TAYLANEMILYME said:
even if there is not any sign on top of the hill - that i can see - would u still hunt at the top on the morning??
i typycally rely on alot of topography when picking stand sites. deer up there on the ridges. so right at the top of the ridge will be your best bet. if you can find a draw that comes up the ridge that would be even better.
your not going to find alot of sign up there deer don't leave alot of tracks or scattered dropping while they sleep. of course there is going to be alot more sign down by the field because that is where they are feeding and doing their nightly ruotines so obviously there will be alot more sign there but when you look at the facts you'll see the ridge even with alot less sign is the better morning spot.
the facts:
1.mature deer esp. buck typically vacate their preefered feeding grounds well before first light and slowly feed back toward their bed.
2.all deer preffer to bed on higher ground with the wind to their backs facing down hill (this way they can smell danger coming from the ridge behind them and watch for danger in the bottom and along the hill)
3.aproaching morning stands through a feild will alarm any deer annywhere near the feild edge.
4.early season success ofter requires hunting in or as close to the bedding area as possible.
in short although the bulk of the sign is near the field the bulk of your am activity will be on the ridge obove the field. if you have topographic maps of the area find a spot where the hill leading up the ridge is not as steep and hang your stand right at the top of that draw. or if you know of a place along that hill or ridge where the cover is a little thicker than the rest hang a stand there. slip out quietly at lunch and then hunt your field edge in the evening