Applying Different Manipulation Tactics Together

In previous articles I wrote about making shooting holes and hinge cutting trails. So when I was cutting lanes this past week for a new stand I thought I should illustrate how I applied these manipulation tactics.  This stand which is going to be occupied by my uncle has been a plan in the making since last year. His stand in its old location proved to be useless for various reasons which is material for its own article. All I will say is my uncle was getting discouraged to say the least and it didn't take much convincing for him to want to move it.

In order for me to explain this in detail I first have to give you an overview of what I am attempting to achieve with this new location.  His new spot is located on the edge of native grass and elder brush. It is tucked in to 45 year old spruce trees that separate a corn field from a cedar swamp overlooking the grassy staging area. To prep this area for future success, this past summer we cut the bottom limbs off of the spruce trees bordering the field edge. Doing this allows the deer to see the field from the staging area behind the trees. In the past the deer avoided this area all together because their visibility was limited. Since we have cut these limbs the deer have been using this area a lot more and it is evident with the abundance of rubs. I have also hingecut areas behind the staging area in order to make a bedding area.  Being in a cedar swamp I started with a small section last winter to see how well it would take. After seeing is how it is being used, this winter I have expanded the hingecut area to include several high spots to hold several deer to bed. With the stand being between a food source and a man made bedding area the only thing left is to enhance their travel.

So now the idea is to manipulate the deer to travel in designated areas to maximize shot potential. To do so I walked through the staging area to locate their natural travel routes. I then walked these trails while looking back towards the stand to find the areas where I would cut the least amount of vegetation in order to open it up. The idea is to leave it as undisturbed while making shooting lanes. Once I found two lanes to be cut I began hingecutting smaller saplings around the optimal shooting spot to create a false sense of security to a buck.  Doing this also obscures their vision to the stand which will give my uncle a little more freedom to move before he takes a shot. Once that was done I began cutting the shooting lane back towards the stand. By doing this it is much easier to see what really needs to get cut versus cutting from the stand out. As I got closer on to the stand on one of the lanes I cut higher up the brush in order to create a hole versus a lane.  This way when a deer scans the area they see more of what they always have versus a definitive lane.  The other lane however is a little more open because there are different points in which trails cross. 
We will have to see how this stand produces in the years to come and you can bet I will add an update following the next season.  Until then I hope this article gives you an idea of how different tactics can be used together to increase your odds.