Easiest way for you to learn deer sign and tracking deer in your area is to go to anyone of the state parks daily and track deer. They have a ton of them and you can learn quickly what is fresh sign vs 12 hour old sign vs a day old...... As for getting a spot to hunt loaded with deer, just talk to some friends and bring up the out of control deer problem. That always get's the conversation rolling. From there slip in that you're looking for a place to bow hunt. It is just that easy there.

Oldtimer, you make the joke about the deer sign but it's actually has some truth behind it. The DMV puts up those signs whenever X amount of cars hit deer.