Doc T.??........... WCW?????........

How was opening day? Any luck?

Only made it out a few hours before sunset myself. Did some still hunting, woods were really quite from the rain, nothing like hunting eye-to-eye. Did see one rub along a trail, hope this is a sign of good things to come. Moon is overhead before dark and will be full in a few days, perhaps this will kick off the pre-rut and get the boys moving, marking their areas.

Still have my electronic eyes out but, seeing only one buck now as compared to seeing them in groups. Another sign the guys are getting ready to put their nose to the wind.

Hope all is well.

I had to work so I did not hunt, in fact I won't be out there til Thursday and Friday.
I did set up my new "outhouse blind" on the flats near my other blind... here's a couple of the views I will have...
 

Nice looking area...... got those field cams set up to see what's lurking when your not there?

I set two cams up looking in opposite directions under my stand. That way, should the deer be there when I'm not, I'll have pictures to eat. (lol)

Full moon with lunar eclipse the morning of the 8th should get the pre-rut into full swing.

Keep in touch....... Good luck... Bag a big one.

BTDT........... said that.

Looks like there are still a lot of ferns after 14 years of herd reduction.
it's still that way in a area where I used to hunt on the game lands. Very few deer there now but still lots of ferns. Doubt that a soil PH of 4.6 has anything to do with it. LOL

Here's a tip if you know that you will be hunting a given area. Pull your trail cameras and put them in a different area. Let the cameras scout for you.
 
BH

S-10, 
You just couldn't resist, Could you? 
Doc,
Is that a travel corridor? Looks pretty open to hold them very long, but then I'm used to the swamps of Crawford Cnty. where a view like that is rare.
Mike

S-10
Looks like there are still a lot of ferns after 14 years of herd reduction.it's still that way in a area where I used to hunt on the game lands. Very few deer there now but still lots of ferns. Doubt that a soil PH of 4.6 has anything to do with it. LOL

Hee he.......... they had it wrong S-10, when they said 'PH'. (giggle.... giggle) They were thinking 'POS' but, now they can't, Gary has left the building. (chuckle..... snark).

Coyote--You know the history

these flats have looked like this since the 70s... basically mature cherry trees a few maples and FERNS.. that's it... you can see many down and leaning cherry trees in the photos that are just so old they have died..
 
 
pick #1 is looking due east... to the North about 75 yards away is a camp, my house, my 2 pastures, and neighbor's  farm fields...
 
picture #2 is looking South.. the flats go out then down a steep hill, across some more flat land (100 yards) then a stream with loads of pines and hemlocks on both sides of the water.. up a hill and across some more flats.. a big hollow ... that I no longer venture down into ... :)
 
 
#3 is West ...  where you see what looks like better woods starting is the start of  slow slopping grounds with lots of hemlocks and pines ... 
 
the deer travel across these flats going to and coming from the fields , they bed in the Hemlocks or go down into the hollow along the stream.
 
Rarely do they stop on the flats.  Where the blind is, is where they start to slow and check out the yard and pasture, and fields... and the apple trees in the nearby camp.
 
I have shot many deer on these flats, but I also stay on my property in a blind... not out on the flats ...
 
I can not tell you how many times I have seen guys post out on the flats and "****" because they see no deer on the flats.. REALLY .. like...  they can see you from 300 yards away in that bright orange outfit ...LOL>>>LOL
 
This "outhouse blind' is between three small Hemlocks, the only ones on the entire "flats"

BloodyHand
Here's a tip if you know that you will be hunting a given area. Pull your trail cameras and put them in a different area. Let the cameras scout for you.
 
BH

BH you are right plus this keeps your scent out of your hunting area.
If your after older bucks it makes a difference.
If you only hunt one spot be smart about where your placing cams.
And if possible check them right before a heavy rain.
 
WCW