Forgive my newbie thoughts to this. Where I hunt is between 500ft to 900ft elevation. I have finally learned how to find buck beds on ridge tops in what I think are called military crests. What other features can I look for to help aid me to target buck beds from a mapping stand point? Where I hunt the top half of the ridges are mature pines with some lower stem count brush underneath. The bottom half and bottoms are a mix of mainly oak and maple with river cane throughout on either sides of the creeks. Any help is appreciated.
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Buck Bedding
- Thread starter macobb
- Start date
Benches and points. Any little flat area with a decent drop below it that they can look out into. I have found buck beds in the bottoms, atypical, think it mainly depends on pressure and human intrusion areas. At the end of the day they will be where they feel protected and undisturbed
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Look at access points, parking lots and walking trails. I've noticed bedding near these locations. Somewhere they can watch and look for human activity. Along with transition lines is another good place to search.
Ive found that if you find doe bedding, which i think is easier, youll find buck bedding a 100-200 yards away in the thickest areas. Mature buck bedding on the other hand, youll find all by itself
I also agree with @MoBowGuy , look for the nastiest, thickest, dungeon of jungle woods you can find. Here's the key part though. Downwind, or just off downwind of the doe bedding area.
Most of the time, mature bucks prefer to be able to scent check doe bedding areas right from their bed, from what I've found. During the rut anyways. Find which bedding areas they hang on under which wind conditions and set up between the buck bed and the doe bedding are, but off enough to avoid scent detection. Picture hunting a J-hook on a scrape line. If he's going to swing to scent check, or check the surrounding area, be there, with the wind at your favor.
I use this tactic quite a bit and people think I'm crazy. You just have to ride that fine scent line to fool the big boys. If you can cut off that route at a feeding area (where the does will come off bed to feed) even better. 2 birds with 1 stone. Fill a doe tag on feed if the buck doesn't show in day light.
Most of the time, mature bucks prefer to be able to scent check doe bedding areas right from their bed, from what I've found. During the rut anyways. Find which bedding areas they hang on under which wind conditions and set up between the buck bed and the doe bedding are, but off enough to avoid scent detection. Picture hunting a J-hook on a scrape line. If he's going to swing to scent check, or check the surrounding area, be there, with the wind at your favor.
I use this tactic quite a bit and people think I'm crazy. You just have to ride that fine scent line to fool the big boys. If you can cut off that route at a feeding area (where the does will come off bed to feed) even better. 2 birds with 1 stone. Fill a doe tag on feed if the buck doesn't show in day light.