There are a lot of factors to talk about, but I personally think that hunting down wind of the best trails you can find will beagood start. Rub lines are good, and scrapes are great, but I don't think you can beat good trails.

I have hunted quite a few years, but one mistake I still catch myself making is burning out a stand. What I mean by that is that I catch myself going to the same stand or area several days in a row. I think the deer catch wind of me, and they just avoid that spot. Try to have several spots, and don't burn one spot out.

Once you find good travel routes that the deer take then all you have to do is put in what I call TOS. Time On Stand.

When I was 12 years old, I missed a pretty nice 8 point at only 20 yards away. I did not kill my first deer until I was 15 years old. Whoever said that the first one was the hardest had it right in my case. That was about 25 years ago.

Don't give up.

C. Davis