When deer bed in open hardwoods, it is sometimes tough to get close to them. They can bed down anywhere they feel safe so the first thing you want to look for is thicker timber that is close to some food source such as a mast crop. If areas like these are hard to find, start with some heavily used trails and follow them both directions to see to/from the deer are traveling. Be careful not to walk directly on the trails. Alot of times these trails will follow natural ridges, benches which can act as a natural funnel. You can also watch for browse lines. Browse lines are areas close to bedding areas where the deer will get up and browse along on the understory and new growth. Look for saplings and growth with the end nibbled off.

If you find the perfered mast in your area, you'll find the deer.
Watch for scat, trails, rub lines and scrapes. Tho these are simply indications that deer have once been there, they can piece together what the deer in your area are doing.

I hunt a similiar spot in one of my hunting areas. After over 10 years of hunting this spot we've pretty much narrowed the deer down to a oak ridge that not only acts as a funnel, the deer use it as a browse line and bedding area. We've successfully harvested a dozen bucks with in 100 yards of one tree.

<font color=blue>Good Luck and Good Shooting</font id=blue>

<font color=red>Rob</font id=red>