If you knew you would be hunting a totally different piece of woods, how long before you are comfortable within a specific area to setup a strategy?

Plus, whatsign(s) do you see that makes you decide to setup there?

No pre-season scouting. You are in a new area during hunting season and the rut is in full swing.

Edit - Also adding this is miles of big woods with no fields, farm crops etc.

If the rut is in full swing and you are going in without any previous knowledge, look for rubs and a scrapes. Try to determine where the deer are bedding and where they are traveling to. Set up along the trail(s) watching the wind and you should see deer. During the rut if you can find where the does are a lot of the times the bucks will be there. After the rut if you can find a plentiful food source near where the deer are bedding, that is where the bucks will come to.

I've had this happen to me a few times. And i used Aerial and topo maps. Find natural funnels and SADDLES. Saddles work great in in Missouri Ozarks. Deer are lazy they will take the path of least resistance from point A to point B.

buckeye, do you know where to get a topo map online for an area? I've tried using google earth and a topo plugin for it, didn't work though...just wondering if you had any suggestions...thanks

Try this site. I use once in a while!

http://www.digital-topo-maps.com/

Wayne from NH