I would just like to say how much I have learned and enjoyed reading the articles and posts on this website. I am a second year hunter and have alot to learn. Last year I shot my first deer a small spike buck. However this year I have been shut out even though I have spent countless hours in the woods scouting throughout the summer and fall. So I need alittle help.
On Friday I had a nice 6+pt buck come out in front of my stand but he was moving quickly and I decided to grunt to stop him. He stopped but looked right at me and I froze, waiting for him to look away. He looked down and took a couple step behind some heavy brush. I could only see his head and was tempted to take shot through the brush but I've read so many stories about people taking questionable shots and not finding the deer I couldnt pull the trigger. Next thing I know off he goes and I'm left very dissappointed.
So after not seeing another deer on Friday and nothing Saturday I decided to scout another piece of land I have where I think less people will be hunting. On Sunday I did some scouting and found a nice area with some heavy cover on a ridge. In this area I found 4 recent scrapes all within about 50yds of eachother. One trail had 3 scrapes one right after another on it. I was able to find one decent tree for my climber but its pretty close to the trail. Is this still a good area this late in the rut and how should I go about hunting this area?