Heavily forested areas tend to have lower deer densities than farmland. A hunt in big timber is often a quality-over-quantity proposition. (Shutterstock)
December 10, 2024
By Josh Honeycutt
I was sweating bullets as I climbed the bluff, promising myself that next time I’d find a better way to reach my favorite treestand location. Of course, the spot was grand. There was nothing but hills, hollows and timber around me, and the steepness helped prevent deer from circling downwind of me. Once I was up in the tree and the sweat had subsided, I was glad for the rough topography.
That afternoon, a line of does and fawns led the whitetail procession, but a 10-pointer with a chocolate-colored rack eventually brought up the rear. If the ladies and young’uns moved a few paces, the big fellow did as well. When the does halted, the buck also stopped.
I watched that big deer for several minutes until he finally stepped into a clear shooting lane. I breathed in, breathed out and settled the crosshairs. The 25-yard shot with the CVA muzzleloader connected. The buck briefly disappeared in a cloud of smoke, then crashed down in a deep ravine some 70 yards away. I had successfully added another deep-woods buck to the tally.
Scoring that husky 10-pointer wasn’t easy, but nothing worth doing is. For hunters willing to take on challenges and stray from the beaten path in exchange for a chance at a dandy whitetail, I offer the following ways to overcome the hurdles.
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LOWER DEER DENSITY Hunting big woods is not like shooting bucks in your run-of-the-mill farmlands. The resident deer haven’t seen many (if any) crop fields or food plots. Some might occasionally feed in a pasture or hay field, but there are few of either near most big-woods settings. In the big timber, expect fewer shots at bucks due to commonly low deer densities per square mile. Without much early, successional habitat mixed with mature hardwoods, deer don’t have the amount of cover or food necessary for their populations to expand.
Fewer targets can make for more difficult hunting. Finding a good buck to hunt usually takes longer, but there will be fewer eyes, ears and noses to fool while tracking down a desirable deer. Furthermore, in smaller herds, whitetail bucks often produce larger antlers. This is due to lower stress and less competition for the available food sources. Regardless of the pros and cons, it’s important to employ tactics that help ease the burden of finding whitetails in
expansive and frequently rugged territory. For starters, there’s a couple of helpful rules of thumb to cut down your search time. First, look for deer bedded on the upper third of leeward ridges. Second, focus on finding white oak trees early in the season and red oaks later in the season, as deer will surely be drawn to the acorns they drop.
Part of the challenge of hunting remote terrain is access. When possible, use shallow streams as trails to push farther into an area. (Shutterstock) HOMOGENEOUS HABITAT In big woods, landscapes are vast and tend to have very similar and unchanging terrain. They lack the “edge” habitats in which deer thrive. Also called transition areas, edge habitats require a much shorter learning curve because of their higher whitetail densities and more reliable movement patterns.
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Homogeneous habitat is more challenging and takes longer to figure out, but deer do live there. When you find some and drop pins on the map of your favorite hunting app, however, the marks are bound to appear quite random when you study the aerial view.
Of course, there are reasons why deer live where they do. And while those reasons can quickly be determined—and deer more easily located—in edge habitat by simply examining aerial views, it usually takes boots on the ground and a fair amount of scouting in homogeneous habitat deep in the woods. Spending time during the off-season scouring for deer sign and potential food sources is essential. Oaks and the minimally available woody browse drive deer activity, so find these places and mark them on your map.
DEMANDING TOPOGRAPHY Most big-woods settings are demanding. While the habitat may largely remain unchanging, the topography is often rugged and difficult to tame. Going from point A to point B can be a slow, meticulous process with some risk involved, and sometimes it takes hours to hike into a promising area. But certain topographical features offer some level of predictability to deer movement, and so long as safety isn’t an issue, the extra effort in traversing difficult terrain is often worthwhile.
Knowing that deer commonly run along ridges, travel through saddles and along benches, enter areas through thermal hubs (crow’s feet) and bed on ridge endings and leeward ridges should help you pinpoint productive areas and track down a good buck.
Also keep in mind that whitetails prefer north-facing slopes during warm weather in spring, summer and early fall, and south-facing slopes in cold weather. Additionally, certain food sources (trees, shrubs, forbs, etc.) tend to grow more in certain areas, such as northern slopes and southern hillsides. Use these commonalities to help you find deer. On public lands that allow them and in areas where they’re safe to use, e-bikes can be invaluable tools. Not only can they save you considerable time and energy by providing faster access, but they can also help you haul gear and recover downed deer.
TACKLING ACCESS While the vastness of the woods can be a deterrent for folks apprehensive about traveling long distances in search of deer, most hunters don’t go more than two or three miles to access a promising area. In challenging terrain, hiking beyond that distance can prove too much for a day hunt. Of course, that range extends whenever an e-bike comes into play.
