Yesterday I hung a tree-stand in a beech tree right on the corner where some dense autumn olives, hardwoods and grazing land meet. A fresh rub line is already started right in front of the stand, some of the rubbed trees are 6" in diameter.......it is also over a rocky ledge that runs parallel to the hardwoods that is being used heavily as it is lined with thick saplings.
Within 10-15 yds of this stand are the following food sources: white oaks, beech, crab-apples, and chestnuts
SO this morning I head back out to do a little more recon and maybe pop a squirrel or 2 for lunch..... As I'm sitting on the rocks about 30yds from my stand,I'm suddenly hit with a long, violent coughing fit (courtesy of a wicked chest cold my loving wife gave to me :( ) I muffled it the best I could but figured the squirrels were long gone....instead, as I looked over my shoulder, there were 3 does right in front of my new stand. Not a single 1 were even looking my way!! Less than 30 yds away!!
For about 10 min. they milled about snacking, then they turned and headed right towards me....at about 10 yds, the lead doe finally detected me sitting on the ground. She stomped a bit then came closer with neck outstretched. Finally she had enough and turned away, walked down the hill and started browsing again, now about 50 yds. They all stayed another 10 minutes, through another coughing fit, before they finally made there way out of the woods...
So....now I just have to wait another 10 days and a little more of this