Today I hunted an area that I've been to before and seen deer, but today the wind was from the South and steady so I was going to work to the end of a N-S ridge. 2 hours and 3/4 of a mile later I'm at the end, and I like what I see. Greenbriar and high-stem count on the west slope, Oaks on the east side. Started looking for a tree to climb when I stopped and thought: No rubs or scrapes, no notable trails or beds, no balloons or poop. Looks pretty but no signs of life.
Disappointed I dropped partway down the western slope to scout back, and about 150 yards I get a draw running up to the ridge and with the leaves mostly down I can see 300-400 feet down the draw and over to the next ridge. Looks like a good spot to take a brake, shed a layer and glass for a bit. 10 minutes later I spot some movement and a group of 5 does moves off the far ridge, into the draw and up the ridge I'm on, right through the oaks I discounted. They weren't running, just walking. I lost sight of them when they hit the greenbriar, but they didn't appear to stop. I can't circle in front of them because they were heading into a closed area, but I can get to where they came from, so I head back to the Jeep, because its on the way and to restock on water. Why is it 75 degrees on November 1st?
10 feet behind the Jeep is a fresh scrape that wasn't there when I started. That's it, I'm done for today.
Disappointed I dropped partway down the western slope to scout back, and about 150 yards I get a draw running up to the ridge and with the leaves mostly down I can see 300-400 feet down the draw and over to the next ridge. Looks like a good spot to take a brake, shed a layer and glass for a bit. 10 minutes later I spot some movement and a group of 5 does moves off the far ridge, into the draw and up the ridge I'm on, right through the oaks I discounted. They weren't running, just walking. I lost sight of them when they hit the greenbriar, but they didn't appear to stop. I can't circle in front of them because they were heading into a closed area, but I can get to where they came from, so I head back to the Jeep, because its on the way and to restock on water. Why is it 75 degrees on November 1st?
10 feet behind the Jeep is a fresh scrape that wasn't there when I started. That's it, I'm done for today.