ORIGINAL: Jimmy S

I have been hunting big woods for years here in northern New England.Likehere, thereare no fields or farm land that you may be used to. It can very tough to determine exactly what's going on, even after scouting. Your main focus is to shoot a deer and you must hunt where the deer are. That's very simple to say but in big woods you can literally hunt for days without seeing a deer even though they aretraveling through only a few hundred yards away.

Fortunately I have been hunting the same area for a fewyears and I know these woods pretty well. There are a few things I can point out.

I always remind myself that deer need food, water and security. Finding trails that lead from bedding areas to the feeding area can be difficult because the deer can feed almost anywhere as the food source changes. The woodsmay be so big that the deercanmove little from feeding to bedding.

My main focus would bedropped acorns (white oak if possible). Of course apples are high on a deer's list but that may vary depending on your area. Outside of actually seeing deer in a specific area, I look for droppings. Especially places with new and old droppings. This tells me that the area is and has been used on a regular basis. Trails from here may lead you toareas, where deer will bed down because it offers much needed security. I look for the thickest, nasties, wettest and darkest places in the woods. This usually mean swamps. Deer will hold up here beause they have learned over time that hunters avoid these kind of places.Cuttings from the past few years will attract deer like a magnet with the newgrowth. Old logging road are also used by deer on a regular basis and should beclosely checked out as well.Deer, especially bucks love to bed down about 2/3 up on a ridge where they can see and smell danger. They prefer those sides that offer a southern exposure. As previously mentioned it would be in your best interest to check funnel areas. Also never overlook edges. Deer love edges. Let me repeat, deer love edges. Find those places where thick woods meet broked hardwoods and ckeck for sign.

It can sometimes be discouraging finding deer and deer activity in the big woods. I always remind myself that deer have to be somewhere all the time.

Just remember to keep it fun and Good Luck!