I hunt old growth hardwoods and cypress swamps in south Alabama. It is family property so I have ladder stands that are never taken down. I also hunt on the ground about half the time. There is lots of good advice in the above posts by some really accomplished hunters. Hunting into the wind and leaving an area undisturbed for most of the year are high on my list of tactics. My tree stand hunting is never over about twelve feet high. My ground hunting is usually from a folding stool and wearing one of those leafy suits. I like trail intersections and well used routes between feeding and bedding areas. October - I set up around white oaks where they are popping acorns and where I find fresh droppings. My success rates went up when I started setting up with my back to where the deer are coming from. I want to hear them coming rather than see them. Learning to stop moving your head around and sit still until the deer passes you by and gives you that quartering away shot, to me is the most important thing. I don't fool with deodorizing spray, calls, unscented detergent, ozonics, or really any of the snake oil that is being marketed to hunters. If the wind is wrong, you won't win. I have venison in my freezer just about all the time, but I measure success differently than some folks. If I end the season having had a few encounters with mature deer that were under twenty yards away and unaware of my presence, then it was a successful year. I can't wait for October!
