Hardy, I was asked by the forest service about antler restrictions for SHNF and I was in favor of the following: 13" inside spread for general season and no restriction during archery and youth seasons. My reasoning was this would allow for inferior deer to be taken. I don't know the harvest survey or the quotas they are trying to achieve, but I can tell you they give out a ton of doe permits for the SHNF. Anyone looking to put some meat in the freezer should take advantage opening day of general season. They will have a permits at the deer check stations.

Yes this will buy the buck a year or two, but he may become a little wiser and learn to elude most of the weekend warriors.

We killed 3; 2 bucks and a doe. I scouted this weekend and found quite a few deer and a ton of hogs. Can't wait for bow season to start. This wet weather will really be good for the animals-especially the *$#*@ mosquitos!

It looks as if that might be a road in one of those pictures. Remember there is no hunting on any roads in SHNF. It looks promising. Are the laydowns old crabapples? That's a good sign to find an area with them in it. The deer seem to be on the cherries and acorns right now. The acorns I am seeing are very small for some reason.

Bobby, do you ever go looking for the buck beds? When you find one here it is in the thickest, nastiest stuff you would want to be around. I find them in small pockets of trees that are 10-14 feet tall. The trees will have about a 4 foot opening in-between the trunks and it will be laid flat. The group of trees will be from 8-12 trees in the group depending on how thick the leaf cover is at the base. The thicker the better. There are always 2 trails into the bed. You won't know its a bed until you stick your head into it so be sure you are using 100% scent protection. Now for the set-up: Always be down wind and in the transition zone. The area where habitat changes from briars to youpons for example. The buck will follow this transition for cover. He can just disappear into the briars if he feels danger is close or he can bolt into and thru the youpons for an explosive retreat.

The does set-up with several beds together. It also has less cover than what I've seen bucks use. I guess the does depend on each other too. I'll be in the doe as the rut kicks in. I would not even look at a feeder until its over with. Of course baiting is not allowed where I hunt too.

My one piece of advice is stay in the transition ares!