Honey holes are the key. A honey hole is a small piece of woods, a swamp or hedgerow that holds big deer. They can be as small as a hundred yards by fifty yards. These spots consistently hold big bucks because their needs are met here. They feel safe, they have several exit routes and go relatively undisturbed. In addition, food and water are close. These areas can't be scouted too heavily as the buck?s safety factor will be compromised. These areas should be checked once before the season then once or twice in November. You should have several of these areas on your list. If the big bucks are there, their presence will be evident in November through sign. Don't hunt a honey hole in an effort to scout it and remember, these are small areas, use proper scent control and judge the wind direction properly. Move around often. . Though I love to hunt particular stands which are already set up dont give up mobility. Mobility is key to finding and harvesting big bucks. If you set up a stand in a perfect funnel or honey hole, but the sign isnt there in November, chances are this is not a spot to commit to. Be prepared to pack up and move to a place with better sign. Dont give up the absurd (but stay legal). Lastly, to hunt out of the ordinary you have to do unordinary things. Knocking on doors or asking permission is a must. If you see a small plot of land with a funnel or if looks like that perfect honey hole, request permission and do some scouting. Hunting close to a barn or house is not out of the question if you have permission. Hunting behind a parking lot, between shopping centers, or near cemeteries (remember the 450 foot rule) sounds absurd but not to a big buck. Look for the places that no one in their right mind would think about hunting. Those are the places that yield big bucks. Why not try hunting out of the box this year or next, who knows that 170 class buck might be in your own back yard. Keep them straight and true. |
| Last Updated on Thursday, 22 January 2009 08:31 |
