Arenac/Gladwin County,
About 100 acres, 30 acres of hardwoods with100 acres of CRP and ag fields around it. Some woods on the neighboring properties, mostly small parcels with fingers of woods running to bigger portions of woods,but mostly ag. fields. Don't use any food plots, we're still allowed to bait so we have a couple small bait piles. I agree with Bob S. Good cover is a key. Our blinds are set up on the edges of the woods and no one really enters the woods prior to deer season unless the rare person bowhunts. We also have a sanctuary area of5 acres of thick pines and hardwoods with a water source that NO ONE enters unless trailing a deer or rabbit hunting after the season. I really think this helps. WithA lot of the area gettinggood hunting pressure, this area isreal thick and the deer know they won't be disturbed.I don't have any pictures uploaded at work, but area looks like Bob S. pictures, except without the monster buck . I think the key is to have some pines which give great security cover. All these smart bucks need is a few to break up there silouette and give them a direction to run so they won't be seen. A good food plot will def. help, but Cover in my experience on lots under 100 acres is the key, especially if the huntingland around you is hunted hard. You may disagree, but many people plant food plots and have feed, but few concentrate on good habitat for them to bed in. These deer all spread out to feed, but if there is a good bedding area, they will all come back to that place for safety. Catch the big boys on the way out of bedding right before sunset and catch them on there way in right at dawn. Just my 2 cents, hope it helps. If anyone disagrees, please let me know, the more info I can get the better, always looking for better information! That deer of my dream still is out there somewhere and I want him on my hunting land come, 7:15 AM November 15th!!