RE: Deer gathering areas.
I've got a staging area that the deer use when they're coming home in the mornings. It's a little oak flat that they don't start really utilizing until the acorns are on the ground. They'll come there before heading into their bedding area......and even come from the bedding area out to it for a last snack before bedding. I had deer in this area yesterday until lunchtime.
Sightings (and I know I saw some deer multiple times)......were 26, Friday morning....and at least 50, yesterday morning and evening. This is , undoubtedly, my hottest spot to hunt this time of year. If your deer are in there.....why would you stay out?