food sources aug/sept on the shore

[eshoremd]

what are the main food sources for deer on the shore late aug early sept?

[ncboman]

I'd be looking at the corners where beans and corn butt together with woods behind. Once located, I'd then hope for parallel paths or roads 1/4mile or more back into the woods where I might find buck crossings going to and from the fields.

Doe and yearlings may lay around the fields but the better bucks will bed on poorer ground some distance away and travel back and forth to feed. Groups of medium and large tracks with few or no fawn tracks crossing paths indicate buck group crossings. These will usually be at least a hundred yards from major doe and fawn crossings and the buck crossings will generally be on slightly higher ground, even in flat country.

I would hunt these buck groups exclusively, and away from the fields I'd be especially alert mid morning to noon. In buck groups you never know if the biggest will be first in line or last but chances are he will be one or the other. Also, I've killed nice straggler bucks after the main group has passed so don't give up too quickly if the group gets by you or if none are worthy of shooting. Sometimes more bucks are on the way or already there so keep an eye on where they come from at all times.

If I could find a woods path or road they are crossing, I'd try to hunt very close to or over the crossing right on the path. This keeps your residual travel scent to a minimum in the woods and gives a huge advantage because the deer are not being alerted to human activity. Human odor along a path isn't so unusual but human scent left all over the woods sends signals to older deer to go more nocturnal.

Buck group tracks and/or personal sightings are the best sign at this time of year. If I can find where a buck group is crossing a road or ditch, it isn't hard to kill one or more of em the first week or two of the season.

Now, hurricane aside, you every reason to expect success. ;D

[eshoremd]

thanks alan. ill be hunting from sept 1-9th in de. would you pay any attention to sunflower fields? de. website says they will cut them just prior to the opening of dove season which is also sept 1. ive always had good luck with sunflower seeds and deer. im going to get a camera in there next weekend. ill scout all next weekend then decide where to put it. i WILL get a wallhanger in velvet this year!

[eshoremd]

here are the areas alan. ill mark the maps with whats planted, where i see trails, old scrapes and rubs, and any sightings then go from there. maybe spad will help me out and send something my way

www.dnrec.state.de.us/fw/Wildlife%20Area%20Maps/KENT/petersburg.pdf

www.dnrec.state.de.us/fw/Wildlife%20Area%20Maps/KENT/willowgrove.pdf

[ncboman]

Sunflowers? Sure, if that's the primary food source.

Personally I think a late afternoon looksee of the area around the last of July should show where the bigger bucks are using. A lot of foot traffic to and from trailcams may have negative impact so be careful with that.

Obviously I don't know the area but I doubt you'll find a wallhanger in the fields during shooting hours. I'd be more confident hunting closer to the bedding area where you may catch one moving during shooting hours. My biggest early bow season bucks we all killed several hundred yards or more from the food sources.

Is spotlighting legal there?

[ncboman]

crossposted.

old scrapes and rubs would be ok to find but may confuse the hunt more than help in early season. Spad's dead. I doubt he'll be much help but God may play a hand for ya.

[eshoremd]

no spotlighting, i plan on hunting closer to bedding areas on trails leading to food sources like you said. i guess your right about the scrapes and rubs. they wont be in the same area and pattern in early sept that they are when rubbing later in the year right? i think id be ok with putting the cam out next weekend then checking it once every month dont you. preferably check it during rain or right before, hell i can check it at night too if i want.

you know....theres not going to be any big hurricanes this year so work will be slow for ya. you can come join me if ya like. ill probably stay at the sheraton in dover. if its too ritzy for ya you can sleep in your truck in the parking lot.

[ncboman]

Thanks but I prefer walmart parking lots.

At those ritzy places there's too much drug activity for me to sleep well.

[ARO]

around this area the first week of sept, bucks are usually still on there summer feeding patterns. i would concentrate on food sources, especially soybean if it is still green. corn might be cut by then , might not. remember if the sunflowers are cut for dove season, there will be dove hunters all around there blasting away. just something to think about.

[eshoremd]

dove hunters hunt the fields right? plus they cant start before noon too, right? i know nothing about dove hunting. both start sept 1.

[eshoremd]

ncboman said:

Is spotlighting legal there?

(a) No person or persons shall hunt or attempt to hunt at nighttime any species of wild bird or wild animal with a light including the headlights of any vehicle. Possession in a motor vehicle or conveyance of any firearms or other implements with which wild birds or wild animals may be killed, exposed within immediate reach, either loaded or unloaded, while using artificial lights, shall be prima facie evidence of the use of such firearms or other implements for hunting. Raccoons or opossums may be hunted on foot or while riding on a horse or mule at nighttime during open season with the use of a dog or light or both. Frogs may be hunted on foot at nighttime during open season with a light.

(b) No person or persons shall make use of any artificial light emanating from a vehicle and directing toward woods, fields, orchards, livestock, wild animals or birds, dwellings or buildings. The provisions of this subsection do not apply to the normal use of headlights of a vehicle traveling on any public or private road in a normal manner, to any police, emergency or utility company vehicle using spotlights to perform their duties, or to any farmer or landowner on the farmer's or landowner's own or leased land using artificial lights to check on equipment, crops, livestock or poultry. Nor shall this subsection apply to the normal use of headlights of a vehicle traveling in a normal manner 2 hours prior to sunrise or 2 hours after sunset.

2005 - 2006 Bullfrog Season
Open Season Daily Limit
May 1 - Sept. 30 24



Bullfrog Season Notes:


May be taken with either a valid hunting and/or fishing license.


guess i can walk around with a spotlight hunting bullfrogs

[ARO]

i dont know the laws in delaware, but in maryland i think start time is 12 or 1 oclock. but yes they would most likely be hunting the edges of the fields. opening day is usually the most crowded day.