10/6/02 Saturday - I didn't plan on going out today, but I checked to see what other hunters were out. Two vehicles were parked at "P" the morning and were hunting somewhere in the woods below. Went by later in the day and one car was still there. Went by again before dark and one was still there.

10/6/02 Sunday - My father said that he saw that vehicle parked there again today. Don't know what they were doing on Sunday, but the scouting should have taken place at least weeks ago.

10/7/02 Monday pm, Wind: 10WNW, Temp: 64, Barometer: 30.04 Rising, Condition: Clear

I hunted stand A. Didn't hear or see anything. Left my stand at dark.

10/8/02 Tuesday pm, Wind: 0, Temp: 58, Barometer: 30.24 Steady, Condition: Clear

Was planning to hunt stand B tonight, but a car was parked again at P. I then hunted stand A again. Didn't see anything. I found out later that this car belongs to the neighbor's son, who has permission.

10/9/02 Wednesday pm, Wind: 0, Temp: 62, Barometer: 30.24 Steady, Condition: Overcast

Set up on stand C. Did not hear anything and didn't see anything cross the pipeline.

10/13/02 Sunday - I did some scouting (in the rain) in the morning. See map below. Orange blotches are where the most sign has been found. Stand B has some real good trails leading right by it. I suspect these to be doe trails. Stand A has good sign nearby, but not around it like last year. The fact that the corn has been cut already has had a major impact on this stand. Lots of buck sign exists between stands C and D. Found two scrapes, one near stand A and one near stand D, both of which were in the field by the edge of the woods.

10/14/02 Monday pm, Wind: 8NE, Temp: 54, Barometer: 30.24 Steady, Condition: Clear

Was in stand D tonight. Saw a doe cross by about 40 yards south of the stand, in pretty thick cover. Never presented a shot. Saw two deer, not sure what they were, standing 15 yards from stand E, out in the field.

10/15/02 Tuesday pm, Wind: 7S, Temp: 56, Barometer: 30.04 Steady, Condition: Overcast

Stand E tonight. Just before dark, I heard a two fawn bleats. Several minutes later, a doe and fawn steadily passed through a narrow shooting lane, not giving me a chance to shoot. They disappeared in front of me. I was confident that the doe would step out into one of the many shooting lanes and give me a shot opportunity, but it never happened. It was getting dark fast and maybe I should have given a couple of bleats to see if I could draw her into a lane. Not sure where these deer went, but that's the last time I heard or saw them.

10/16/02 Wednesday, Wind: 9W, Temp: 53, Barometer: 29.56 Rising, Condition: Light Rain

Stand F tonight. Didn't see or hear anything.

10/17/02 Thursday, Temp: 51, Barometer: 29.92 Rising, Condition: Light Rain

Didn't go out tonight, but I thought I'd still report deer activity. I saw the same two deer tonight that I saw Tuesday. They were out near stand E again, about 5:30. Also, there were two doe in my back yard shortly thereafter. They were definitely on the move early tonight for some reason.

10/19/02 Saturday pm, Temp: 55, Barometer: 29.86 Steady, Condition: Overcast

Hunted stand G tonight. Didn't hear or see anything.

10/20/02 Sunday - Did a lot of scouting today. I scouted the lower woods today and pushed out several deer, the one I saw was a doe. I found a few rubs, but nothing to lead me to believe that this woods is holding any buck. Another hunter has two stands set up, one on the border of this woods and another in a patch of woods several hundred yards away. I may hunt this later this week, but it is so thick, I'll have to hunt the eastern edge.

10/21/02 Monday pm, Wind 5NE, Temp: 55, Barometer: 30.09 Steady, Condition: Clear

Hunted stand E tonight. Didn't hear or see anything.

Future strategy: Friday night stand B. When the rut kicks in, (first week of November I'm guessing) I think it will be worth hunting stand E and stand C (maybe even H) for the entire day.

A - Stand - This stand is primarily a doe stand. It's in a small clearing among a bunch of white oaks. It's about 100 yards from a heavily used bedding area.

B - Stand - This stand is in a major funnel at the edge of heavy cover. Hickory and white oak nuts as well as a stream are within 20 yards of this stand.

C - Stand - Climber needed. This stand is along the pipeline where I can see down both sides. This is more of an observation post than anything, but there is a main trail running a few yards from the stand.

D - Stand - permanent treestand in among several white oaks.

E - Stand - permanent treestand at the edge of the woods, overlooking the field.

F - Stand - Climber needed. This stand is located real close to b3, which has heavy buck sign. The wind must be right and complete silence is necessary.

G - Stand - Climber needed. This is located about 75 yards SE of stand B.

H - Stand - permanent treestand at the edge of the woods, overlooking the field.

P - Parking area.

b1 thru b4 - Known bedding areas.

Orange blotches - Excessive Deer sign