Oftentimes, lakes, rivers and even creeks and streams can limit or prevent foot access and require the use of a small boat, canoe or kayak to reach areas where whitetails retreat to evade hunting pressure. Although lugging a watercraft along with other hunting gear may seem impractical, various lightweight inflatables offer a feasible solution and can enable you to hunt areas with considerably less competition.
TOTING GEAR Hauling hunting gear in and out of big woods is a tall task, and not only on public lands. On many private tracts, you can often use an ATV or e-bike with a trailer to deploy several treestands. But thick cover, downed logs and steep terrain sometimes impede passage of off-road vehicles and even bikes.
Opting for hang-on stands and packing them in one at a time is another possibility. You hang the stand, hunt, and if it’s in a good spot, you leave the stand there. The next time you hunt, you pack another hang-on stand and repeat the process, thereby spreading out the workload.
Before venturing deep into the woods after deer, be sure to have a well thought-out and efficient retrieval plan. (Shutterstock) The latest ultra-lightweight hang-ons and sticks are a great way to minimize the burden when hoofing it (see sidebar, page 44). You could buy a tree saddle hunting system or go with a compact climbing stand that isn’t clunky and noisy. No matter which you choose, be sure to practice until you can be silent and efficient with the system deployed.
SAFETY CONCERNS Hunting in big woods does come with some risks, especially at higher elevations and in colder climates. Getting stranded in treacherous terrain miles from the nearest road due to a sudden weather change, a fall or some other predicament could prevent assistance from arriving soon enough to avoid hypothermia or to keep an injury or medical condition from escalating.
Always let a family member or friend know where you’ll be hunting, your anticipated entry and exit routes and your expected return time. That way, if you don’t come back when you said you would, someone you trust will know when and where to begin searching.
It’s also a good idea to use an app or other service enabling a loved one to pinpoint your location. If not that, carry a satellite phone or another communication device that lets you call for help when cell service is limited or nonexistent. Also, consider packing power banks for your cell phone and GPS, and always carry extra food and water, along with vital safety equipment like a first aid kit that includes a tourniquet.
GAME RECOVERY Getting a big, old buck (or doe) from the deep woods to your truck may require you to get creative.
I prefer to debone the deer where it lies and pack it out in game bags. That’s the easiest and lightest way I’ve found. Other options include using a deer cart, a deer sled or a meat pole; carrying the deer backpack-style or cross-shouldered; or just dragging it. Regardless of the retrieval method chosen, make sure you are proficient with it ahead of time and the deer has been properly tagged and checked in (if required) before you move and process it.
Despite its challenges, testing your mettle and hunting skills in a big-woods setting is quite rewarding. The adventure is even more special if you share it with family or friends. And if one of you downs a dandy, the extra help will make getting it to the truck much easier.
ESSENTIAL STANDS FOR DEEP-WOODS HUNTS Think lightweight if you plan to target deer deep in the backcountry.
Toting gear for long distances across demanding and often steep terrain can drain you of energy before the fun part of the hunt begins. Consider lightening the load with the following stand options.
ELEVATE ULTRA HANG-ON Photo courtesy of Elevate Stand Co.) Rated for up to 300 pounds and crafted from 6061-T6 aluminum, the Ultra Hang-On by Elevate Stand Co. weighs a mere 6 1/2 pounds. The platform measures 17 by 23 3/4 inches, the seat is 10 by 8 inches and the height from platform to seat is only 19 inches, making this a great treestand for those who hunt mobile and hike far. ($419.99–$439.99)
XOP OUTDOORS COLD WORLD (Photo courtesy of XOP Outdoors) The Cold World treestand by XOP Outdoors , with a safety rating of 350 pounds, is another winner. It features a fully-leveling seat and platform, and a four-point bracket that allows for efficient positioning. The stand weighs 7 1/2 pounds, its platform is 17 1/2 by 26 inches, the seat measures 8 by 11 inches and its height is 18 inches. ($449.99)
BEAST GEAR HANG-ON TREESTAND (Photo courtesy of Hunting Beast Gear) The Hang-On Treestand is an excellent lightweight offering by Beast Gear. The base weighs 6.8 pounds and is machined out of a solid 6061 T6 aluminum billet to maximize strength. The platform measures 29 by 16 inches, and the seat is 21 inches high and measures 9 by 11 1/2 inches. It is rated for up to 275 pounds. ($600)
TETHRD PREDATOR CFX PLATFORM (Photo courtesy of Tethered) Built of Tetra CF2, a proprietary carbon fiber, Tethrd’s Predator CFX Platform is a top pick of tree-saddle adherents and is available in two sizes. The “regular” size weighs 2.3 pounds with a platform that measures 11 1/2 by 11 1/2 inches. The slightly larger “XL” is 3 1/4 pounds and features a platform that tapes 12 inches by 15 1/2 inches. ($299–$349.99)
This article was featured in the December/January 2025 issue of Game & Fish magazine. Click to subscribe .
