Sure, we'll keep in touch on this forum. Like I said I'll be there Mid October for 3-4 weeks.

Just to relate my tactics a bit..its no secret. A deer that lives to 3.5-5 years knows how to avoid danger. He is the first to stop in his tracks and reverse field at a human scent trail. So;

1) Post season scout so you don't push BIG deer into other Hunters
2) Locate a hang area for a big buck. Just look for size of prints, scat, yes rubs but they don't really tell size, second best of all is BEDS..they tell body size..then you look for sheds. If you find the SET of sheds..that means its a hang area (antlers don't drop both at once)..that deer spends allot of time there. This is what I call the CORE. The DEER HANGS THERE ALLOT OF TIME
3) When you find a target buck...scout his approaches..trails in and out of the CORE. (DON'T SETUP in the CORE..you'll just move him out with your scent and push him into other hunters). Get a TOPO map and look for draws/funnels..then scout them

4) Set your ambushes up at several 3-4 spots based on trails/distance from core and at least the prevailing wind direction and another wind direction (all 4 if you have time and there are crossing trails) Try and get a backdrop of trees/cover to help breakup the setup..if none there..you have to go high..25' to 30 Ft (BTW practice shooting from that high!!!)

5) Don't have setups closer thatm 150 Yards from the CORE

6) Plan your entry so as to NOT CROSS MAJOR trails. Come in from the angle least likely the deer will aproach

7) Come in CLEAN. I wear a set of cloths while walking in and 150 yards from my tree I change out into a set of cloths sealed in zip lock bags (I use scent lock too)...I do an alchohol wipe down and change out. Sometimes I wear rubber medical gloves until I get up in my tree if the DEER is BIG and I want NO SCENT AT ALL.

8) VERY IMPORTANT- DON"T REPEADEDLY HUNT THE SAME SPOT. Move around to the other abush spots. I rarely hunt the same tree 2X in a week (unless it rains and I see the target buck). Just remember..your scent stays there after you leave and too many visits will alert that deer. Too many is greater than 2 IMHO

9) and MOST important..LET LESSER DEER WALK!!! WAIT for a shooter


There is allot more..how to position stand..when to call/rattle..when to move off of CORE and setup on Doe Trails during the rut. When to Hunt scrapes..when to abandon scrapes and hunt Doe Core areas....how to use hunting pressure to your advantage at Quantico

You are on the right track if you are passing on 2.5 yr olds! If you see Barry..ask him some advice...he won't tell spots but will confirm tactics. He always stays late after checkin after dark to pickup cross-talk and talk with other trophy hunters.

Listen to cross talk about BIG ones..area/location..what they were doing..etc...then BE CAREFUL about YOUR crosstalk...

WE ARE LISTENING