Hello Family and Friends,

Join us on our next adventure as we pull back the curtain on the relentless effort and strategy behind a successful hunt. Over the course of 3 evenings, we take you through the rugged terrain of Broad River WMA in Georgia, facing the challenges of scouting and tracking elusive deer. On Monday, Ashe joins me after work for our first session. We carefully sneak down the gravel road, taking slow, deliberate steps to avoid crunching leaves and alerting the deer. But after an hour of creeping, our cover is blown—sharp-eyed does bedded on the hill side spot us and bolt! While we didn’t get the drop on them this time, we learn a key lesson: these deer have perfected their escape route, watching us long before we ever see them.

Wednesday, I return solo, determined to outsmart the deer by coming at them from a different angle. Instead of the trail, I head up through the clear cut, boots off, creeping silently up the hill to come in from behind where the does had bedded. The woods are dead quiet—so quiet you could hear a pin drop—and every step is a challenge. After nearly an hour of sneaking, I break through the thick woods into an open hillside covered with acorns, a perfect feeding area. Although, I don’t spot any deer that night, the patterns start to emerge. I’m getting closer.

Thursday brings the most exciting discovery yet. I follow the trail where the does fled into a deep ravine, determined to find out where they’re going and why. Shoes off again, I make my way quietly into the heart of their escape route. Suddenly, a doe blows at me and takes off deeper into ravine. Splashing is heard in the distance. Unfazed, I press on and find fresh rubs from a buck as the trail begins to split—leading me to a network of trails and signs that get me excited! This is a major crossroads, surrounded by acorn-heavy oaks and nestled in thick cover. As the light fades, I sit in my stand, quietly observing. The more I see, the more I realize I’ve found their sanctuary—a prime bedding area where both bucks and does feel safe, can stay cool in deep shade, find comfort in soft sand, and eat acorns without travelling too far.

In Part 2, Ashe will be back with me, experiencing firsthand the thrill of hunting in the bedding zone. We’ll put all these clues together and see if we can turn all this hard-earned knowledge into a successful hunt. You won’t want to miss what happens next!

Until next time...

With Love,
The Watsons