upstateNYhunter518 wrote:G-Patt wrote:I'm glad I'm not the only one. I struggled with these same questions last year, and the only simpleton answer I can give you is to do more in-season scouting. I did a ton of scouting last winter and spring. I remember logging down everything that looked like bedding, both doe and buck, trails coming and going. However, what I found the most helpful this time of year is understanding the terrain, pinches and funnel areas, access and exit strategies from just the terrain. This is THE best time of year to understand your terrain. While knowing where the beds are located helped some, I didn't know WHEN they were using these beds during hunting season because I didn't waltz in there to check to see if the beds were being used -duh! However, if I did more in-season scouting to find which beds were active, my results this year would have been much better - a big lesson learned. The point being is do your in-season scouting; don't get too worried or freaked about bumping deer; and understand your pinches and funnels.
so your recommending not just scouting to find the beds now and in the spring, but to also check those bedding areas during hunting season to know which ones are actually being used at what time of year? wouldn't that bump the deer out of that area? or will it just be a temporary bump you are counting on? My opinion would be that with this theory, its going to take more then one season of hunting and scouting to locate primary bedding areas in one location, because most likely you will be bumping deer out when you check the beds during hunting season. If they are in there when your expecting them to be and you go in to scout during season and bump them out of there, then what would the likelihood be that they will return back to that bedding area during shooting hours, that hunting season?
If this thought is the better way to do it, then I should have scouted more this season.
I TRULY feel the reason I have yet to have real good luck is because of my in-season scouting. My in-season scouting always screwed up my deer season is the conclusion I have come up with. Ive felt this because I am in there looking for the fresh sign and moving them all over the place. In the past, I scouted during the season because I didnt make it as big of a priority as I am now. I would want to get on to deer though obviously, so I would scout and find fresh sign then hunt it, and not see anything. In the past I also never really did out of season scouting like I am this year. So I do not have a season under my belt with out of season scouting really, but thats what I am banking on being the difference maker. I may be wrong but I hope not. I am scouting as much as i can now so I can keep the pressure off of those areas as much as i possibly can during hunting season. am i missing something?
Being brand new all I can tell you is buy all of Dans DVDs. They will help tremendously. Also there are a few things that I feel are total game changers for me other than learning the where, how, and why about buck bedding. One is if you suspect an area use pre-season observation stands to confirm things from a distance. You can also use in season observation hunts where your close but not fully moved in. Spotting after dark where legal. If you cant do that you can always go into an area wind to nose and scout your way in. When you come across that fresh rub line tracks or scrape close to your suspected bedding area go ahead and set up. Another thing you can do is throw a stand at your suspected area early, rut, and late seasons. This is all stuff I have heard Dan say, that makes total sense. I think we are always looking for solid answers being new but its hard, it takes time and experience with this stuff and time on the actual property your hunting to learn it. I have heard Dan say a few times that it may take a couple seasons to get it down.