I had a plan with one of my spots this year. I hunted it sparingly early in the season, and once November hit I didn't set foot in it. The idea being, create a place for the deer to feel safe once the firearms season rolled around. They get pressured pretty good around here.

The thought was, by my staying out of there and returning on a favorable wind AFTER the firearms season, I may be able to catch one in an area he feels safe.

Well, I had that wind this evening so I went in. The neighbor lady was walking her dog around an adjacent field, so I didn't see any deer....BUT...

This hill always has a well used trail at the bottom, and a slightly less used trail across the top. Well this evening there was a brand new trail cutting diagonally across it, and it was trampled to mud! This is a HOT trail, and this hill is between 2 doe bedding areas. There is also some browse on that hill I've seen them munching on before....

I've gotten out of the habit of hunting sign, but this was just too hot to pass up.....I'll be back in there in the morning.

Good luck to all this weekend!