Ok guys, I'm heading out Friday afternoon to my lease. We always get deer from our place. However, I'm convinced the big deer are staying in the heavy woods. So I've decided to finally get out of the blind and head to the woods to hunt. Any advice? If it matters I hunt in Bee County.

Sit still, move slow and stay long. Tough hunting in a bedding area and thick cover. Wind becomes a problem and they are better at hiding than most of us are at finding. Good luck, should be fun

Make sure the wind is in your favor and move very slowly. I like to take a step or two and then scan the cover for 30 seconds or so, going over the same spots multiple times. I try to spend 3 or 4X as long standing still and searching for deer than I do moving. Look for parts of a deer - a horizontal line could be a deer's back, the flicker of ear, the slight turn of a head. The deer will probably be bedded so they won't be moving much, and you've got to look a lot harder than when on stand. Good luck and don't get in a hurry.

10-4 on the wind direction and what they said, that will nail you before you even get close enough to be seen. Remember, it is easier for a deer to see you walking the woodline from inside the trees, then it is for you to see them "in the woods"

Follow the simple approach and find out what they're eating and where they're sleeping. Then find a heavily used trail between the two and wait near the edges of either of them.

For next year, find trails coming out of the heavy woods and put up game cams.

I've found some trails I've done some exploring. There is also a creek bed running through the woods that I'm thinking has potential. I have a feeling if this doens't go well, it will be my fault.

What are your thoughts on using Doe Estrus on the bottom of my shoes? I've read that if a buck crosses my path it may have them move towards me. I'm just looking for anything to give me a fighting chance when I enter the woods.

Thanks for all the feedback.

Coach, I would use a drag with scent, then leave the drag on the ground, or hanging a couple 3 feet off the ground where you're hunting. If it is on your shoes, may cause a buck to look up while tracking the smell.

lord no.
as said in the other reply use a drag for any attractant scent.
never put anything like that on your footwear or person, only
cover scent if wanted.
you might get attention you don't want.