1/2 mile walk is nothing. If it's where the deer want to be. Most of my places I purposely park that far away for a nice QUIET walk in.
Time for a little nap when you get there!
I can definitely understand that. Our "parking area" is maybe 100yrds inside the gate, enough trees in between us and the road so no one can see us there. From there begins the long walk up down over through, easy to break a sweat in the dead of winter.
I look for the "opening" in the thick stuff. Aerial maps are fantastic for this. Find the spot that has an opening in the canopy and then scout it. I agree that bucks tend to skirt open areas, hugging inside the tree line, but small openings in the thick stuff, seem to funnel deer through.
