I've seen deer every set both bucks and does. Getting zeroed in on them

Sounds like you on em

I have seen deer every sit at Cahaba this year also.

I haven't seen squat. My first year out there. I'm learning the area and trying not to get discouraged.

I have been hunting it for two years now an haven't seen but 2 does while sitting in the stand. As of up to two weeks ago I had never even seen one on the drive in but have seen 5 total but all crossing at safe zones. I'm trying not to get discouraged either but its not easy.

The maps suck! I feel like i will be on someone else property! And when i drove thru, all the gates were closed to every road...is this normal? if so ima have to start doing cardio!

and what areas are yall around (no not asking for spots), im going to try around the hwy 22 area

That's the area I am in. I usually see other hunters every time I go but I have yet to have anyone walk in on me and haven't ever walked into anyone else. I know there are deer out there but I have yet to see one from the stand.

I've been hunting cahaba for a few years now. This is how I got started and each year I've hunted it I've seen more deer. Identify areas you think look promising by looking at aerials. Mark those spots and then look at the topo maps to narrow it down some more. Focus on a relatively small area 500-1000 acres so you are are not driving 10 miles between spots to scout them out. Now that you have some spots identified you've got to invest some shoe leather. Spend a day and go walk these spots out. Cahaba wma, or any wma, is like a giant hunting club. Cahaba is NOT loaded with deer. It takes time and patience to get on the deer. Good luck!

You know there is a deer behind every tree over there. LMAO. If there was just one big buck for each pump station it would be.

Totally agree. The best strategy is to have 500-1000 acres that you know every inch of, with several spots scouted out so you can adjust based on wind and other hunters.

I hunt off hwy 22 at Cahaba. The gates on the road I hunt are not closed. You don't have to walk as far but it's kind of hard to get a good ways from the roads since the gates are not closed. The road I hunt off 22 runs all the way to county rd 260. I have seen deer 2 out of 3 times I have been. I went yesterday and didn't realize it was the youth gun hunt until I heard a couple of rifle shots go off. I didn't see any other hunters but I did not feel very comfortable in my stand or on the walk out with no orange on lol. I have seen deer in the same spot twice. They were very close to those 10-12 foot thick pines that I assume they are bedding. The area was loaded with oaks dropping (not sure what kind but not white oaks for sure) down in the bottom of the draw. The wind swirls bad and I have been busted twice. Both times they were 50-70 yds away but I am honing in on them. Hopefully the wind will cooperate one time so I can get a shot opportunity.

I use the onX hunt app. I think it's $30 for the app but it was a HUGE help. It has all the WMAs outlined and has very good topo maps. I highly recommend it especially if you are hunting public land.