brancher147 wrote:headgear wrote:Sometimes in bigwoods you have to throw food sources out the window, I've watched deer feed for hours in swamps and bogs where you wouldn't think there would be much food. Certainly early season they can be on acorns and on cuttings but as the season moves on the food gets less important, stick to those bedding areas and you will find the deer.
I see just the opposite in big woods. Food is key especially later in the season. We have all mature timber and mountains with no browse so acorns are key. In places where there is more browse I would agree food is less important.
I like to find acorns in secluded areas and hunt near bedding or terrain features connecting buck cruising/ doe bedding.
I agree with brancher could just be my area but every property here has cover but without food I don’t find deer. The only way I consistently get on them is whips from snow/November on and snow tracking. Sometimes during the rut but I sit a lot of hours to see a buck. I usually beat my head against the wall in October. Food and deer are kinda ubiquitous right now. I don’t have much for oaks or apples in my area so it might be different for you in that regard