just got back from doing some scouting here at school

had 8 saddles marked out. 4 on state game lands and 4 in a state park. wrote driving directions AND foot directions with compass directions and thought i was pretty dang precise.

not even close. out of 8 saddles i couldnt even locate ONE! i could have, but wanted to avoid walking around these woods 3 weeks before the season pretty aimlessly. stuck to the trails and stuff they are used to people walking. i did all my topo studies on my laptop. i guess i better print them out or take my laptop next week.

good news though, all the areas held alot of deer sign. good acorns and other nuts dropping..good looking woods..and far enough from the hard road i shouldnt have a whole lot of competition. one road was more of a 4x4 trail. i cant believe they didnt gate it 2 miles before they did. you definently aint gettin a car back there even now when its dry let alone wet or snowy. seen 1 doe and found a really nice fresh rub. ive never seen a rub as high as this one or rubbed so hard or with so many tine gouges...that area is tough looking though. found it in a strip of woods that was a growing cut...no way to get a stand in that area...on the back of the strip of woods is a nasty thick powerline...supposed to be a saddle there somewhere but i couldnt find it lol.

keying in on saddles because they should funnel the deer nicely...gotta find them first i suppose now that im familiar with the areas i should beable to find most of them if i take my topos with me.

nice to be out and about in the deer woods again.

saturday starts my doe season. im pumped...all i gotta do is screw broadheads on my arrows and replace the blades i been practicin with and wash the hunting clothes and i will be ready to roll.