Petsux/Davidmil,

Excellent posts and very reflective of the changes that have occurred inourhunting environments over the last, "n" years. Trying to keep track of which of you said what is too difficult so I'll address your very similar posts in general. First, MOST BY FAR of my hunts ended at a warm or steaming bed that was empty. That's part of the thrill when you are successful.

I never tracked an animal for miles! Because of the speed, or lack thereof, at which I would move while stalking, I could not spend hours on a track. Just like today, time was a valuable commodity and I would not waste it on on animal that may be heading for parts unknown. I, like most of you, scouted, (and still scout) an area to locate feeding, travel and bedding areas. Around 9:00 -9:30 AM I would and still do,circle the feeding area looking for a single, good sized track that was heading for an area that was known to hold beds. Then, if the terrain was conducive, I'd circle the bedding area forthatparticular track to be coming out. If it came out and headed into another area on land that I could hunt, I stayed on the track. If not, I went to another feeding area and started over. This technique is one that I developed hunting rabbits. Find fresh tracks going into a field, find none or fewer coming out and the odds were high one was somewhere in that field.

If, however, the particular track could not be found coming out, like rabbit hunting,I felt pretty confident that the animal was still in that particularbedding area. Did I get confused at times by the number of different tracks? You bet I did!! Did I get on a track and come up empty?? You bet!! Probably 10 times to every time I caught up to the animalpursued. Did the animal sometimes turn out to be a doe and not a buck? Absolutely!! (I only hunt bucks six points and up so the season would last and I'd get more time in the field. In the beginning of the season it's 10s or better. Sixes were and are reserved for the last couple of weeks.)

All of your combined points are valid. I will dispute one though and that's your conclusion that small 20-50 acre patches are not productive. In my experience they are some of the most productive, especially as pressure increases. You may protectyour "ideal" areas from incursion but I can guarantee others including the landowner will be in there cutting firewood, logging, etc.. In addition, what happens when everyone gets out of their treestands and heads for home at 8:30 AM? Notice the time I'd get serious about the time (9:30)to begin still hunting? The woods are emptying out and they'll quiet down until mid afternoon. A great time to test your skills.

By the way, I'm from the finger lakes area of NY, not the adirodack park region. Like I said, I've never been very successful in the "big" woods. I'm a farm area hunter.

And PLEASE, everyone has their own style and I do respect it. I've just attempted to offer alternatives to techniques that many of you are using. Also, I an NO expert on deer hunting. Just a man that has spent a lot of time in the outdoors enjoying himself and has been successful in teaching his sons to have a great respect for what is still available to us, even if it is different than it used to be. I've never been about killing but I've always been about hunting.

Forgive me while I babble on, but I've found gaining permission to hunt is more successful if I am cleanly shaved and in neat hunting clothes when I'm in front of the landowner. I think it may be the notion that if a person takes care of his/her appearence, then the they may respect the property as well.

I'm very self conscious of the length and tone of my posts but I'm doing the best I can. I am attempting to avoid being critical and do not want to start any p---ing contests. I am also overwhelmed by the interest in my posts. Thank you all for an exceptionally warm reception to this forum and if you're all good and I get some time today, I'll start a new thread entitled, " My Christmas Bow". After all,t'is the season......

Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays,

laxdad