Dead Heads in bedding areas

[Dpoole90]

A few days ago I was out doing some post season scouting on a ridge that is pretty tough to access from public parking due to steep cuts and Russian olive thickets. Once I reached the top of the ridge I started scouting all the points breaking off the main ridge, I started getting discouraged from not seeing the buck sign I was wanting, very low few rubs and only 2 small scrapes. Then I walked out on a small point and right on the tip I find a dead mature buck and next to him is an obvious bed. I take in all the surroundings and quickly figured out how tough the spot would be to hunt, I find a couple trees that could work then move down the ridge, I get to the end of the main ridge and find another mature dead buck practically in a bed and again I take it all in. Both bucks had not been dead all that long... maybe a couple weeks at most. I continue to scout to find rubs and scrapes to confirm the bucks are there during early season or rut but find none. My gut tells me the bucks head to this ridge post gun season aka late season.
What do you guys think?
Also I found balloons near the first bucks bed.

[Hawthorne]

Definitely a good spot

[Bonecrusher101]

Great post, I’d like some pics of the dead heads and the beds!

[Lockdown]

So you’re saying it makes a lot of sense on the map and in person, but there’s not a ton of sign left behind…



Sounds like an awesome spot.

[MichiganMike]

2 dead mature bucks along the same ridgeline on public in january? wow. I would say that would be a first for me in my 30+ years of hunting.

[Dpoole90]

Great post, I’d like some pics of the dead heads and the beds!

[Dpoole90]

Great post, I’d like some pics of the dead heads and the beds!

[Dpoole90]

Great post, I’d like some pics of the dead heads and the beds!

I failed to take picks of the beds, but will when I go back.

[Dpoole90]

So you’re saying it makes a lot of sense on the map and in person, but there’s not a ton of sign left behind…



Sounds like an awesome spot.

Yeah so I just kinda assumed it was getting pressure from guys hunting the private crossing over into the public, it really didn't have any human sign either other than a ladderstand that looked like it had been there for a decade.

[Bonecrusher101]

Wow, those pics help! Incredible find! You think they were shot with archery gear on the private land then died near Or in their beds on the public?

When you find unrecovered dead heads near or in bedding, I’d have to guess that all the other hunters in the area didn’t know about the bedding area on that ridge. I’d also have to guess that this spot was the Safest spot the bucks had.

[Dpoole90]

Wow, those pics help! Incredible find! You think they were shot with archery gear on the private land then died near Or in their beds on the public?

When you find unrecovered dead heads near or in bedding, I’d have to guess that all the other hunters in the area didn’t know about the bedding area on that ridge. I’d also have to guess that this spot was the Safest spot the bucks had.

I would think so but who really knows. With the rib bones being still intacked tells me they haven't been dead long. Predator #s are pretty high in this unit. I had a coyote come in while I was taking pics of the first one.
I would have to agree, even though it's illegal to take them someone would have definitely taken them.

[Bonecrusher101]

Wow, those pics help! Incredible find! You think they were shot with archery gear on the private land then died near Or in their beds on the public?

When you find unrecovered dead heads near or in bedding, I’d have to guess that all the other hunters in the area didn’t know about the bedding area on that ridge. I’d also have to guess that this spot was the Safest spot the bucks had.

I would think so but who really knows. With the rib bones being still intacked tells me they haven't been dead long. Predator #s are pretty high in this unit. I had a coyote come in while I was taking pics of the first one.
I would have to agree, even though it's illegal to take them someone would have definitely taken them.

Wait you couldn’t take the dead heads home with you?

[Jackson Marsh]

Great find.

[justdirtyfun]

I have found dead heads before and was impressed with the location. Security and lack of pressure go hand in hand.
Even if you come across an old shed, that shows your in a place most people don't go. Almost everyone would pick up a shed.

[Dpoole90]

Wow, those pics help! Incredible find! You think they were shot with archery gear on the private land then died near Or in their beds on the public?

When you find unrecovered dead heads near or in bedding, I’d have to guess that all the other hunters in the area didn’t know about the bedding area on that ridge. I’d also have to guess that this spot was the Safest spot the bucks had.

I would think so but who really knows. With the rib bones being still intacked tells me they haven't been dead long. Predator #s are pretty high in this unit. I had a coyote come in while I was taking pics of the first one.
I would have to agree, even though it's illegal to take them someone would have definitely taken them.

Wait you couldn’t take the dead heads home with you?

No, it's illegal to take them from public in IL.