First of all I would like to thank each and every hunter in this forum your advice is very much appreciated!! Now my question I have been hunting a 16 acre tract, the north boundry is river, probably 12 feet wide and 4-6 feet deep. Today I was walking along the river bank and it is covered with deer tracks! there are places where the bank is only accessable through water, are the deer swimming across or what? I have never seen deer swim but I am assuming that it is possible. There is really no where to place a stand other than in a tree maybe, any info would be graetly appreciated thanks and have a good day!! DLB

Yes deer swim but I doubt that they're swimming much here. From the sounds of it there are that many tracks along the bank because it is acting as a barrier funneling deer. The deer are leery of crossing so they are following the river banks. It sounds like you have a good spot if you can find a place to set up. There's also the possibility that somewhere along that river as spot exists where the deer can cross easily. I'd look into it more.

Yes deer swim, if the river is 12 foot wide a deer if they wish can jump that distance easily. That being said you have an excellent spot to hunt, just use the wind, if the wind is blowing towards the river just take a stand right along the river, if it is blowing from the river then set your stand downwind from the river.

The Tazman aka Martin Price
Founder and President of
Virginia Disabled Outdoorsmen Club