river/creek bend bedding

[Middleclasshunter]

Hello Beasts!! I am a new member and I am trying to find as much info as possible. So excuse me if this has been answered a million times.

Deer will bed on inside bends of rivers and creeks, correct? Outside is typically travel routes? when they bed in inside bends what wind? at their back facing river? and what if the river has multiple S shape bends in the particular area, what the best way beside foot on group to check some off?

any help is greatly appreciated!!
Thanks,
greenhorn beast
Jason (middleclasshunter)

[wolverinebuckman]

Welcome! Yes, what you are talking about is an oxbow, and as I understand it they make for great bedding, as the wind blows into them. I also understand they can be quite challenging to hunt...I'm hoping to find out this season, myself. Good luck!

Do a search on oxbows, and river bottoms, I'm betting you will find what you need to know. Also, the Hunting Beast Podcast with Stanley Schmidt, on river bottoms, is very informative.

[ghoasthunter]

this point in season mature bucks can be very predictable on travel i would suggest sitting back and glassing and observing for a sit or two before you make a move if there is good cover and edge in the area the bucks might not back all the way up and hang o the edge. this could blow your hunt before you even get up a tree. if its full of sign and you do mess up give it a couple day and try it again. areas this secure will often make the buck want too keep using it. you can get away with this for a little while but eventually its going to get burned. if you think it is back off and hit it in a month or so.

[Chuck B]

I try to hunt these oxbows as much as possible. Very tough to hunt. What I will say is this; you have to play the “just off wind” and your access has to match that. They are in the oxbows for the wind that day. If wind isn’t setting up for it, they won’t bed there. If the wind is setting up for it, they will, however, if the wind is set up there, you can’t just walk in and sit wherever. Tree selection and access has to be just right and pray for no swirling winds

[tgreeno]

I would start here! There's category's for everything, including river bottoms.

[DaveT1963]

typically yes. but I have found many mature bucks bed on the opposite side if the wind, elevation and visual requirements are there. and they often do so as the rut approaches.

[Middleclasshunter]

Thanks for all the info guys! I went in and found the creek was way down and the oxbow that I wanted to scout a deer would unlikely bed there. The banks are 10 15 foot steep pitch. Right now its flooded so that helps with access but I think I need to find different areas like transitions. Tough cause all I'm finding is hogs. I'm new to hog areas and they are in abundance.