How did everyone find thier favorite hunting stand?

[Jacob Huffman]

I remember back in 1984 when my uncle took me to his private land for my first time.We walked around so I could find me a spot for that deer season.He took me to this spot they called DOE ALLEY.He said there were always alot of does but they saw very few bucks there so they quite hunting the area.He told me I could hunt there if I wanted that spot,so I said sure looks nice.There were 3 runways,well used in the snow and it was on the edge of hardwwods and cedar swamp.It was only my second year hunting so I didnt know much yet but the runways were hard to say no to,they were everywhere.Well that year and the next 13 I took 8 bucks out of DOE ALLEY.Every year they would ask me if I wanted to trade spots(they must have been on dope) but of course I stayed put.After 14 years hunting there they sold it and I had to move.I got lucky and was able to start hunting the land directly adjacent to it.I have been there for 5 years this year.I have gotten 3 bucks missed my first one ever,and got 3 does from my new blind.I love the new blind almost as much,but it is on the edge of a field and it gets kind of boreing looking into the field.I can see deer coming for about 400 yards.I like the woods better because to me you never get bored because it is so close they could just appear on a seconds notice.Good luck to all this year.....

[bivenser]

Equal parts scouting and trial and error

[One Eye]

Hard work!!

[Tecumseh]

I could not find any so I had to buy one:lol: . This will be my first season hunting out of the blinds on my new farm. I am hopeful as there are a lot of deer in that area.

[Oct.1]

:yeahthat:

Did the same last Dec.
Been scouting since then.
Have two nice places I will set up on over Labor Day

[john warren]

started watching what my hunting buddies were doing, and what it caused the deer to do. their all younger fellows and just have to trek long distance into the swamp, or that sweet spot the saw on the other side or the cedars.

the deer watch them and circle back around them. we've all seen the tracks when the've done this. im sure you've seen it too.

i simple get out of the truck and too my stand abuot 75 yards from the truck quickly while they mess about.
when they go off to there selected site i sit quietly, even napping a bit.
in a half hour or so those deer circle back right into my lap.

best part is those 75 yard drags.

now if i could be patient enough to wait for the deer to be aimed towards my truck before i shoot,,,,hmmm.

[SR-Mechead]

Took it from my son. (Perfect) :lol:

[victor mi pro bowhunter]

luck :)

[Little Roober]

I was scouting mid day and found an area with a ton of tracks coming out of a corn field into a bean field. I sat there that evening and had the pleasure of a 4 point coming out of the corn about five feet away from me (i was on the ground) i was shaking so bad!He got about ten yards away walked behind a tree so i drew back and he popped out and i missed.:o:sad:

[Randy Kidd]

Back in the early sixties Dad would take us boys out to Gregory small game hunting. We would drive from Taylor. Back then small game was pretty much it. Then in the mid 70s deer started to move in..So I have been hunting the same area sometimes the same stands for pretty much 43 years..not counting the 10 I took off when I was in the service of "Uncle Sugar" as we called the Army..It's still a great place to hunt, There are more deer and smallgame there now than there ever has been, except for the few years of the early and mid 90s when the place was just lousy with game..

[D_Hunter]

Chewing up alot of boot leather looking for the "right" spot on my new place. I have a good idea of where I want to be...of course at the complete opposite side of the property, its only a 1/2 mile deep.

Apples and Oak/acorns seem to be doing quite well this year.

[Thunderhead]

Well that year and the next 13 I took 8 bucks out of DOE ALLEY.Every year they would ask me if I wanted to trade spots(they must have been on dope)

LOLOLOL :)

Found mine my scouting and watching what was going on.
They rotate with the crops, so I have a couple, just depends what's planted where.

[jmoser]

I hunt the side of a steep slope in PA. There is a big 'knob' or crown that sticks way up on the side of the hill, the deer travel laterally along the side of the slope until they take a sharp turn and hug the base of that knob around and up the hill toward the thick hemlock bedding area.

I guess the deer feel protected with their one flank covered, it is pretty open on the other side. Bonus is that there is a lot of acorn/beechnut/hickory nut mast in the area, deer will graze as they move through this area. Funny thing is that I have seen 5X the number of deer in mid-day hours than I ever have at dawn/dusk, I believe they hang out near the bottom woodline edges at first light, take their time moving slowly uphill as day progresses.

It is a natural travel corridor but there is no obvious 'trail,' plenty of sign over a wide area.

Took me a while to figure out the movement patterns; this is 'real' hunting in the woods with no farm crops, open fields, etc . . . . ;) I know what you mean about them just appearing in front of you, would be nice to have a 400 yard approach so I could glass them out for once, although I am getting good at that Ol' quick shot . . . :D

Bottom Line - common sense [food + sign] coupled with a little right place at the right time. For the big buck I bet I need to move uphill and stake out the thick, shaded hemlock stands well before dawn and/or until dark.