Stanley wrote:For me if an area doesn't have thick cover I look for an area that does. I'm not big on open terrain hunting. I have never seen a good buck live/bed in an open area. I have seen some bucks sequestered with does in open areas. This happens during the peak of the rut. This is just chance though. The bucks came from thickets to get to those areas.
When I look at an area form the computer I look for trees and thickets. Then I look for other terrain features, hills, ditches, ridges, benches, saddles, bottlenecks. I try to eliminate non productive areas and go from there. It is easy to eliminate open fields, ponds, lakes, rivers, steep bluffs, roads, rail road tracks, things like this.
It is impossible to pinpoint the exact location of where a buck is living/bedding without laying eyes on that buck (cyber scouting). You can certainly pinpoint good looking areas and areas that could/should hold bucks. This where glassing, trail cameras, shining, observation stands, come into place. There is no better intel than eyes on the subject.
I personally think being aggressive is a great attribute when going in blind. Unfortunately I'm more geared up for low impact type hunting. I'm not a gambler, but like the sure/best bet, so to speak. Sometimes being more aggressive can lead to success. I think Dan is an aggressive type hunter. I'm sure he would be better suited to go in blind and be successful than a more passive hunter like myself. Great topic.
Good stuff Stan!
) or too open to hold the target deer you are after.