Remaining undetected, now and later in the season is the real challenge to hunting. If you have to , as you are, stay at a distance and observe, then so be it. Hunting involves every aspect , from scouting preseason, postseason,in season,and doing some sitting during season that is primarily for observing an area, so you know where to set up later for the actuall kill. Many peopel equate 'hunting' as when we are solely intent on making a kill that particular time,but that is askewed perspective. It is one reason why so maay will pay an outfitter to increase their chances of taking a trophy. The outfitter has done 95% of teh hunting, and they get to pull the trigger, yet call themselves the 'hunter'. Many times because they don't really know how to actually 'hunt', all that goes into it as I mentioned, or don't have the time to or aren't willing to do teh real leg work involved. Sometimes we need to relax our desire to always have to see something or take something every time we are in the field, and enjoy the whole process--the whole challenge of what really 'hunting' is all about. You mentioned , in another thread, about the field journal, and the care and the analytical approach that you are taking with your hunts---that is exactly what and how we should all be doing. When we get to where teh kill is all important, or bragging rights, or it becomes an ego driven p;issing contest to beat our chest over, then we have lost something. We have lost the whole plot. Sorry for the long post--but I feel better now!