How do you guys find deer?

[MilesSawyer]

This is my first year hunting. I know I need to have patience, but I have gone out bowhunting several times and haven't seen any deer. People I ask give me conflicting advise, "they like lowlands" and "they like ridges".

I know I need to find where they travel between bedding/food/water and they like cover when doing so. Everyone I pick a spot I just seem to be where the deer aren't. I even use topographic maps to pick where it makes sense for them to travel.

My one issue is lack of scouting, but we are in season so it is a little tough with work and what not. Any tips/tricks? Further advice?

[JimmyHoffa]

What type of deer?

[vandeman17]

just curious how this is your first year hunting but you have gone out bow hunting several times and haven't seen any deer?

What season are you referring to?

[Billy74]

This last season was my 3rd and the first i saw legal bucks during the season.  2nd year was the first i saw any deer at all.   Even 1 cheap trail cam helps.  Getting a buck on camera at least helps confidence.    I run 3 now and check them once a month and move them if needed.  The one thing i did different this year was hunt public land adjacent to farms.  I stoped trying to get way off the road. More hunters for sure but i at least found deer.  Also found plenty of gut piles so success was found just not by me.   Im after WT in the NE during modern so a little different situation  i supposed but if the question is finding bucks i think scouting as often as possible will always be a good answer. 


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[Seabass]

If it's a white tail buck that you are looking for...buy a camera (doesn't need to be expensive) put it in front of some bait (corn, apples, hay etc.) in a place that looks "good" to you. In 7 days you will know if there is a buck close....maybe 3-4 bucks. If you don't find any bucks on that camera after a week...put it somewhere else. I doubt it takes you more than 2 weeks to find a few bucks.

[fishngamereaper]

Do a bunch of research. Google scout. Run Cam's. Find deer. Pre scout. Put a ton of mile on before season. Then hunt those area's hard expecting to see deer. Hunt quiet, glass, rattle, call etc...then when all that doesn't lead to success and you get at a really low point let your guard down in the area least likely to hold deer and Bam... you'll see deer...just be ready cause it happens fast.

35 years in the woods this is the tried and true method that works for me.

[mburrows]

Good binoculars, a tripod, the ability to be on the hill in your glassing spot at first light and until dark.

[follow maggie]

While archery elk hunting in Idaho in September, while sitting around the tent after dark listening to music & having a couple beers making dinner, a group of about 10-12 mule deer walked right through our camp. Happened 3 nights.

[buckfvr]

Good binoculars, a tripod, the ability to be on the hill in your glassing spot at first light and until dark.

Exactly, this is how we find everything here.   

[HellsBelle]

I look in the off season, when I'm horseback riding in the hills, where I go is logging areas, clear-cuts.... There are trails where deer travel heavily, and when bucks are in rut you look for sign where they have rubbed their antlers on small trees..it looks like small patches of scraped off bark. Patience is huge, you can be looking in an area and see nothing, and suddenly realized a deer has materialized..

[CougHunter]

Moving from the open country to thick forest, I'm really struggling to find a glassing strategy that seems reasonable to me. I think that I could find a better job of finding huntable reprod, but even still I feel like a large part of the struggle for me is opportunism versus successful glassing. I guess that's where the "all day" component is advantageous.

[AL WORRELLS KID]

Bigger is Better for spotting them Big Horns! 
Doug

[Platensek-po]

Reminds me of this

[hollymaster]

I just go sit in the woods and the deer come to me. 

[Crunchy]

Its pretty simple formula to find deer.  First you find where they are not, and cross that spot off the list.  After scratching enough spots off the list you will begin to find where they are.  Just takes time