Maybe last year I was on a honeyhole, but I distinctly remember hiking through the woods right around this time of year (I know for SURE it was still August) scouting for possible stand locations on some newly-accessed land and coming across deer runs or trails so beat-down you'd think they were cowpaths. I marked some of the intersections down on the GPS and never returned until opening day of bow season. Needless to say I experienced success there, but politics have forced me to hunt elsewhere this fall[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-mad.gif[/img]Well, I was back out in the timber of some different property this past weekend that, from the aerial photos I printed out, looked to be VERY promising as well. Good hardwood ridges and bottoms with soybeans, corn and ponds scattered throughout. Basically, all the right ingredients for big buck paradise. As I wandered through the woods of this property, I was assurred there were deer there by many old stands and several tracks. However, although I did find trails, they were not NEARLY as used-up as the ones I had found last year. Did the other property just have way more deer? Are these deer not using the trails right now? I'd just like to know why I didn't find what I'd really set out to discover on this new acreage.

 

It's really hard to say. Here in Southern Indiana, deer stay to the edges of woods this time of year to avoid the bugs and crap deeper in the woods. Do you have access to a "game camera" to set up and monitor your trails? They really work and a 35mm is close to 50 bucks now. From what you have said, I would say the deer will be there, just maybe not now.

What site did you use to copy your arial photos? I have found a few but nothing that has good resolution. Just wondering.

 

Actually my dad is a cop and has access to free aerial imagery at various zoom levels.

 

A couple of things to remember about August. For one , this time of year the bucks antlers are in velvet & their bodies are craving protien. They will forego some of the food that is more palletable to them & eat mostly forbs & browse. This may take them to other places than they normally frequent , which is wherever the does are normally. The next time they will require this much protien is when they grow their winter coat. The second thing to remember is to make sure the spots you are scouting have plenty of does hanging around. When the rut starts all bets are off with the bucks. They don't care about food, protection or anything else for that matter except for doe nooky. Wherever the does are the bucks will be there. Find out when the rut occurs in your area & hunt it heavy during that week or so. A third thing about this time of year is how the bucks will run together. This too changes as does start coming into estrus. The bucks start to fight each other to show their dominance & chase does 24 /7. They become loners & move constantly with their nose to the ground. I have hunted Texas all my life & we're able to hunt corn feeders here. The big bucks never ever ever come to the feeders (during the day). Thats how they become mature , big bucks. During the rut though , if a doe is close to coming in, & goes to a feeder the buck will be right behind her. I guess what I'm saying is that if there is signs of activity but no deer , they will prbably be back & if there are does but no bucks , they will be back as well.