UncleNorby

In NH, where I used to live, it was important to determine where the feed would be in the fall. The #1 fall deer food there is acorns. You can't always rely on a crop every year, so I would cruise the oak stands in late summer with a pair of binocs. Once I found the stands with the best crops, I relied on knowledge of past years to determine travel patterns and stand locations. The does will be in the oaks to feed, and the bucks will be checking in on the does, so I'd generally set up to intercept the bucks. I didn't try to set up to see a lot of does, but concentrated on rub-lines that the bucks would be using.

Here in Indiana, it's a whole different deal. The deer here are feeding heavily on Ag. crops, and they spend a lot of their time in cornfields rather than woods. But, it's the same concept.