Almost all of these hillsides have logging roads dissecting them, running parallel or at an angle. What I have found is that the logging roads that do not get used by humans will be used for bedding by bucks in certain spots. This didn't surprise me when it was happening at the top 1/3rd elevation, but what I found is that it is true at any elevation. Where the logging roads cut through the steepest sections of the hill, the bucks will bed right there on the logging road. Even if there is no structure and what may seem like a lack of cover.
I have blood trailed many bucks to where they have laid down in areas like this and I figured they just laid down there because they were hurting. The buck I killed Nov 12th I am almost positive came from one of these beds and he ran right back to it and died. He came from and ran right back in the same direction:
In the pic he is laying right on the logging road. This logging road was way down in the bottom 1/3rd elevation. You can see how steep it is uphill just behind me to the right and it drops off just as steep to the left. His bed was right on the very edge of the logging road on the downhill side, just out of frame to the left. It was worn to the dirt and had lots of long white belly hair in it(I wish I thought to take a pic of it). It was right where the logging road cut across a very steep section of hill with no benches nearby above or below. There was no structure or cover adjacent to the bed. There were no rubs or buck sign within a hundred yards or more. I would have never found this bed or thought to look there for it there if he had not led me to it.
I believe they are bedding in this situation(obviously because they feel safe) due to having a very steep drop off below them, making an approach impossible from below. The steep section above them keeps anything from quietly coming towards them from above and they generally have good sight advantage in both directions.
This is an example I found scouting for more beds like this. This is not the actual topo of the bed or hill I hunt and the logging roads are not exact. Logging roads in black and bed would be the black 'X':
This bed was about 1/2 elevation and the bed is under some evergreens right in the middle of the logging road:
This is a panoramic view from the bed. You can see the sheer drop off below and it is nothing but vertical earth behind:
Nothing earth shattering about this info, but it is just something to look out for if you hunt a hillside that lacks the topography for traditional beds and has unused logging roads...
