[quote]
Sounds to me like you are coming in through a bedding area, you must change your approach to the stand. As to whether this is the buck your spooking or not, I don't know, it could be seeing he is bedding by himself.

yeah, I think so. the ridge is hard to hunt. it is narrow, and you either have to set up right on it, or on the slope going into the hollow. then, they can walk right up on you without you seeing it (had 3 doe do this). I just can't not spook it. I creep up real quiet. I think it just beds in there all day. I saw some huge tracks right off the scrape. I just want to SEE the deer at least. there is a good vantage point a little further away (about 50 yd from scrape). I sat there first, and it never spooked it. when I moved closer, it did. maybe I should stay further away and just be patient?