Ok, we have two full weeks left in the PA Archery season, and I'm starting to enter panic mode I've already filled my doe tag which I wanted to do before the rut started to begin, so I'm happy I can just concentrate on the boys now. However, I'm becoming a little indecisive and losing a bit of confidence in my current stand locations. Let me show you and arial of my land (I've already posted this, but I want to reference it again).



The yellow dots are my stand locations, the red border is my property line. Now, I was just starting to see some young bucks for the first time Saturday chasing in the bottom right area of my property (near the food plot stand and the stand just southeast of it). Friday night, my uncle spotted a very nice 8-10point cross our driveway (you can see my driveway winding in the bottom of the picture within the red boundry). The deer crossed (at 5:30pm) what I figure to be somewhere inbetween the two stands I have identified there in the lower right hand corner. Sat morning I found two nice rubs JUST south of the stand in the far bottom right (the one bordering the property ling and the field), so I know there's a decent buck in this area. This is also where I had a 4pt come within 5 yards of me during a still hunt. I know the does bed toward the bottom edge of the field in the far bottom right of this picture (even though it's off the property line, I have permission from the land owner to scout on it, just not hunt). Hunting out of the stand in the lower right hand I've seen does come out into that field off the property every time. No bucks yet, but instinct is telling me that as long as the does keep coming, the bucks will too. However, I'm leary of this stand due to the fact that looking at the arial and scouting sign, it just doesn't seem like a place a buck would travel, and the lack of sign makes it all the more worse. I shot my last archery buck in 2003 out of this stand, and he came down from the north chasing does, so this site has always kind of attracted me back, although there doesnt seem to be anything that makes this site stand out. Basically my reasons for keeping the stand site are: A: Does do come into the field, although haven't fed into the woods on my line yet). B: I shot my last buck in this area.


Ok, on tow my 2nd "hopeful honeyhole". The stand in between bedding areas in the upper left (right near the potential stand site). This place has really never shown too much sign as far as rubs/scrapes, but it's thick, I see does there a lot (although I'll get to that in a minute), and the fact that during the 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002, and 2006 seasons I've seen at least one shooted buck in there. Problem is, I was busted there about 3 weeks ago (I was getting down at last light and there were a group of does that snuck in behind me and I never knew they were there). I let the area sit for a week, and have hunted it occasionally, but since then I haven't seen a deer. This was also the site where I shot my doe this season.

Ok, I know I'm rambling, but I feel like I'm losing time, and not seeing enough to convince me something is going to present itself, so what do you guys think. My two sites I expanded on our my "prime" evening stands. The food plot stands are mostly morning sites, so I won't elaborate much on them. Many of you commented on the finger of woods jutting in between the two corn fields. On paper that looks to be a textbook site, but the finger is only about 10-15yds wide and I've never seen too much in there. I do have a trail camera in there, and I will be checking it soon. I just don't feel like they're in the corn a whole lot yet. So, my point being, what would you guys do? Abandon the sites and try new ones, or keep hunting the ones I have and hope for the best?

If I do keep hunting the stands, how often would you suggest hunting these each consecutively (assuming the wind is right)? One, two, three, as many as it takes? I have a tendency to hunt a stand no more than two days in a row before I really lose confidence in it. Is this too hasty? Again, sorry for the long winded post, I'm just looking for some advice. Thanks guys.

Matt, I really like that strip of trees between thetwo corn fields. Without laying eyes on the land would look to set a stand about 3/4 of an inch to the right of were you haved potential stand site. Looks like there is a trail/road there too? Travel corridors leading to and from food and doe hangouts are great for the rut. Don't let the bust scare you, those does are way more worried about the big boy chasing them right now.

I know where you are at in the panic mode. I was headed there but we got the best two weeks ahead and if we had shoot a buck by now we would be thinking that we missed out. Get out there and stick one. Good luck.

Yeah I was actually looking at putting up a stand right where you mentioned. I'm not sure yet. It would be a great stand for our primarily westerly winds. It's a bit frustrating, because I'm taking my hunting so seriously this year finally. I spray down every evening with scent killer, keep my clothes in a scent tight bag, I change in the field (completely...even my underlayers), and never keep anything hunting related in my vehicle or in my house. I'm playing the winds when hunting, and placing stand based on exit/entry routes, and I still haven't so much as had a legal buck within bow range. I get on here and read about all the bucks guys have shot and/or passed, and I'm in amazment. I have so much more to learn, I suppose

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i completely agree
this is a obvious funnel
this would probably be one of your best stand sites on your farm
i guarentee you see more deer there than you have any where else

Yeah, I agree that it certainly does look great looking at that Arial Map, but honestly, I've never seen too much sign in there, but I do have a trail cam up in there so I'll check it tonight. I'll probably hunt the area between the two bedding areas tonight due to the WSW wind we are supposed to have. We'll see...anymore suggestions?

Not sure how current your arial map is. Almost in the center of the plott (under the potential stand site and even under that Bedding site area) looks to me that there is a creek drainage. If it were me, I would put some focus there. You could come in by the path hang a left set up and never spook the bedding deer. They will traverse those drainages off and on all day specially during the rut. Also the drainage coming out of the western bedding area site.

As some of the more experienced whitetail hunters tell you, buck sign isnt everything. Sure its great that you find scrapes and rubs in an area, but that doesnt mean hes there when you need him to be. Right now that finger of woods will be a great spot during the rut. THe does will funnel out of there and the bucks will be with the does. I would also hunt that stand you got busted in as well as the food plot stand hard. I hunt does more in the rut, because where there are does, there are bucks. Basically,I think you might be overthinking this.Good luck
Brent