Bench hunting

[lungpuncher1]

After reading singing bridges "the power of a bench" thread i was left with a question about my particular situation on a spot I've got set aside for November cruising.

I have a couple benches i am pumped about for a rut stand. Both are in strip minded areas. One circles an entire long, narrow (100 yards wide or so) point. Its a little more than half way up. The other is right above a steep cut.

What would be the best wind for hunting these? Leeward? Also on the long point one would it be best to get near the point or off on a side from it?

I'm also interested in hearing anyone elses bench hunting experiences and pointers. The strip mines I've found scream big bucks due to the rough terrain, hard access and thick tops for doe bedding.

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[lungpuncher1]

Anyone?

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[backstraps]

I know the benches you are talking about. They're man made durinG the mining process.

They are very attractive to hunt, but I personally have not had any luck unless they're on the leeward side and closer to the top.

That doesn't mean they won't work, or not being used.

I know of many of these benches up there that are circling a point. I have seen lots of buck sign where the benches end, rather than the portion circling the points.

That's just my personal experience with them.

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[Singing Bridge]

The cut bench sounds good for the rut. The point bench, if you haven't scouted it, may contain doe bedding somewhere on it or on a secondary spot. Setting up on the bench I would set up on one side or the the other near the base of the point while playing the wind.

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[lungpuncher1]

Thanks guys. I'm really trying to grasp the different types of terrain Ohio has to offer.

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[jwilkstn]

I hunt benches alot here in Southern Mid TN,but no idea about Ohio strip mines. My best luck has been setting up just on the lower edge in the pre-dawn and killing early before the thermals rise or daily wind pulls rank.

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[lungpuncher1]

#1 has the steep cut to the east of it with thicket on top to the west.

#2 has the bench coming around from the north and it dumps out and widens where i have the marker at.

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[jwilkstn]

Forgive my ignorance, what is the cover like in the former strip mined area?

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[lungpuncher1]

For the most part thick. Alot of 1-3" saplings.

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[jwilkstn]

So basically a former clearcut?

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[lungpuncher1]

Yeah. But some is older than others so its not as thick.

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[Bigb]

My biggest bucks have come off of coal spoils in Southern Illinois (my profile pic is a coal spoil buck). I've seen a ton of huge bucks in coil spoils but what I have learned it that every coal spoil is different. I learned a lot quick by hunting these. For me, we would hunt the base of the coal spoils, seems like the deer really moved on the bases of these coal spoils. I've shot two nice bucks coming off of these spoils looking for does. Some of the best bucks I have ever seen were in a corn field that butted up to a spoil. Does would funnel out and the bucks would soon follow. That was just my experience though.

[Bigb]

I'm going to throw something else out there (people may disagree) but you have a couple real good looking saddles on the map. I would really check them out, I think those would be great during the rut.

[jwilkstn]

My thought would be to expect bucks bedding in the edge of the thicker growth on typical bedding points/knob looking down into more open woods with the wind coming over their backs.
Like mentioned, there are a few obvious saddles that may be good for rut hunts too.
The benches here tend to have more acorn feeding activity than the slopes so you may not want to wait for the rut to hunt them?

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[lungpuncher1]

The saddles on that map are in fields.

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