Educate this very experienced old man

[3PointSlayer]

My old farm was mostly cedars, saw a lot of deer legs.

 

[bird whisperer]

guess I was hoping anderson county was like Graves county for deer when I moved here... after 25 years living in Graves and seeing deer all the time then not hardly seeing any here was a big shock to the system

Are you a multi season hunter or is the gun opener the first day your able to hunt? Anderson does have lots of deer but its almost like they know when 1500 to 5000 more hunters went in the woods on the second Saturday of November and they almost seam to hunker down in the thick stuff. I have a buddy who lives in wester Anderson just 1000 yards off of the parkway. He has plenty of deer movement and sees several deer just about every sit bow hunting all the way up until the gun opener then his movement almost stops. There always is a ton more corn piles that magically appear the evening before gun opener and strangely that also affects movement.

Perhaps something like what I did in this post might help if your brother inlaw would allow it. https://www.kentuckyhunting.net/threads/wooded-plot-without-a-dozer-start-to-finish.153954/

 

[DocPain]

My old farm was mostly cedars, saw a lot of deer legs.

I’m putting in more cedars in my woods. Trying to make it a little thicker so the deer will feel more secure.

 

[WildmanWilson]

I’m putting in more cedars in my woods. Trying to make it a little thicker so the deer will feel more secure.

Have you looked into hinge cutting some trees. It provides great cover and will produce new browse.

 

[muddhunter]

Have you looked into hinge cutting some trees. It provides great cover and will produce new browse.

I started a thread about this a couple years back. Was super excited to get started and improve the browse and cover on my Grayson County land with hinge cutting a bunch of garbage trees. Then I guess I saw something shiny and never did. Still on the to-do list.

 

[CRFmxracer]

No amish...you have to go back on a private drive about 1 mile to get to it... mainly junk trees..very very few Hickory or oak.. about 20% is open woods rest is so thick need a bulldozer to get through

Basically what you’re saying is there’s not many food sources. So there’s no reason for the deer to be there besides bedding. Which on 35 acres you can push them out easily if you aren’t careful. Plant food plots next year and see if your luck improves

 

[BELLY UP!!!]

I've lived and hunted Lawrenceburg my whole life. Plenty of deer here, and some good deer to when they are able to get some age. It isn't western KY. But I've had a few spots that 15-20 deer was the norm per sit. And I've had a few spots that took 4-5 sits to see 15-20. However, there are little pockets around Anderson that seem to have less deer than other areas. I don't know just where your at in western Anderson. But I would guess somewhere close to hwy 62, being it runs through the western part. There's a ton of deer out that area. Trying to not be negative. But if I read right, your hunting 35 acres. Hunting small areas can be tough. It can be done. But if your 35 looks like the 300 that surrounds it. Why would the deer be at your 35. If the land owner will allow. You may want to put some work in. And make you area more inviting than what's around you...
Unless your hunting close to me. If so. Don't do anything.😉

 

[Meatstick]

Boy that used to work for me owns 7 acres right on 555/62 in west Anderson, right about Chaplin. I've bowhunted it for 10 years. I think I've killed 16 off of it in that time, just bowhunting it a time or two a year. Little ridge is flat lousy with deer.
It's a white oak ridge with nasty hollers on 3 sides

 

[scottlawrenceburg]

I've lived and hunted Lawrenceburg my whole life. Plenty of deer here, and some good deer to when they are able to get some age. It isn't western KY. But I've had a few spots that 15-20 deer was the norm per sit. And I've had a few spots that took 4-5 sits to see 15-20. However, there are little pockets around Anderson that seem to have less deer than other areas. I don't know just where your at in western Anderson. But I would guess somewhere close to hwy 62, being it runs through the western part. There's a ton of deer out that area. Trying to not be negative. But if I read right, your hunting 35 acres. Hunting small areas can be tough. It can be done. But if your 35 looks like the 300 that surrounds it. Why would the deer be at your 35. If the land owner will allow. You may want to put some work in. And make you area more inviting than what's around you...
Unless your hunting close to me. If so. Don't do anything.😉

It's about 5 miles east of the wilisburg exit.. my brother in law owns it.. dawned on me the other day the guy west a joining land is a big hunter... would love to be able to bow hunt again but due to several shoulder surgeries and spine injuries I can't... really consider a crossbow with a cocking crank.. this is why I hunt with a 243... much easier on the body...
Have to say I REALLY APPRECIATE all the comments and replies,. You guys figured out the problem for me