I started keeping a journal, this year (actually....more of a spreadsheet). So far I've seen:

*86 total deer in 13 sittings
*79 have been does or fawns
* 7 have been Bucks

For MY record purposes......button heads and does are one and the same (non-discernable). I have seen 1 mature buck and 6 smaller bucks (including the one I harvested). Also....if I see "deer" moving and don't see visible antlers....."I" consider them does for MY records.

My situation is not unlike many. I have 2 small 24 acre tracts that I have access to by my home. I am surrouded on one side by a homeowner that does not allow hunting. They have horses........they feed the deer/turkeys......and the deer use this area as a sanctuary. I shot my '06 buck the first day I went into this area (but on land I DID have permission to hunt). I saw 30 deer, that day. This land backs up to 174 acres of parks land that is owned by the city/county.....and where hunting is not allowed. I now know where their bedding area is......and it's in the parks land. they travel across the horse pasture to feed on acorns in "my" woods. I saw 10 there, Saturday......and 2 little bucks were in that group.

If I were a mature buck.....I'd NEVER leave the parks land. BUT......I'd be skinny. there are no crops grown within the parks land......and the farm I'm TRYING to gain access to is on the other side of the parks land. Right now......the deer have no real reason to come around my stands.....or wherever I might set up in a climber. if they do.....it'll be because the feel comfortable there.......or because they're after acorns (which I'm NOT making light of being a VERY legitimate food source).

I've got ONE more chance at a mature buck, this season. I'm going to set up over the acorns.......very near to where the does are feeding in the evenings.......and wait it out during the rut. It's all I know to do. I'v shot one buck from this area......but I don't want to risk shooting does in there.....and have to track one back into the bedding area. After the rut.....I'll bust any doe that presents me a shot.....until I'm tagged out. They need thinning, here.

Jeff