ghoasthunter wrote:BBH1980 wrote:ghoasthunter wrote:BBH1980 wrote:ghoasthunter wrote:located a mountain buck bed today he is using a bed in 10 acre rhododendron swamp at the bottom of a drainage below a hard wood point that does bed on
this is the bucks path up too doe bedding i found today. he sits in his bed facing west down wind of point. when he leaves the bed he travels east along the edge of swamp feeding on rhododendron buds and leaves. along this path on swamp there are rubs and droppings. once he gets across the drainage which is about 100 yards he then cuts strait up the drainage twords the does and several scapes all under one hemlock tree.
this is where the buck stops cutting across the bottom edge of dranage and cuts up the hill notice the heavy brows line. im looking strait at swamp scapes and point are at my back. this buck is secure in this area because all the air is hitting him all day he is actually facing the wind in his bed and using his ears too hear behind him. when he leaves his bed he cuts cross ways and uses thermals pulling down off the mountain drainage above. i only ever see mature bucks use the wind like this he keeps the wind in his face the whole time he moves from his bed till dark.
this is also where i will try and intercept the buck before he walks up the hill twords the scrapes and does. i will sit in the cluster of trees with my back up too edge of water im intercepting the deer where hes browsing before the scrapes. right at the end of the heavy beat down moss trail. the area this buck is using looks like a barn yard with droppings rubs and brows line. when i hunt mountain bucks i dont even bat an eye unless i see this kind of sign. if there is actually a buck in the area this is the sign you should expect too find. if you are seeing random sign in possible bedding start following the sign till it heats up or your too far away for a high percentage sit.
this is a view up the hill from the scapes looking at the point with doe bedding.
this is what the buck is eating
Is the bed on transition or just a higher spot in the swamp ? Sorry for all the questions. Trying to learn all I can lol
yes the rub is in the bucks bed it a real tall one too starts at my inseam and goes up too my armpit and im six foot tall.the bed is bare dirt and full of hair of hair from the season. the buck is setup on the west corner of swamp where he can see a good 80 or 90 yards in three directions and all the terrain is kind of like a bowl around him that channels all the air strait too the bed. it was cool too see i walked around the bed throwing milk weed and no matter where i stood it all washed at the bed. the only spot it didn't was in the swamp itself. its a very tricky spot that is going too need a super calm wind too hunt anything heavy and its going too swirl scent across the whole swamp edge. i have a feeling if the buck heads in ill have a short period of time too make a shot before he busts me. but there is really no real good way other than what i decided to setup for. but thats pritty normal when hunting a big bucks bed its only time before you will eventually get busted.
Really good stuff man. Makes me realize I need to keep looking
you should still try spots your not sure of though it takes years too locate enough premo beds too get a season out of them. somtimes the stars align but if you find that hot spot dont hold off waiting for everything too be absolutely perfect. get on it while the deer is there find these spots and check the surrounding areas and as soon as you get a indicator that bucks in that pattern dive in. and if you hit the meh stuff while waiting all your doing is getting better for the right moment and making sure that deer is only going too be in the spot you want. just dont hunt spots the buck might be going for for that pattern. if i blew out that point the does were on that buck has no reason too use that bed for most part.
You can see the track bottom of picture. Walked in and turned around then laid down