It depends on how crunchy it is. For instance, if it is windy, or the leaves are wet, you should scan quite a bit, moving your head as slow and little as possible. If it is calm conditions and dry leaves, you might want to focus where you can see a good distance, since you should be able to HEAR anything closeby.

Two years ago, there was frost on the ground (ie., crunchy). However, the frost melted after a few hours on stand. My buddy radioed me on his walkie talkie to tell me he had deer close that he never heard because the melted frost wetted the leaves and made them silent. I then immediately looked over my left shoulder scanning an area I thought I'd hear deer in, and saw a buck grazing about 60 yards away.

The key is to gauge how well you'd be able to hear deer, and scan accordingly. Be sure to look for horizontal shapes in the woods, and scan slow enough that you'll see a deer even if it is motionless for a few seconds or so.

Edited by - DougMd on 10/30/2002 12:18:15