Mowing A Treestand Path

[dcamacho13]

I have been considering mowing a path to my bowhunting treestand for the longest. My stand is at the bottom of a ravine and I have to foot it through some thick vegetation as well as a small water channel before I can get to it. My plan was to use a lawnmower to cut the shortest route possible on the way to my stand, then mow alongside one of my shooting lanes about 20 yards ahead. My theory is that not only will I have a faster, easier and quieter trip to my stand, I will also be creating a path of least resistance and encourage deer to walk through the area more frequently. Does anyone have any opinions on this? My only concern is that I do not want to change the environment and push deer away from me. Any help would be appreciated.

[mabowhunter]

The owner of the property I hunt mowes a 6' strip around the field for us. I do appreciate it however if you use a lawn mower to cut a strip to your stand there is a pretty good bet that someone will find it and walk right to your stand. Understand we humans will take the path of lest resistance and doing so would provide you with some unwanted quest.

Our guy does it to be nice cause he likes us. I have always put my stands in some pretty bad hell holes if not for the game movemnt but to make it difficult for others to find me.

[DouglasSpear]

On the property that I bought last year it's all woods and there isn't much grass to walk through except a trail in the light woods, so it isn't a problem where I hunt now. However, where I used to hunt, I had to walk along a fenceline and then through some thick weeds/brush to get to the trail in the woods to the stand. I cleared a path through the weeds and brush every year and it was well worth it.

[Tony204ing]

i wouldnt be scared to mow it just do it early.

[DouglasSpear]

Agreed. I would do it now...or at least sooner rather than later. I was just watching a hunting show that made a very good point in regards to this, the hunter said that when walking on a trail, he makes sure not to brush up against tall weeds or branches on the path to his stand because it could get human odor on it and that could be the deal breaker for a deer following the same path into shooting range. So if you don't cut the tall grass, weeds, and branches out of the way, you are just putting your scent all over everything you touch, regardless if you wash your clothes and spray them down with scent eliminator or scent cover.

[dcamacho13]

Well, I ended up raking a path from the entrance area to my stand, which is about a foot wide. The goods news is I know exactly where I am going in the dark, I have minimal vegetation rubbing against me and I can get to my stand quickly and quietly. The bad news is, the deer are actually taking my trail up to about 10 yards from my stand (thanks, path of least resistance). They are actually taking my path and starting to make another path to a heavily used deer trail about 20 yards from my stand. So, my new question is this: do I let the deer continue to create that detour and risk them seeing/smelling me, or do I take the initiative and rake them a path that steers them clear of my stand?

[DouglasSpear]

Well, I ended up raking a path from the entrance area to my stand, which is about a foot wide. The goods news is I know exactly where I am going in the dark, I have minimal vegetation rubbing against me and I can get to my stand quickly and quietly. The bad news is, the deer are actually taking my trail up to about 10 yards from my stand (thanks, path of least resistance). They are actually taking my path and starting to make another path to a heavily used deer trail about 20 yards from my stand. So, my new question is this: do I let the deer continue to create that detour and risk them seeing/smelling me, or do I take the initiative and rake them a path that steers them clear of my stand?

I'd just leave it how it is and make sure to spray down good, especially your boots. Deer walked along the path to the tree stand on the property I used to hunt all the time. The purpose of mowing it down is so you don't brush up against anything and leave your scent there, but deer will always travel the path with little resistance.

[bmgoutdoors]

We mow Strategicially placed paths through our swamp grass and CRP fields about 5 feet wide using a brush mower and a weed-eater with a extended trimmer blade on it. The deer love it and it makes traveling around the property easier. We also mow an inconspicuous path (18inches wide) right to the back of our stands. Makes for a stealthy entrance and exit.

Be sure to mow them late enougth so they don't regrow too much but early enough so you don't spook deer out of the area!

[jmp51483]

I usually mow a path to my treestands that are otherwise very difficult to get too.. I love getting to my stand very quietly without resistance.. Last year I mowed a path on Friday morning and shot a doe out of that same stand saturday afternoon.. She was actually standing in my mowed path!

[hatenslickheads]

kind of off topic but relates to the path with least resistance i have had really good luck (with farmers permission) to knock down corn just one row in front of your stand into the middle of the field with the idea that the deer in the corn or cutting across the field will want to pick this path up on each end to or from or stand depending on the size of the field i try to go at least a hundred yards do you guys have any thoughts on this? and i emphasize asking the farmer is a must he might say yes or no or could say give me a dollar amount