after hearing some replies i think i found a decent spot. my stand is located at the end of a narrow strip of pines with some trails coming out of them. in front of me there is a small opening with some high grassand a tiny creek going through. behind this is a STEEP incline with pines.behind me is a bigger cold water creek that i usually do some fly fishing.

i was in there this afternoon to set my climber in a tree, and i noticed a fresh rub that wasnt there saturday, and a bunch of tracks in the mud in the opening. on the first day of the season (sat.) i saw a doe and two lil ones around 9 in the morning, and about 15 turkeys flew down in front of me at daybreak,but nothin else all day.

the problems with this area are a major road about a hundred yards to my right, and a dirt road behind me about 60 yards across the bigger creek. the only benifit that i found is nobody ever hunts this little area. is this too close to a major road to kill a buck, or does this not matter....

i havent got a chance to really hike it back into the woods yet, and if i do that, then im afraid someone will steal my climber.... i had two stolen from me last year!!!! its probly an hour or so towalk to where i would like to hunt and its a bigger b!tch to take my stand back that far. isitreally worth it toget away like that??any suggestions on a treestand lock, or a possible area to look for when i do make my venture will be greatly appreciated.