A comment to Valentine's post. Unlike some of the western areas that I have hunted where clear views can exceed a mile or more, where I hunt here in Al. a clear shot past 150 yards is extremely rare. More times than not, I am hunting were the ground level view is 50 yards max. So I go up most of the time.

I will argue that a great deal of "hunting" goes into placing a tree stand that ends up being productive. The hunting isnot classic spot-stalk, or even still hunting ... but more in the scouting ahead of time to find that ideal place to set a tree stand .... and figuring out the best route in/out so as to create the least disturbance.

I, like every decent deer hunter down this way that I know, put in days (often weeks) of scouting looking for good spots to set up a ground blind or tree stand. n fact one of my buddies and I spent 5 full days last week scouting and placing lock-on stands where signs were clear and plentiful. Neither of us saw or even jumped a deer as we traveled around the 3100 acres we hunt. But I'll make book that we have located at least 10 great spots ... we'll see by down into mid- December after the late November estrus cycle starts to wane.