Purdy excited for next Saturday.

[Jack Peterson]

I'm hunting on 20 acres of rolling hills covered in oaks, with 4 ponds. To the North is a thick "swamp" with hunting pressure, to the East is an oak woods with a little hunting pressure, to the south is a road, and to the west is a woods with nobody hunting. To the NW and SW of my stand are two ponds. I'm set on a hill between these two ponds. To my SE is a larger pond next to the road. The deer are funneled between numerous hills straight towards my stand.

While I was out walking through the woods looking for obvious signs of nicer bucks, I spotted a set of hoof prints on an atv path 20 yards from my stand. This deer has to be huge! The prints were almost as big as my hand, and it wasn't muddy. Hopefully the neighbors will push these/this deer straight into my line of sight.

I've never taken a decent buck, and I'm hoping this is the year!

New gun - check. New property - check. New luck - ?

Also, should I make some mock scrapes to get the big guys interested? This woods is literally covered in rubs and scrapes, but I think they're all from tiny turds that I don't want to shoot.

[fishuhalik]

I think were all curdy pumped for this weekend Jack! If I was you I'd try a little scent first, I really like tinks. Put some on a sponge and attach it to your boots when you walk in, then put some fresh scent on the wick and hang it from a twig about 20yards from your stand. Also, if the area has some pressure like you said, don't be afraid to sit it out all day. Often the other people getting out for lunch will push the deer right to ya. Scent cover and playing the wind right is crucial too. Just remember, you make your own luck, and with that said good luck to ya!

[skee0025]

I'm a bit envious, I've only recently given up deer hunting in Minnesota and it feels strange not getting ready to head out this weekend.

[mrklean]

yeah i would sit it out all day on a smaller chunk like that with pressure around you thats prime time for getting deer scared your way