They are falling here in Illinois. My girlfriend and I have been watching deer the past two weeks feed under 3 large oak trees just outisde her dorm window.

mo bohunter you could try Indian Trail Park, its really close to me 14000 acres, and has a lot of deer, its north of salem about 14 miles, it gets some pressure but is large enough, that if you walk in a ways, you can get into some great hunting.. One other place to check is White Trace Conservation Area,, its east of salem off of highway H i think, its smaller but doesnt get much pressure on the deer,, it gets managed a lot for birds, quail mostly, some great deer hunting there. Let me know if you have any more questions.

Woodson K. Woods is a good place to hunt like stated before you have to put some boot on the ground. I walked from 8 east parking lot last year all the way back to the river valley seen allot of deer and stuck a doe in her bed had to walk back to the truck to get my dad to help get her out. I walked from daylight to after dark that day but I put some meet in the freezer and had a great time with my dad. (I’m 34 and he is 65 and I can’t keep up with him.)

So where exactly is the East parking lot for Woodson k. Woods. I think I was at the west parking lot; there is a campground across the street. Driving from St. James which side of the road is it on and is it past Meremac Springs?

The east parking lot is on the right side of hwy 8 going west just before you get to the Meremac river bridge.
http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/...es/7103MAP.PDF

Ahh yes, the east parking lot has the access to the meremac. I was down there one evening and saw 4 turkeys run across the parking lot in my rearview mirror lol.

Hey guys I grew up in Cuba and hunted that area all my life. If you want a place to hunt in that area that gets little hunting pressure go to the lookout tower in Rosati. It is over at the North side along I-44. I have bow hunted it a couple of times with a buddy of mine when I go back to town. I not sure if they have gun hunting in there are not. It is just a smal trac maybe 60 80 acres that gets over looked. I have always seen deer in there. Walking is pretty easy compared to Woodson. Not near the hills. Also If you guys have access to a boat or canoe go into Woodson that way. Thats the way we always went in. No scense in walking that terrain if you don't have to.

Acorns from all of the oaks around my stand were dropped and eaten before the opener! Bummer Bummer Bummer! Thats where I see all my deer in the early season. But I also think that that means the Rut is that much closer.