Jason,

Bottom line is if you're not seeing the deer you want where you are I'd suggest you need to try something different.  My guess is that the big boys won't come out into that field until night time.  If you want to validate that, either stay in your stand after sunset on a bright moonlit night or mount a game cam if you have one.  You also might try hunting that area hard during the rut and see what all comes out.

Without knowing more about the land layout if deer movement and buck sign (rubs, scrapes) indicate the ridge is the place to go then I'd put a stand there.  if you can, try several different locations with different stands.  Also, you might want to try getting out, getting concealed with fabric or something like that under a live oak or mesquite tree, and sitting or rattling (with the proper wind direction in mind).  Remember you don't need to see a long way if you're in the right spot.

Hope this gives you a few ideas.

Thanks a ton David. Really appreciate the advice. To your point, I am seeing lots of deer, but its mostly 4 points, doe and yearlings and I would bet you're right on the money with the big boys not coming out till nighttime. I have hunted it during this years rut, saw one small 8, roughly 13 inches wide, but I didnt take him.....Is it true that bucks and does use and/or like ridges alot? This place im putting it has a nice yet small open area and I would bet better deer come through there instead of out in the open.....

Jason,

One other thing I neglected to mention was that if you've shot deer out of that stand rest assured that the 'locals' know exactly where and what you are.  All the more reason to think about moving your stand. 

You also didn't mention anything about a feeder, so I'm assuming you're not using one.  Finding food sources is very important to understand deer movement patterns.  A stand location could always be at good 'ambush' points along trails leading to and from food.

Yes, I have two 55 gallon feeders with solar panels, the deer are feed year round, protien in the hot summer months.

So should I put one of those feeders on the ridge where I move my stand, or do you think I should leave the food source where it is?

Jason,

David makes great points as usual. One thing I might add on stands is that just a minor move can make all the difference.  We try to make small adjustment to blind and feeder locations about every 4 or 5 years.  By small I mean very slight in some cases, sometimes just a hundred yards or so will do the trick.  We have found that after a generation of deer have gotten used to a setup just this small chnge can refresh a location immensely.

Thanks Ken......yes, to your point I would not only be moving blinds but putting up a whole new blind and it would be move about 175-200 yards up behind me on the ridge. The stand where it sits now is a wooden 4X6 about 8ft tall.......Im moving it back up to the barn for storage, the one I plan on using at the ridge is 15ft tall tripod stand, so hunting on the ridge I'll have some hieght and it hasnt had any pressure. This field and the ridge behind it, backs up to a dairy. Really appreciate the advice, keep in touch gents. 

Jason,

Its hard to generalize on deer movement in such a 'diverse' place like Texas.  But, where we hunt SW of you in Schleicher County deer normally hole up on the sides and crests of ridges and draws then move down into the 'bottomlands' and because that's where the food often is.  Good acorn crop years are a different story.  Deer often cross these ridges...we've seen that if there are deer crossing the ridge they will often perfer some sort of saddle on the ridge, or have ssome other sort of preference.

Good advice.....you can bet I'll have a feeder on the ridge, I'll let ya know how it turns out, Im not going to make the move until the end of the season.

Please do...hope you get a monster!

Jason, you might want to place a portable ground blind on the ridge at this time just to see what might be there before you move your stand and feeder. This will also help you deside the best location for your stand, and it is much easier to move around.

Thanks so much for the advice. I will definitely do this.