Hunting BIG woods

[BuildFlyCrash]

So I'm not able get into a local hunting clubthis year and I'm hunting on Eglin AFB. I say Big woods becouse Eglin is 464,000 acres with over 1/2 of it open to public hunting.

Driving around it's lots of pine trees and then more pine trees. There are a few rivers, creeks and headwaters.

Question is what are best ways to hunt this type of area. There is no obvious feeding areas and deer can bed anywhere.

So far I've only setup on the edge of the small creeks, hill side, right up against the thickest cover.

Any Ideas? Thanks.

[bowhuntn87]

start out by getting a good topo map, and looking for geographic characteristics... draws, ravines, spurs, saddles, ect. ect. this should give a better idea of deer movement in the area.
hope this helps.

[BuildFlyCrash]

Is there a decent free Topo map online? I looked but they all seem $$$$

[BuildFlyCrash]

More tips for the deep south, bigpine woods, public areas?

[okcaveman]

get a topo. its worth it. other than that idk. i still have alot to learn before i start givin advice on big woods hunting

[virginiashadow]

Hey Build...first off, best of luck to you. Second, here is a link to get started on a topo of Eglin:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Eglin+Air+Force+Base,
+Florida&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=32.748002,56.601563&ie
=UTF8&cd=1&geocode=Fd7P0AEdaCPX-g&ll=30.465469,-86.567974&
spn=0.017385,0.027637&t=h&z=15

For me, I would like to know what the deer were feeding on at this time of the year.

Is there anywhere on the base that borders private land in which there are crops?

Is the base pressured in terms of deer hunting and if so, what part of the base?

If you have access to the base, can you drive around and ask some of the soldiers where they train and if they have seen deer?

That has always worked well for me on the Marine Base I hunt exclusively. Ask the guys that live and work there what their sightings have been, and at what time of the day.

Go down in those creeks and scout hard to find deer tracks/rubs and anything leading into thicker cover, especially around areas that are hunted heavily.

[BobCo19-65]

One of the woods that I hunt is 3500 acres (all wooded). Compared to your it's nothing though.

What I would recommend is scouting at least as much you do hunting. I have hunted these woods a long time and hunt areas that I know I will see deer. I have others who hunt very close to me and never see anything. Biggest thing as you mentioned is food sources. If you can find areas that contain apples that hold during hunting season, water, and cover you should be good.

Also check natural funnels.Ravinesare also a good place to check,look for heavy crossing areas and hunt the tops where you will usually findother trails that run parallel.

[BuildFlyCrash]

For anyone whos interested, has the time, this is the first area Im looking at
Latitude30.604083
Longitude -86.695004

Here's the link to maps by lat & long http://www.gorissen.info/Pierre/maps/googleMapLocation.php

[HuntingEd]

There are some great books out there for hunting big woods deer...