Ideas on where to place stands

[NWSharpshooter]

Hey guys,

I have gained access to ten acres of land here near my house to hunt. The land actually belongs to a member here and I would like to thank him for giving me access to his property. The land is ten acres and has houses around it. It is a mix of overgrown pasture and thick woods. I just got access to it Monday so pre season scouting wasn't an option. Anyway, here are a few aerial photos of the area. There is a small ridge that runs along the western border of the property line. The pictures are oriented with north being up.

Anyway, I am new to whitetail hunting, stand hunting, and hunting on such a small piece of property. I plan to do some scouting out there this weekend to get a better feel for the place, but thought I would see if any of you pros have recommendations that I can look into further while out there this weekend. Here are a couple of aerial photos as well as a picture I took of the overgrown pasture last night. The picture of the pasture was taken facing north from about 13-15 foot up (I was on top of a tree stand.)

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[GeauxLSU]

I'd put a stand where you had it (depending on sun) and one in the NE corner. Be nice to see a pic even further out.

 

[NWSharpshooter]

I'd put a stand where you had it (depending on sun) and one in the NE corner. Be nice to see a pic even further out.

North east corner of the property in the woods, or north east corner of the overgrown pasture?

My stand was in a pine that doesn't really show up on the aerial photos. You can see it, but it is much smaller in the pictures. It is right above the letter "O" in "HOUSE", above the red line marking the pasture. What I don't like about that spot is it leaves a big open area behind me I cannot see (what use to be the house and driveway.) If I turn my head all the way to the right I can see the barn (except for the huge pine tree in the way) but I have to turn my body around and lean to see the area the house used to be in. Yesterday about 615ish I heard what sounded like a horse blowing directly behind me. I assume it was a doe or a buck, but by the time I got turned around to see what made the noise, there was nothing there. I turned as slowly and quietly as I could, but my guess is it was already looking at me which is what caused it to blow and when I started moving it did too.

 

[Laufen]

I'd have two stands. One on either end of the edge cover where you have seen tracks. You'd be shooting away from the houses, and have options depending on the prevailing wind.

The old barn corner, and the northeast corner would be perfect. Sun wouldn't be an issue either.

 

[GeauxLSU]

North east corner of the property in the woods, or north east corner of the overgrown pasture?

My stand was in a pine that doesn't really show up on the aerial photos. You can see it, but it is much smaller in the pictures. It is right above the letter "O" in "HOUSE", above the red line marking the pasture. What I don't like about that spot is it leaves a big open area behind me I cannot see (what use to be the house and driveway.) If I turn my head all the way to the right I can see the barn (except for the huge pine tree in the way) but I have to turn my body around and lean to see the area the house used to be in. Yesterday about 615ish I heard what sounded like a horse blowing directly behind me. I assume it was a doe or a buck, but by the time I got turned around to see what made the noise, there was nothing there. I turned as slowly and quietly as I could, but my guess is it was already looking at me which is what caused it to blow and when I started moving it did too.

Northeast corner of the property. Looks like there's enough cover for them that it would be a travel route along that right edge to enter those hardwoods.
Based on your decscription I'd move that stand to the northern edge of the open area with your back immediately against the woods so you are looking back at your stand and over the entire overgrown pasture. The sun should be at your back (more so as the season progresses) but you need to pay equal attention to prevailing winds.
I'm guessing the deer was blowing from down wind? If it's really 6' high, they could slip through there without you ever seeing them or getting a clear shot (obviously) but you may catch them on that northern edge.

 

[NWSharpshooter]

Northeast corner of the property. Looks like there's enough cover for them that it would be a travel route along that right edge to enter those hardwoods.
Based on your decscription I'd move that stand to the northern edge of the open area with your back immediately against the woods so you are looking back at your stand and over the entire overgrown pasture. The sun should be at your back (more so as the season progresses) but you need to pay equal attention to prevailing winds.
I'm guessing the deer was blowing from down wind? If it's really 6' high, they could slip through there without you ever seeing them or getting a clear shot (obviously) but you may catch them on that northern edge.

Yes, it was down wind, the wind was in my face.

 

[GeauxLSU]

Yes, it was down wind, the wind was in my face.

Given the number of houses around it's a 'little' surprising they'd alert only on scent but that probably just got it focused in the right direction and it spotted you. Obviously do what you can to minimize it (scent). Assuming the prevailing winds are out of the NW, you're kind of limited on how you can set up (unfortunately). You could try the SE corner of the old pasture but that's not ideal either given the travel corridor. If you can get on the downwind side of the tracks you've spot on that edge AND still see into the pasture, that might work and provide you some shade cover.
Where do you enter the property from?

 

[Laufen]

In places that have tall grass like this, I've taken a weedeater and knocked down a path that I'd like them to follow from their bedding areas to the hardwoods. It doesn't have to be perfect, just knock the weeds down a little.

 

[NWSharpshooter]

Given the number of houses around it's a 'little' surprising they'd alert only on scent but that probably just got it focused in the right direction and it spotted you. Obviously do what you can to minimize it (scent). Assuming the prevailing winds are out of the NW, you're kind of limited on how you can set up (unfortunately). You could try the SE corner of the old pasture but that's not ideal either given the travel corridor. If you can get on the downwind side of the tracks you've spot on that edge AND still see into the pasture, that might work and provide you some shade cover.
Where do you enter the property from?

Along the one vertical line from the road.

 

[NWSharpshooter]

In places that have tall grass like this, I've taken a weedeater and knocked down a path that I'd like them to follow from their bedding areas to the hardwoods. It doesn't have to be perfect, just knock the weeds down a little.

Most of the overgrowth is just grass and in reality it is closer to three feet tall, with the occasional 6 footer. Those small pines are 8 foot or so. I half tempted to just run around the pasture in my truck and knock a bunch of the grass down.