I read up alot on deer and water. It appears they are great swimmers, and will not hesitate swimming miles to cross lakes. I have hunted Lake Anna andthe two rivers that flow into Louisa where my land is.

I have noticed that deer will bed down close by the creeks, tributaries, and of course as close between ag fields and the water as they can. It is a sound I love to hear when a whiteail jumps in a creek and swims, walks, or simply cools off in the streams.

If its in their environment, certainly look for figers, funnels, creek crossing, and bedding areas close by their well used trails. I read one place where a deer was spotted 5 miles from sight of land, so we know they will cross a lake and join up with herds on the other side.

I was fishing in the James River, 30 ft deep and the current was moving pretty well. I noticed two heads in the water, paddled the canoe over to them and could reach out to touch them so we know the are not at all againstcrossing large bodies of water.

When you come down, the two rivers we hunt near are the North and South Anna rivers. You will be suprised at the trails that go to one shore, dissappear and end up on the other shore a good 40 yrds just to get to food.