HUNTIN' THE CUTS

SEASONAL CHANGE:MID OCT-JAN

As fall approaches and the length of available daylight shortens, both the whitetail and the cut-over seemingly change overnight. The cut-over that once provided birthing grounds for the mature does, along with the abundance of browse and thick security cover, now begins to open up as the foilage decreases. Whitetail bucks, which have up until now, have been quite comfortable living in bachelor groups disperse. Boundry scrapes and rub lines along the fringe of the cut-over begin to appear as the bucks cruise the perimeter looking for receptive does.

WHEN TO HUNT:

Following the first annual frost seems to be a magical time in the whitetails world. This is when hunting in the cut-overs offer the greatest opputunities for harvesting deer. Cold nights followed by clear morning skys are prime time to harvest some of the nicer bucks in any given area. Now that the browse has disappeared and the hunting pressure has increased substantially, deer,especially bucks, now bed in the cutover along with the does. Hunting pressure, does coming into estrus ,and sunshine are the primary reason deer are in the cut-over at this time of the year.
The colder the better. Be prepared to to stay in your stand well past 10:00 am on these days and longer if you are willing to stick it out. Over-cast days however are not the time to hunt them;remember, deer are there for the sunshine and the warmth it brings. Use these days to hunt transition areas as deer travel during their normal routine.ie;pines bordered by creeks and areas leading into cedar thickets. Dont be discouraged about windy clear days. Some of the best late-morning hunting for bucks come with 10-15 mph winds with deer sightings up until noon.

STAND PLACEMENT:

Before hanging any stand, it is best to first establish where the deer are entering and exiting the cut-over. Usually, this will be the area that has the lowest elevation and offers the highest degree of concealment. Focus on the corners of the cut-over where the deer have the greatest visability along two edges. Draws, peninsulas, and where logging roads enter the area are also good choices.
Next, define the travel cooridors within the cut-over;drainage ditches,ridges or any elevation change(breaks) that offer the deer some sense of security as they travel in and through the area. Keep in mind the rising sun direction as to how it relates to the sunshine hitting the cut-over. Southern slopes offer up the first rays of sunshine and often this is where deer will appear as they move towards the morning warmth.
Choosing the right tree should be the last item to consider during stand placement; but it still requires some thought for increasing your odds of being on top of deer. Dont sacrifice concealment for field of view unless you are willing to climb well above a whitetails normal line of vision. Often,a height of 30-50ft will offer the best view of the area;limits scent dispersion, and gives you oppurtunities to stretch without being detected. As always consider wind direction when entering and exiting your stand.

B.Stallings 6-14-01


				*Pines & Tines .....Deer Hunting in South Carolina* *HUNTIN' THE CUTS*



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		Timber harvest in South Carolina has both enhanced our states economy and has also resulted in a whitetail deer explosion. Cut overs occur when land owners and timber companies join to harvest a mature forest. Fortunately for South Carolina, with a growing season of approx. 9 months (Feb-Nov), and a yearly average temperature of 73 degrees, areas that were once bare and windswept quickly rebound at a phenominal rate. Recently harvested areas go through the process of regeneration and as time progresses, through succession. To appreciate the impact that timber harvest have on wildlife success, it is important to first consider the condition of the forest prior to harvest. Usually substantial cover that had once existed, has long since been depleted by the decrease in undergrowth. The tall, reaching trees with their canopy, filter little light to the forest floor. At the time of timber harvest, all of that changes dramatically. With the gradual warming of the spring months, and the sunlight pouring into the landscape, thus warming the soil, volunteer seeds erupt. Rapid growth of the now emerging saplings, along with the planted seedlings, provide tender shoots and leaves for the white-tail deer and other wildlife as well. As the days grow longer and temperatures stabalize, foliage has increased and, therefore, giving the wildlife the two most essential elements needed to survive; food and cover.



		SEASONAL CHANGE:MID OCT-JAN As fall approaches and the length of available daylight shortens, both the whitetail and the cut-over seemingly change overnight. The cut-over that once provided birthing grounds for the mature does, along with the abundance of browse and thick security cover, now begins to open up as the foilage decreases. Whitetail bucks, which have up until now, have been quite comfortable living in bachelor groups disperse. Boundry scrapes and rub lines along the fringe of the cut-over begin to appear as the bucks cruise the perimeter looking for receptive does. WHEN TO HUNT: Following the first annual frost seems to be a magical time in the whitetails world. This is when hunting in the cut-overs offer the greatest opputunities for harvesting deer. Cold nights followed by clear morning skys are prime time to harvest some of the nicer bucks in any given area. Now that the browse has disappeared and the hunting pressure has increased substantially, deer,especially bucks, now bed in the cutover along with the does. Hunting pressure, does coming into estrus ,and sunshine are the primary reason deer are in the cut-over at this time of the year. The colder the better. Be prepared to to stay in your stand well past 10:00 am on these days and longer if you are willing to stick it out. Over-cast days however are not the time to hunt them;remember, deer are there for the sunshine and the warmth it brings. Use these days to hunt transition areas as deer travel during their normal routine.ie;pines bordered by creeks and areas leading into cedar thickets. Dont be discouraged about windy clear days. Some of the best late-morning hunting for bucks come with 10-15 mph winds with deer sightings up until noon. STAND PLACEMENT: Before hanging any stand, it is best to first establish where the deer are entering and exiting the cut-over. Usually, this will be the area that has the lowest elevation and offers the highest degree of concealment. Focus on the corners of the cut-over where the deer have the greatest visability along two edges. Draws, peninsulas, and where logging roads enter the area are also good choices. Next, define the travel cooridors within the cut-over;drainage ditches,ridges or any elevation change(breaks) that offer the deer some sense of security as they travel in and through the area. Keep in mind the rising sun direction as to how it relates to the sunshine hitting the cut-over. Southern slopes offer up the first rays of sunshine and often this is where deer will appear as they move towards the morning warmth. Choosing the right tree should be the last item to consider during stand placement; but it still requires some thought for increasing your odds of being on top of deer. Dont sacrifice concealment for field of view unless you are willing to climb well above a whitetails normal line of vision. Often,a height of 30-50ft will offer the best view of the area;limits scent dispersion, and gives you oppurtunities to stretch without being detected. As always consider wind direction when entering and exiting your stand. B.Stallings 6-14-01