Hunting a Pine Grove

[DeerMan66]

There are some areas of pine groves on the lease that I'm on. I'm not use to hunting pine groves. Some of the pines are large enough to have smothered out most undergrowth and are pretty open. Any tips from those of you that have pine groves figured out.

 

[Hduke86]

Find the thick cover next to those row of pines. Hunt the first row up against the cover like a long shooting lane.

 

[muddyboots]

Don't hunt them

 

[Boll Weevil]

Walk the logging roads after a good rain looking for tracks that indicate a frequently used crossing, get your hands on a topo map, and find/hunt prominent terrain features. 1/3rd of my farm is planted pines and we kill deer in'em every year.

 

[megalomaniac]

agreed, don't hunt in the middle of plantation pine unless there is an incredible terrain feature or well used trail going from block of cover to block of cover. Hunt the edges next to cover and food.

 

[knightrider]

Only thing I've got in em is a bunch of ticks!!

 

[Lost Lake]

Find the thick cover next to those row of pines. Hunt the first row up against the cover like a long shooting lane.

This

 

[Boll Weevil]

One more thing. Oftentimes if it was previously hardwoods, there will be SMZs that were left uncut. If there's oaks/acorns in those hardwood drains those can be productive.

 

[AlabamaSwamper]

Big bucks can and do bed right where those fall off into a bottom.

But near impossible to get in tight enough.

 

[DeerMan66]

Find the thick cover next to those row of pines. Hunt the first row up against the cover like a long shooting lane.

Thanks. There are some smaller thicker pines right next to some of the bigger pines. I will look for a place to set up next to the thick stuff and hunt one of the rows.

 

[DeerMan66]

One more thing. Oftentimes if it was previously hardwoods, there will be SMZs that were left uncut. If there's oaks/acorns in those hardwood drains those can be productive.

Thanks. That is exactly what this area is. I have most of my stands in the hardwood. At least half of the lease is pines in different phases of growth. I would like to learn to hunt the pines in addition to the hardwood areas.

 

[DeerMan66]

Walk the logging roads after a good rain looking for tracks that indicate a frequently used crossing, get your hands on a topo map, and find/hunt prominent terrain features. 1/3rd of my farm is planted pines and we kill deer in'em every year.

Thanks. I have found a couple small draws and there are heavily used trails where the draws come out on the log roads.

 

[DeerMan66]

Thanks to everyone for all the input. It's all helpful information that I can use while learning more about hunting the pines.

 

[hbg1]

When those pines get thinned you will have some of the best hunting around.