A big change in the learning curve.
 

I realised this weekend that I have to relearn how to hunt whitetails and it won't be easy. The new land I'm hunting is very different than what I'm used to. I was east Tx cattle land. Mostly pasture with a few large woodlots. Hunting field edges and oak stands is how I got things done. It wasn't hard to pattern deer.
The new land is 300 acres of freshly plowed clearcut and 1700 acres of hardwoods. There are oak trees dropping acorns EVERYWHERE! I can't just go sit a field like I used to and I can't wait in an oak stand, its all oaks.
So far I feel my best odds are a stand watching a trail beside a creek and another overlooking a couple of active scrapes.
Any of you bigwoods hunters have any advice?

RE: A big change in the learning curve.
 

I learned that the doe numbers I "thought" were indicative of our area here (immediate area) aren't what I thought they were. They're less. Even though i'm not hunting in areas I think will hold does.....when I do hunt those areas.....I see less than I would have thought.

There's a learning curve whenever you get outside your "norm", though. I expected that. I went backwards from what many would do.....and identified bedding areas over feeding areas.....and that's how I've hunted them, this year. I'll put the other parts to the puzzle together as the years roll on......but I couldn't be happier with how I've learned where they live. I just about know where the doe groups travel.....and right now that's gotta be a good thing. Last time I went searching for does....I saw eight. I went there this morning, thinking I might find a buck trailing that route. I didn't see the does.....but a buck showed up. He was just the wrong buck. We'll move 1/2 mi. tonight and try to get on some other does. I haven't been in thsi spot in over a month. Then wasn't the time. Now, is. We'll see.

"Big woods" to many is hundreds of acres. When you've been hunting 25 acre parcels (although some of them adjoin).....150 contiguous is "big woods":D.

RE: A big change in the learning curve.
 

i'd like to be able to search out some bedding areas but I'mm kid of handcuffed right now. The hunt club has 20 members and general season just opened so scouting isn't looked upon with much favor right now. The gun hunters don't want anyone stirring up the woods and I don't blame them. I got on this land very late in the game this year and didn't have much time to scout. I'll do better next year I'm sure as the family will go camping out there with me over the summer. I'll have a much better chance to learn the land.

RE: A big change in the learning curve.
 

I feel your pain journeyman, I am on my 3rd year hunting a 1200 acre place that is a cedar thicket with oaks mixed all through the place (dropping acorns). Our whole place looks like a bedding area, did I mention it was thick as all get out, the whole place:D!!!!!! I am still trying to learn what the deer are doing, I will be watching to learn from this thread as well.....;)