Finding a hot doe is a lot of leg work. First of all during the rut I am not concerned with scaring deer. I walk around looking for sign of a hot doe without care of bumping deer or making noise. I want to cover a lot ofground fastand I can't do that ***** footing around. Snow is great for this and makes it easy. Just look for a lot of tracks in an area. Signs of chasing going on. If there isn't any snow then look for other sign. The leaves will be all turned up. Scrapes that have been abandoned will be ripped open again. Get right in there and determine how long ago it was freshenred. New rubs will be made on trees. I only target an area if the sign is fresh. REAL FRESH. WITHIN 12 hours. Remember, a buck will only stay with a doe for about 48 hr. Once I find a hot area I start scouting the area. I make a circle around the area and look for stand sites. Thick cover areas. bottle necks, trails etc. I do a fast scout job and set up right away. I don't care what time of day it is. I start hunting it right away. Time is of the essence. Keep in mind they like to move to heavy cover. I don't agree with others as to why they do it. But the important thing is that they do it! Hunt the area all day. during the rut noon is just as good as dawn and dusk. If I have luck I will try for one more day. Other bucks will smell that hot doe and will be traveling around the area looking for her. Who knows, there may be many bucks after that doe.
I would rather spend time looking for a hot area then sit for days watching an area hoping for a buck to show up. something that many people don't understand is that smart old bucks still prefer to check for does at night. I believe a lot of the big ones you see during the rut are eithor on a hot trail, with a doe, or leaving one after breeding. If a big one checks doe areas during the night and finds one they will most likely end up in some thick cover before you show up for the day to watch that area. So you are in the right place but the wrong time. This works good in big woods areas. but it could work anywhere. If you hunt a small woodlot type setting and overnight chase sign opens up you better call in sick and park your butt out there all day.