Well after much frustration last year I have spent a large majority of my summer scouting my local public access spots.  My problem is this I grew up hunting private farm land.  After 4 yrs in the Marines I came back to find it all leased.
I have been scouting public land but I'm having a heck of a time patterning deer in the deep woods.  there is definite sign but I can't seem to find the designated bedding and feeding areas. In my area of Michigan there is no point looking for a water source as there is so much water everywhere that the deer don't have to worry about it.  Does anybody know of any books that concentrate specifically on hunting wooded areas without crop land.  Thanks in advance.

It's more rifle oriented, but I think that the Benoit family hunts in similar circunstances. It's been several years since I've read their book(s) though.

The Texas brush is the same way.  They bed and feed everywhere.  In the early season find the trees that are loaded with acorns.  There are different more subtle funnels and edges.  Look for where evergreen butts up against hardwoods, or where vegetation types change.  This is called an internal edge, and they will work down similar to a tree boundary against a field.  Follow several large trails, a lot of times there are hubs where 3 or 4 trails intersect, which will up your odds of seeing deer.  Step one is to figure out what they are eating.  In the big woods a lot of times they will bed in and around the food especially early in the season.  Step two find the doe groups, and figure out their preferred bedding areas.  Bucks will run in between them checking these doe groups.  Hunt down wind of the doe bedding areas are the pre-rut starts.  Once you have an overall idea of the food (acorn trees, open areas, honey suckle) look at the big picture, where are the does, edges, rub lines, hunting pressure....its a puzzle, but you have to be in an area where deer are first and foremost, and then you can figure out the rest.  Big woods is definitely more challenging than a patchwork of timber of crops.

Thanks guys.  I think I'm gonna pick up the benoit book.  Any reviews on the greg miller book. He has one deep woods.

Tere is a book called "Hunting Big Woods Bucks". Not sure of the author. Find the water crossings or where the deer go around ponds. Also look at saddles between hills and you will find heavy deer trails down the middle.

-Charlie

After hunting the Adironacks for almost 40 years books are not going to help that much. I like reading that stuff also but its not the same as getting out there and finding game on your own. Beech nuts, acorns and like food sources are cyclic, sometimes there are some sometims not.With food in different spots and water all over bedding can be where ever or when the deer are in the mood. Moon phases also play a role. If you want to hunt the big woods you must be ready to see fewer deer and put alot of time in. But you also may see the biggest buck or bear of your life....remember...have fun at what you decide!!!!!

one big thing to remember is to stay away from all the pull over spots and well used access roads leading to where everyone else hunts!a new power line came through sw. va. in pulaski county about 5 or 6 yrs. ago...everyone wants to hunt it because you can see a long way,usually limited parking but go back down the road a little ways and hunt what others drive by   !
in this situation you can actually use other hunters to push deer your way and they have no ideal they are working for you,sure they may kill a deer or two but the big ones didnt get that way by being dumb  

The main area I'm scouting is like being in precolumbus america. I've yet to find a stand, I found one old gun blind.  I think its because you have to cross a creek and a swamp to get into the area.  Should be a riot if I kill something back there.  I have already decided I'm gonna have to quarter it and pack it out because there is no way I'm dragging something out and the closest road is on the other side of the swamp. I've really been concentrating on the creek to find sign.  the runways seem to bunch up at any of the good crossings.  I think I'm gonna bring a climber out this week and try to get a birds eye view until dark.

Try Whitetail hunters Almanac series by Ken Nordberg. He knows as much about why deer do what they do in the deep woods as anyone I can think of. His life revolved around the study of whitetails for 20 plus years. His information is based on observations in northern Minnesota and should apply to your location as well.

D

The biggest secret to hunting deep woods bucks is to spend time finding natural FUNNELS. Study the terrain/structure with restrictions and constrictions in remote areas with low deer numbers to increase your odds. Then learn to have patience and have confidence in your stand choices! The Benoit methods won't help much when carrying a bow.

I don't think it is legal in Mich. to quarter out game in Mich. Check the regs. Good luck.

I just looked at the rules.  as long as I don't destroy evidence of the animals sex I can butcher before transportation.  thanks for looking out anyway onewhohasfun I didn't even think about that.

If you hunt woods with no crop land, remember to look for the white oaks and the acorns from those trees. White oak acorns are a primary food for deer when they are falling.

Be careful not to scout too much- big woods deer have lots of options, and will shift their patterns to avoid an area that has too much human activity.

Take a look at Mapping Trophy Bucks by Brad Herndon. Lot's of big woods info about locating natural funnels.

You said you have to cross a swamp? If it is a big one, find the high ground in the middle of it and a big buck will be bedding there(usually).

Greg Miller wrote the book "Hunting Deep Woods Buck".  It's a good book and outlines just what Gene mentioned earlier.

I 2nd Brad Herdon's book on Mapping Trophy Whitetails-it is excellent. The Miller book is decent as well. In Northern WI big woods I'm looking for funnels and acorns.

Don't get hung up on looking for just white oaks either.  I've watched bucks run through a white oak stand to get to red oak acorns.   There are funnels in those "big woods" but you have to look for them.
They don't always stick out like a turd in a punch bowl.

I've been in Brad Herndon's trophy den and hunted some of the same woods he hunts.  He knows what he's talking about.  He and his wife kill big bucks in big woods on a regular enough basis to convince me.  If you want to hunt some of the woods he writes about, come to the   2009 Southern Indiana Bowhunt  

Brad will probably show up if he's around home.