One of the biggest things i have realized this season is: Not only do I have to know WHERE the exact location of buck bedding is, but I have to know WHEN a buck is using it. (equally important)
I know for a fact that I have been putting way more emphasis on the WHERE than the WHEN.
This is very obvious in concept but its kind of one of those things i had to learn the hard way for it to sink in.
I believe i spent a lot of time this season hunting some areas that 1.) Have suitable cover/terrain for big bucks to bed in 2.)Big bucks have/will use that spot at certain times 3.)Did not have any big bucks using them the day I hunted them
This spring, in addition to choosing trees to hunt out of and what winds to hunt the bed with, I will also be choosing spots to hang cameras and spot check for tracks (human and deer). Dan and many others have helped us all figure out the 2% of the acreage that is suitable for buck bedding, but when you are trying to find the needle in the haystack on public land, it appears that there is more work to do than WHERE. I do think WHEN is under emphasized sometimes.
Anyone consciously do this really well? Easier said than done? (yes) Any advice? I know this subject has been beaten to death from many different angles on here but these are my thoughts. Ive decided its time for me to consciously start finding out WHEN he is in there instead of going in halfhearted with fingers crossed.
Yet another thing to pay attention to when scouting
- hunter_mike
- Moderator
- Posts: 8297
- Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2012 3:24 pm
- Location: south central WI
- Status: Offline
Yet another thing to pay attention to when scouting
“The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.”
- Trailcamaddict
- 500 Club
- Posts: 664
- Joined: Sat Sep 28, 2013 2:25 am
- Location: NE Wisconsin
- Status: Offline
Re: Yet another thing to pay attention to when scouting
I will be watching this closely. This is typically my biggest dilemma.
- Thermals
- 500 Club
- Posts: 1097
- Joined: Tue Dec 03, 2013 2:58 pm
- Location: Next to a Bed
- Status: Offline
Re: Yet another thing to pay attention to when scouting
This has been my problem as well. Timing is everything
[ Post made via iPhone ]
[ Post made via iPhone ]
- Lockdown
- Moderator
- Posts: 9957
- Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2014 4:16 pm
- Location: MN
- Status: Offline
-
- Posts: 437
- Joined: Thu Jul 18, 2013 12:50 am
- Status: Offline
Re: Yet another thing to pay attention to when scouting
First, when the wind is right for the bed.
Second, when the food is right for the bed.
Third, when the pressure puts him there or before the pressure puts him somewhere else.
These are my best hypothesis. If there are other criteria I don't know what they are.
[ Post made via iPhone ]
Second, when the food is right for the bed.
Third, when the pressure puts him there or before the pressure puts him somewhere else.
These are my best hypothesis. If there are other criteria I don't know what they are.
[ Post made via iPhone ]
- headgear
- 500 Club
- Posts: 11623
- Joined: Wed Sep 08, 2010 7:21 am
- Location: Northern Minnesota
- Status: Offline
Re: Yet another thing to pay attention to when scouting
WHEN is always the hardest part, even when you find fresh sign you sometimes don't get the "when" right.
- Arrowbender
- 500 Club
- Posts: 1614
- Joined: Sun Feb 21, 2010 4:39 am
- Location: Minnie!
- Status: Offline
Re: Yet another thing to pay attention to when scouting
The type of ground has soooo much to do with it.
Many times in farmland the bucks use different bedding cover through out the year. Spring scouting won't really teach you a thing about September activity. Winter beds are worthless when it comes to pre rut bedding cover.
A lot of hill country that I have encountered will surly have bedding on the text book points and leeward hill sides, but the food o' the day tempers this greatly every year if the hill is anywhere near ag.
I have many times found historic "fall" or pre-rut buck bedding to be over run with doe in the winter, leaving a lot of sign that conflicts with the buck sign left just a few months earlier.
Of course this is not always the case. But definetly something to keep in mind.
Experience on the property trumps all. Always.
Not to say that a new property can't be productive and especially fun to challenge yourself. Just saying that there can be exceptions or variances to a lot of "our" hypothesis!
Many times in farmland the bucks use different bedding cover through out the year. Spring scouting won't really teach you a thing about September activity. Winter beds are worthless when it comes to pre rut bedding cover.
A lot of hill country that I have encountered will surly have bedding on the text book points and leeward hill sides, but the food o' the day tempers this greatly every year if the hill is anywhere near ag.
I have many times found historic "fall" or pre-rut buck bedding to be over run with doe in the winter, leaving a lot of sign that conflicts with the buck sign left just a few months earlier.
Of course this is not always the case. But definetly something to keep in mind.
Experience on the property trumps all. Always.
Not to say that a new property can't be productive and especially fun to challenge yourself. Just saying that there can be exceptions or variances to a lot of "our" hypothesis!
- kurt
- Posts: 2219
- Joined: Sat Aug 07, 2010 9:10 pm
- Status: Offline
Re: Yet another thing to pay attention to when scouting
Tracks in season lead me to hot bed.trail cams like you are thinking are good for hard ground hill country. But I'm interested in other info as well. I wish I shined more. The Bucky I believe this to be true post also about mature deer ending up in the same area to the week the next year trail cams can help you make inventory of what beds and why. That can hold true for years to come.
[ Post made via Android ]
[ Post made via Android ]
- kurt
- Posts: 2219
- Joined: Sat Aug 07, 2010 9:10 pm
- Status: Offline
Re: Yet another thing to pay attention to when scouting
Tracks in season lead me to hot bed.trail cams like you are thinking and they are good for hard ground hill country. But I'm interested in other info as well. I wish I shined more. The Bucky I believe this to be true post also about mature deer ending up in the same area to the week the next year trail cams can help you make inventory of what beds and why. That can hold true for years to come.
[ Post made via Android ]
[ Post made via Android ]
- Stanley
- Honorary Moderator
- Posts: 18734
- Joined: Tue Aug 09, 2011 4:18 am
- Facebook: None
- Location: Iowa
- Status: Offline
Re: Yet another thing to pay attention to when scouting
Great topic. Seasonal changes in the condition of beds. This is an ongoing transformation of beds being used and beds not being used. If you scout and find a bed in March this will tell you where the bed is. The bed usage depends on if the bed is usable during the hunting season. Beds that flood over don't get used during the wet seasons. This is especially true in River bottoms.
I have seen beds used one year by difference bucks and then not used for the next couple of years because they are under water. Even when they dry out they are often not used as other suitable beds are used. So you do need to make sure the bed conditions are right for when you set up on a bed. Like Arrowbender said being familiar with your hunting area is huge help.
I have seen beds used one year by difference bucks and then not used for the next couple of years because they are under water. Even when they dry out they are often not used as other suitable beds are used. So you do need to make sure the bed conditions are right for when you set up on a bed. Like Arrowbender said being familiar with your hunting area is huge help.
You can fool some of the bucks, all of the time, and fool all of the bucks, some of the time, however you certainly can't fool all of the bucks, all of the time.
- hunter_mike
- Moderator
- Posts: 8297
- Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2012 3:24 pm
- Location: south central WI
- Status: Offline
Re: Yet another thing to pay attention to when scouting
Well I got some great feedback here as usual, thank you all for your thoughts. Anyone else?
“The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.”
-
- Advertisement
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 14 guests