whitetailassasin wrote:As we target older more mature bucks, we are after the small percentage that aren't moving in daylight as often. For me finding rut beds that are actively being used year in and year out can be difficult. Because one year a certain area can be hot and then the next year cold and so on and so on. Also because bucks will leave in search of does and because other areas don't carry as many mature bucks as others, younger deer not as mature as the ones I maybe after take up those beds. Dan you are absolutely correct in saying timing is everything no matter the time frame, but speaking on the rut alone, I'm after the oldest bucks I have in my area. What are some of the tips or things you look for specifically when your targeting an area? Specifically marsh, swamp, flat ag land?
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Monitoring does, rubs around the bed(s) The best ones I have found were either found by observing a deer, or hunting a buck bedding area for a few years and figuring out that it really picks up in pre-rut.
One of the ones that has worked out awesome for me is actually a primary buck bedding area that I have shot many bucks out of, but come pre rut bucks come in from other areas... I shot the Rome legend there, and one year prior almost to the day I spooked him out of a satellite bed with a hot doe... That buck did not live on the public, but he would come in just for the pre rut and monitor a funnel coming out of doe bedding. All I had to do was sit back and wait for his rub line to open up 200 yards from his bed and then move in for the kill.
Other rut beds can be difficult, they always seem to be set up just like any other buck bed, but watching the does in one way or another rather than out chasing them like the younger bucks. One thing that makes them difficult to find or recognize when you do find one, is if its just used pre rut it may only get used for a week... So some of them don't show much wear... But, looking at where its located in conjunction with doe bedding or travel is the key.