I've got a piece of property (access) that I've never stepped foot on. I KNOW deer use this as a travel route.....but, to be honest.....I've been tactically "lazy" by thinking I could take care of all my deer hunting wants AND "needs" by hunting property that I'm familiar with.

I need to go in there and give it the proverbial "once-over". I'm thinking of going during lunch, today. I know to look for trails (however faint with all the dry weather)......and maybe some rubs (new or from last year.....though I haven't seen a new rub, yet, this year). I might not hunt this area for a while.....but one never knows. I suppose a creek crossing would tell me soem things, too.

I guess I'm just thinking out loud......

I has been super dry here in Southern Illinois and deer sign in my hunting spots has been almost nothing. But went hunting this past Wednesday for the first time and the deer are still there. Almost on the same patterns they were last year. But I was getting worried too!!

Got a map Jeff...Diesel, Firemedic, Buckeye and others.. always see, something note-worthy...post it up.

I'd get an aerial pic of the place off yahoo maps and post it up. How big is the lot? Is this part of the woods you normally hunt?

Yeah, and aeiral might get you started in the right spot...ive actually seen a few scrapes already too so you never know what you might find

I just went over there and snooped around a little. I don't think this place holds deer......but it sure looks like a good travel corridor. There's a retnetion pond (of course, it's dry) that has moist enough soil to show their trails. I've got a good tree picked out that will be a great observation point. It might take me a few hunts to get on them.....but I think this spot MAY produce. At least it's close enough to my core hunting area to make a difference if I can take a couple of does.....and it's far enough away that I can hunt it without screwing up my best spots. it'll keep me out of the other area.....if nothing else.

I'll likely hunt it an evening or two, next week. We'll see.

Did you see any white oaks, or pin oaks???
Persimmons should also be ripe in the next week or so, grapes are about gone..

It sems when im hunting a new area i really like to set up in a tree where i can watch deer movement and then pinpoint where there moving and move in on them. The scouting time is very valuable

That's exactly the type place I picked out, Michael.

Hopefully you see a bunch of deer movin through the area! Good luck Jeff