Ok, this is my new lurking grounds. It's 160 acres here in SW Ohio. It's owned by an old man who leases some of the property to share croppers. As you can see there is one large soybean patch and two hayfields that just got cut. Everything else is just empty pastures except for the upper right hand pasture has some livestock. There is a nice pond in lower right hand as well. The owner insists that all the deer are seen in the two lower hayfields and even in his backyard. He reports seeing herds up to 20 deer. His grandson used to hunt here and he took about 10 deer total with his bow down by the hayfields. He would setup in the thicker stuff between the hayfields and the pond. Now my thoughts are of course up by the soybeans. I have not had a chance to really scout the area yet, i only did a quick walk through with him. The owner always site in his sunroom on the back of his house and watches the hayfields. He never looks out front and even if he did he could not see the back into the soybeans all that well. What are your thoughts on this property? Where should i start looking first?

I think you have some good funnel between the hay fields leading up to the cow pasture. You might wanna check out those woods between the funnel and the pond also. That's just my opinion from the photo.

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I think every deer on that property will walk by the Southern red dot at some point. The Northern one should produce as well.

The funnel at the top of the hayfields would be my first pick. The deer will travel between the pond and the bean field or the pond and the hay fields. I'd scout it out good to see if they use the woods inbetween as a bedding area before I set up too far in there. The funnel will definately produce sooner or later the way the land lies. Listen to the old man! He knows the land better than anyone. He's like a human trail cam!

I agree with those dots. I especially like the lower dot. I think that they are coming in from the left of that dot from the thick woods off the property. There is also a really nice big pine right on the edge of the pond. I would love to get my 20ft. ladder up in that and cut out a little lane.

I like the top of the hayfields where the red dot is but like the the bottom of the hayfields even better. Not a big fan of areas that have cows in them, the deer I have always hunted stayed out of cow areas.

I would take a hay field over soybeans any day of the week.

I like jmbuckhunter's bottom dot. I would also consider the area between the "D"s where "hayfield" is written. And to the right of the "D" on the right hayfield.

I like jmbucks dots, but I would move them to the edge, just to be less invasive.

I too agree with the pond stand.

I would check some of the smaller wood rows for when the pressure builds.


I am not sure of the deer density, but it looks like you could have a steller place there!!

I would hunt off the hay field. I'm sure they visit the soy bean area, butthere is a lot of cover by the hay field. Plus, you know if the grandson took over 10 deer in that area they are for sure over there.


If you position your stand right, they will have to come by you on the way to and fromthe watering hole. It looks like you are setup on a sweet spot.

Awesome lookin property