I went scouting a couple days ago. Going to a place I used to grouse hunt a lot but since this place was about 4 miles deep, I decided to use a trail from the top of the mountain and then drop off in the spot I wanted to check out. This would have shortened the trip to about 1 1/2 miles. Brilliant idea-I thought. I ended up in a Laurel hell and by the time I got to my area, I was exhausted, and that was all downhill. I went out the old way by logging road, it took forever but I wasn't getting in that mess again.
It seems that around here, laurel really hinders your movement from ridge to ridge. I hear guys talking about relocating on a bird and things like that, but that is just not possible in a lot of places I hunt. It may just be me but I've noticed that in the last few years, the laurel is getting worse. Perhaps since they rarely do any logging in the NF anymore. I don't know, but it seems to be taking over. Do any of you guys hunt around a lot of laurel? How do you deal with it?
Mountain Laurel is very common here in NC Pennsylvania. It's bloom is our state flower! I try to avoid it as much as possible especially where it is really thick. You cannot sneak threw thick laurel and remain quiet.