Hunt pinch points and edges. Where two or more timber types meet is good and are often pinch points. I like a narrow strip of slightly open timber between to super thick areas. I will not hunt in wide open hardwoods you can shoot 100 yards or more. It would be a freak accident if a mature buck travels through there in daylight. For the life of me I don't understand why fellers in LA kill bucks in those huge wide open pines.

Never hunt in the bottom of a tight hollow. Days when the air is heavy the scent just hangs and wind always swirls. I just don't think deer like traveling in bottoms of tight hollows, harder to escape quickly I guess. Also water is usually running down in them and harder to hear. Hunt 1/2 up or higher, I like to be up on the ridge if it's a tight , deep hollow. I've never been much of a fan of hunting off in the sides or bottoms of hollows. I 'd be more likely to be on top of the ridge between two hollows, scent will rise easier. Bucks like places they can make two bounds and be deeper in the thicket or across the ridge and out of sight.

When hunting in these hardwood mountains ya gotta learn to play the thermals. Hunt pinch points, edges and structure. Structure being, knobs, hog back ridges, points saddles and narrows.

Easy Demp, you're laying it on a little thick.