By Rory Fowler

Growing up in central Alabama, I saw the small town of Hoover turn into one of the largest cities in the state. The land my dad used to hunt has turned into the biggest mall in the state, and the creek I fished as a kid is now surrounded by subdivisions and an interstate. The amount of land for deer to inhabit has decreased rapidly, but their populations haven't. The deer have adapted, why haven't the hunters?

The answer is simple - this growing trend has everyone, including hunters, thinking bigger is better. This isn't the case at all. Don't get me wrong, everyone would like a whole county to themselves, but in today's world, that isn't realistic. And if you do your homework, a small piece of land could become the most productive area you have ever hunted.

I have always been a person who liked to hunt one small area at a time, but it was nice to know I had a few hundred acres to choose from. The problem was that my land was 45 minutes away and school didn't let out until three. Then my friend Sam showed me that a few acres is all you need to fill your freezer. He attended my high school as well, but he was determined to find a place to hunt after school. So, he started driving along the outskirts of the city and looking for people who owned any amount of land that could be hunted. He found a man at the end of a road that owned a couple of acres beside his house. He was happy to give Sam permission to bowhunt because the deer were taking their toll on his small trees and grass. For the rest of the season, every afternoon after school, Sam drove fifteen minutes to his honey hole. And more times than not, he left with a deer.

Areas like the one Sam hunts are not hard to find. There are plenty of people who own a few acres just outside the city limits. Most of the areas are over run with deer because the deer have been pushed into these isolated areas by the growth of the surrounding cities. As a result, the people who have to coexist with these deer find them a nuisance. Not everyone is willing to give people permission to hunt, but there is no harm in asking. It is also helpful to assure the landowner you will only be bowhunting because many of these areas are too populated to carry a gun.

But how do you find your own piece of hunting heaven within driving distance of work or school? Here are some suggestions:

1. Start by looking at a map of the surrounding area. Street maps will show you the areas that are least populated and help you pinpoint the areas that the deer have been pushed in to. These maps will also show you the city limits.

2. Drive through those areas around dusk and look for deer standing just inside the treelines. In small areas like the one Sam hunted, the deer would "stage" at the edges of the woodbine before heading into the fields and front yards to eat after dark. If the area is heavily populated with deer, you will probably see at least one or two close to the road.

3. Talk to the people who live in the area to find out about the deer activity. Also pay attention to how they feel about the deer. Some people view the deer as pests. Others find them a unique addition to the area. These are not the people to ask permission from.
4. Once you have found a possible hunting spot, go there on your day off and scout the area. Stay until dark and hunt that afternoon if possible to see when and where the deer are moving. Remember that time is precious after work or school so know where you are going.

Whether your next hunt is miles away or right down the road, make safety your top priority. Respect the land owner's property and keep him or her informed of your success. This will insure you a permanent place to hunt for years to come.