Buck bed on oxbow/river bend

[DaHunter]

Before I found this site, I shot a buck and ended up finding him on this oxbow. Well, I went back to the spot today, and sure enough, I found a nice bed right against some brush along the creek (yellow dot). There was fresh hair in the bed and tracks all over. Would the buck only bed here on a North wind? Assuming his back is to the water, he would be facing (nose) to the wind on a N wind. But that's where he would be most susceptible to human pressure. Corn the N, Clover and Acorns to the W.

I found a tree to hunt (red dot) and I'm thinking it might only be worth hunting on a NW or maybe N wind. Might be tricky. Thoughts??

[Bucky]

Hunt it on West or North West.... your red dot is about right

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[dan]

I agree with Bucky... I would lean a little more N.W. though. Buck will face the river most likely. All the oxbows I have hunted had the bucks facing down wind (the river) with wind telling them if a predator was entering the oxbow.

[DaHunter]

Thanks Dan - Is that because their nose is better than their eyes? I just figured since there's a thick bush in between the bed and the creek, that the buck would have his back to that. But I guess even if his view is obstructed, he still needs to watch it because he can't smell it.

The bed...

[dan]

Look close at your picture of the bed... A buck bed that is used in the same position over and over often takes the shape of a bedded deer. The back of the deer has a rounded radius. buck beds are kinda banana shaped. with the outside radious being where his back is. They can bed facing the wind, its just not a smart thing to do cause then they can neither see or smell in one direction.

[DaHunter]

Ahhh, you're good! That makes me feel better about getting up in the tree without him seeing me...IF I get a NW wind where he hopefully won't scent me. Do thermals follow the wind direction? The hunt tree is about 10ft higher in elevation than the point where his bed is. Will my scent get pulled down into the falling evening thermal down to that point even on say a W or NW wind? Thanks again.

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[dan]

I don't think you will have a problem with thermals if the river stays colder than the air. Stagnant water that heats up usually pulls scent in the evening when the air cools below the temp of the water.

As far as the deer not seeing you them suckers can see pretty good with eyes on the sides of there heads. One sound and that head can swivel 180 degrees without the bucks body having to shift... Be quiet and slow. Go in midday when he is groggy.

[keb]

You could drop down in the creek and use it to get closer to the beds and have more options east side or west side, depending on the water level and bank and nosie level to access.

[DaHunter]

Keb - didn't think of that! Might be worth a "silent" slow stalk through the creek to get within shooting range during gun season.

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[brkissl82]

Hey guys just wondering your thoughts on oxbows and hunting them. Do you have luck? Like hunting them? Not like hunting them? Reason i ask is because i found a public land spot with a TON of oxbows way back deep and just was curious on other beasts thoughts? Thanks guys!!

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[brkissl82]

Any thoughts beasts???

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[Brad]

DAhunter, your buck you are pursuing is a 9 pointer!!

[Singing Bridge]

DAhunter, your buck you are pursuing is a 9 pointer!!

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[DaHunter]

Small body though. One more year.

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[Stanley]

Ahhh, you're good! That makes me feel better about getting up in the tree without him seeing me...IF I get a NW wind where he hopefully won't scent me. Do thermals follow the wind direction? The hunt tree is about 10ft higher in elevation than the point where his bed is. Will my scent get pulled down into the falling evening thermal down to that point even on say a W or NW wind? Thanks again.

[ Post made via Android ]

If you hunt in the river bottoms with any kind of wind the thermals won't come into play. On calm no wind days is when the thermals can kill you in the river bottoms. Those oxbows have water on 3 sides of them and the banks are usually tapered not cut bank. This means coming in from the water is next to impossible. If you set up N or NW you will have no problem with thermals with a westerly wind.