So far, my logbook showsjust about40 hours so far (non-hunting) wandering around in my hunting areas for 2008... But then again, the new area I'm focusing on is the better part of 20,000 acres. Just got in the door from another all-dayer.

I'm pretty sure I'm gonna wear out a pair of shoes in there this year.


Here's a realmonster. LOL



To more fully answer your question, Jeff - right now, I'm just putting on raw mileage - logbooking every huntable stand of white oaks, every accessible pinchpoint/saddle/favorable formationand monitoring the varying deer densities all over the area. Just trying to get a firm grip on where the deer are, how many there are, what they're eating, when they're eating it, where they're traveling and with what regularity.

Once summer comes, I spend less time in the woods, and more time glassing fields. Since I don't run any trail cams, this is how I gauge the age structure and determing what is a "good" buck for the area.

In the fall, I'll revisit every oak grove and scout for the currentmast-producers.

Sure, I'm hunting public land, but I wanna guarantee myself that my precious hunting time is spent in the best possible stand sites. That's the biggest positive aspect of public hunting - HUGE ACREAGE. There is a ton of ground - and if you put the time in, you'll find more than enough dynamite stand sites to keep you busy for a whole season.