Narrowing it down.

[KLEMZ]

I specifically look for potential bedding areas and hard to access places that generally involve water of some kind. Sometimes these places are way back and other times they are just a couple hundred yards off of a road but finding places that most will not travel is the key.

x2

When you walk a public property for the first time, go directly to the hardest to access bedding/transition terrain you have identified on your maps. If you encounter human sign there you may as well save yourself alot of time and move on to the next property on your list. One exeption would be spots that tend to be overlooked by hunters, you should still check for those. IMO

[Buckfever]

I look at factors which protect the buck age structure in some fashion. Antler restriction, earn a buck, doe only in October, Anterless only for the gun season, earn a buck for the gun season, limited access. Then would come the other factors mentioned, diffficulty of access, challenging terrain etc.

[JRM6868]

What kind of terrain are you hunting? It will help people give you more specific answers to your question based on terrain.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[Stanley]

I would drive around the areas early evening/morning for a few days before the stsrt of season, find where the deer are moving.
Then go in ASAP and kill one.

If you want only big bucks it gets more complicated.....

I think this is a great point.

[Stanley]

What kind of terrain are you hunting? It will help people give you more specific answers to your question based on terrain.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

Makes a huge difference.

[dreaming bucks]

What kind of terrain are you hunting? It will help people give you more specific answers to your question based on terrain.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

Makes a huge difference.

Sure does

[ Post made via Android ]