I am now, have been a meat hunter for the last 10 + years so I like having more shooting opertunities than going after big bucks only. Here in Ohio we can take several deer a year if you shoot does, and i have no more wall space or need for more racks, unless its a trophy beyond anything that I have shot inn the past 36 years.
But if I was just after anything to put a tag on , I go by DROPPINGS... Some times you find places where there are scrapes and rubs and you think this is it.... this is the place.... but after hunting that spot several times without seeing deer you wonder what happened to all the activity ?
Well I dont know if the wind swirls or your scent is contained in certain areas where the deer get a heads up to a hunter in the area or what happens , but some places that deer hang out you cant kill one there.
If i find a area with lots of fresh droppings and there is a place to sit, a downed tree , stump , a uprooted tree whatever in the area and its somewhat uphill in the morning or lower in the evening to where the trails , droppings are I'll bet if you can sit still for a couple hours you will see deer.
Anymore I hunt with the intention of shooting just about any deer I see that I can kill cleanly, with longbow, crossbow, handgun,muzzleloader, or rifle, I try to hunt where the deer are now, today.
Jed