Rockport, I'm in Winston County, Alabama.

As for what they're eating, I can't say for certain. I know there are no farms in this side of the county; the ground is too rocky and there are too many canyons. People have garden plots, but those are all dried up now. So the deer aren't eating ag stuff. There are oak trees around, mostly the ones with huge acorns. I think that's black oak. Anyway, hogs, squirrels, and deer all seem to leave them behind. There are white oaks and a few red oaks around, but there aren't any that I can find on the land I'm allowed to hunt, nor on the land next to it. In all, land I can hunt and land I can walk but not hunt is about 350 acres or so, and I've not found any food sources that really stand out. I'm not experienced enough to be able to tell what they're eating if the obvious signs aren't present.

I went and walked it again today. The land is backed up against Smith Lake, but the shoreline is rocky and steep. I've found a very small pond in the middle of the property that I think they're watering at. I didn't have time to check everything, but I may can make that work, especially if the owner will let me hang a stand.

Oldtimr, I can't make too many changes to the land in question. The gentleman who gave me permission is careful about such things because others have abused his permission in the past. He may let me hang a stand, but other than lopping off the odd branch or cutting a sapling here and there I don't think he will allow me to do much at all.