I do need a good set of binos. I have an older pair of full size binos that I keep in my pack for when I'm sitting somewhere but I need a set of smaller 10x42's that I can wear on one of those binocular harnesses. I learned a new way to walk today that really cuts down on noise. when you take a step let the outside edge of the sole of your boot hit the ground first and then roll your foot flat slowly while feeling for twigs. it allows me to focus more on whats in front of me instead of always looking for noisy stuff i might step on. this works really well when there's a bunch of sticks on the ground too. Give it a try if you haven't already.

a couple of the doe's I bumped today only went about 50 yards and then stopped. I dropped to my knees and watched them for a few minutes. I could see their tails twitching behind a tree. So I started belly crawling/hands and knees crawling through the wet clear cut. by the time I got close to where they were I could see they had dipped into the timber stand at the edge of the clear cut. I went in very slowly and found a log to sit on about 20 yards off of a highly traveled trail. There were a couple smaller fir trees growing out of the log which provided me with an excellent, natural blind. I sat there for two solid hours from 10:30 til 12:30. Nothing came in on the trail and didn't see anything move through the rest of the timber I could see.

I will for sure be buying a tree stand this summer. might also pick up some of those "bears feet" stalking booties for when I am still hunting.