does size really matter??

[VAbuck1]

my grandparents own about 10 acres in an area where houses have started to be built next to the land... now, im big on safety, but i was wondering, is 10 acres enough to at least bow hunt and shotgun hunt? and would there even be any deer in that area? iv thought of clearing a small opening and gowing a very small food plot to see what i can get, and even some feeders and a camera to check it out. any advice? seeing as my hunting land availability is becoming hard to come by, im starting to like this idea... just wanted some help and opinions.

[bowhuntingpro]

I wouldn't want to hunt it with a shotgun from the ground. But from a tree stand and some common gun safety knowledge I would as long as it wasn't within city limits of course. I would definitely bowhunt it all day long.

As far as deer being in there it is plenty of area, it will just depend on pressure. It wouldn't take but one homeowner deciding to walk through the woods once or twice to ruin the whole area.

I'd look at an aerial photo of the area to see if it makes sense for deer to even be in there. Does it connect with other woods? Is there good food source near it (crops) or in it (acorns)? Why would deer go there? If there is good deer sign such as trail, droppings, rubs, scrapes, and so on I might set one camera just to see if there is anything big in there. If so I'd set a few stands and try not to over pressure it. Make sure no body else is going in there.

I've had good luck with small acreage by not hunting it until prime time (pre-rut). All the surrounding areas have been hunted and pressured by then and the deer will be holding where it is safe. You can usually slip into a place like that and kill a good deer in 1 or 2 sits if you're lucky.

[baysider]

When hunting pressure is up one of my best spots for late season bucks is a 2 acre block. With a small block it seems as if they are all there, or not at all. Just have to catch them right.

[VAbuck1]

I wouldn't want to hunt it with a shotgun from the ground. But from a tree stand and some common gun safety knowledge I would as long as it wasn't within city limits of course. I would definitely bowhunt it all day long.

As far as deer being in there it is plenty of area, it will just depend on pressure. It wouldn't take but one homeowner deciding to walk through the woods once or twice to ruin the whole area.

I'd look at an aerial photo of the area to see if it makes sense for deer to even be in there. Does it connect with other woods? Is there good food source near it (crops) or in it (acorns)? Why would deer go there? If there is good deer sign such as trail, droppings, rubs, scrapes, and so on I might set one camera just to see if there is anything big in there. If so I'd set a few stands and try not to over pressure it. Make sure no body else is going in there.

I've had good luck with small acreage by not hunting it until prime time (pre-rut). All the surrounding areas have been hunted and pressured by then and the deer will be holding where it is safe. You can usually slip into a place like that and kill a good deer in 1 or 2 sits if you're lucky.

yea, ive looked at an aerial photo on google maps. it shows good potential, and my grandmother said theres a creek that runs through the property. its only 10 acres, but im thinking 1 or 2 small plots would be beneficial to keeping the deer there and fed. iv done my research, and it doesnt seem like it would be too expensive, just the time to clear the trees, and then use a tiller to take care of the land. iv done my research for the types of plants, just gonna have to really consider the benefit of one.

[cut_un]

I own 18 acers in the middle of the burbs that I hunt"shotgun & smokepole" Killed some nice deer off of it. Go for it......you will get used to all the noice