Best ways to locate buck beds

Discuss the science of figuring out our prey through good detective work.
  • Advertisement

HB Store


mheichelbech
500 Club
Posts: 4188
Joined: Thu Nov 21, 2013 10:00 am
Facebook: mheichelbech@gmail.com
Location: Charlestown, IN
Status: Offline

Best ways to locate buck beds

Unread postby mheichelbech » Wed Sep 07, 2016 12:06 pm

What are your major successful ways for finding buck beds? Some properties I hunt, they have been easy to locate and where expected, some not so much.
My most successful has been post season with a snow and following tracks or just walking around in areas where I would expect to find them...Lee side of a hill, thickest areas of small woodlots on agriculture, spots where a buck can see what he needs to see and smell what he needs to smell, that is looking at areas that if I were a buck seeking security (or does), where would I bed. Also following a trail until it peters out.

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image


"One of the chief attractions of the life of the wilderness is its rugged and stalwart democracy; there every man stands for what he actually is and can show himself to be." — Theodore Roosevelt, 1893
User avatar
oldrank
Posts: 6158
Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2013 7:32 am
Location: USA
Status: Offline

Re: Best ways to locate buck beds

Unread postby oldrank » Wed Sep 07, 2016 12:29 pm

I will usually first cyber scout an area. I cyber scout almost daily. After I feel that I have found an area that may hold bedding I go check it out. With all the knowledge I find on here it has made it a very cut and dry process.

There are also beds I find that are hidden in little spots that are not so easily found on a map. These terrain style beds are usually tucked in a thick area. Grape vine tangles or grown over fields or small hidden chunks of cover. Most have a elevation advantage..even if its just a piled up hump of dirt. These ones seem to be very overlooked n I love finding them. I feel I am getting better n while scouting Im getting to where I think " oh that looks bucky" then check em out n find a bed. Always cool to find these beds..they feel like little gems.

[ Post made via Android ] Image
User avatar
Edcyclopedia
Posts: 12605
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2010 12:54 pm
Location: S. NH
Status: Offline

Re: Best ways to locate buck beds

Unread postby Edcyclopedia » Wed Sep 07, 2016 12:45 pm

FOLLOW DAN!

[ Post made via Android ] Image
Expect the Unexpected when you least Expect it...
User avatar
Hawthorne
500 Club
Posts: 6217
Joined: Mon Dec 15, 2014 2:13 pm
Location: michigan
Status: Offline

Re: Best ways to locate buck beds

Unread postby Hawthorne » Wed Sep 07, 2016 12:48 pm

I have kicked more bucks out of autumn olive thickets than any other habitat in my area combined. If you find it on a hill or rise there will most always be a buck bed. There was a guy on the qdma forum who recommended landowners to plant. They reemed him a new one because it's invasive.

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image
User avatar
oldrank
Posts: 6158
Joined: Wed Nov 27, 2013 7:32 am
Location: USA
Status: Offline

Re: Best ways to locate buck beds

Unread postby oldrank » Wed Sep 07, 2016 12:52 pm

Hawthorne wrote:I have kicked more bucks out of autumn olive thickets than any other habitat in my area combined. If you find it on a hill or rise there will most always be a buck bed. There was a guy on the qdma forum who recommended landowners to plant. They reemed him a new one because it's invasive.

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image


They love the Autumn olive. Tons of it around here. I have found alot of beds in it too. They love to set under it. It kinda makes a little cave for them the way it grows.

[ Post made via Android ] Image
User avatar
seazofcheeze
500 Club
Posts: 3860
Joined: Wed Sep 18, 2013 1:13 pm
Location: Billings, MT
Status: Offline

Re: Best ways to locate buck beds

Unread postby seazofcheeze » Wed Sep 07, 2016 1:16 pm

oldrank wrote:
Hawthorne wrote:I have kicked more bucks out of autumn olive thickets than any other habitat in my area combined. If you find it on a hill or rise there will most always be a buck bed. There was a guy on the qdma forum who recommended landowners to plant. They reemed him a new one because it's invasive.

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image


They love the Autumn olive. Tons of it around here. I have found alot of beds in it too. They love to set under it. It kinda makes a little cave for them the way it grows.

[ Post made via Android ] Image


I've seen this as well. They will eat the leaves and berries too.

[ Post made via Android ] Image
mheichelbech
500 Club
Posts: 4188
Joined: Thu Nov 21, 2013 10:00 am
Facebook: mheichelbech@gmail.com
Location: Charlestown, IN
Status: Offline

Re: Best ways to locate buck beds

Unread postby mheichelbech » Wed Sep 07, 2016 1:17 pm

oldrank wrote:
Hawthorne wrote:I have kicked more bucks out of autumn olive thickets than any other habitat in my area combined. If you find it on a hill or rise there will most always be a buck bed. There was a guy on the qdma forum who recommended landowners to plant. They reemed him a new one because it's invasive.

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image


They love the Autumn olive. Tons of it around here. I have found alot of beds in it too. They love to set under it. It kinda makes a little cave for them the way it grows.

[ Post made via Android ] Image

That stuff is all over an area I hunt and definitely bucks bedding in it...under it. Love that stuff.

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image
"One of the chief attractions of the life of the wilderness is its rugged and stalwart democracy; there every man stands for what he actually is and can show himself to be." — Theodore Roosevelt, 1893
User avatar
Singing Bridge
500 Club
Posts: 7162
Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2010 1:11 pm
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pro ... 1329617473
Location: Logged in - from above
Contact:
Status: Offline

Re: Best ways to locate buck beds

Unread postby Singing Bridge » Wed Sep 07, 2016 1:30 pm

mheichelbech wrote:What are your major successful ways for finding buck beds? Some properties I hunt, they have been easy to locate and where expected, some not so much.
My most successful has been post season with a snow and following tracks or just walking around in areas where I would expect to find them...Lee side of a hill, thickest areas of small woodlots on agriculture, spots where a buck can see what he needs to see and smell what he needs to smell, that is looking at areas that if I were a buck seeking security (or does), where would I bed. Also following a trail until it peters out.

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image


Public or private, transitions in cover and topography.

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image
User avatar
whitetailassasin
Posts: 3404
Joined: Tue Sep 25, 2012 12:34 pm
Location: Michigan
Status: Offline

Re: Best ways to locate buck beds

Unread postby whitetailassasin » Wed Sep 07, 2016 2:14 pm

Singing Bridge wrote:
mheichelbech wrote:What are your major successful ways for finding buck beds? Some properties I hunt, they have been easy to locate and where expected, some not so much.
My most successful has been post season with a snow and following tracks or just walking around in areas where I would expect to find them...Lee side of a hill, thickest areas of small woodlots on agriculture, spots where a buck can see what he needs to see and smell what he needs to smell, that is looking at areas that if I were a buck seeking security (or does), where would I bed. Also following a trail until it peters out.

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image


Public or private, transitions in cover and topography.

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image


I wondered the same thing, maybe if private and your having hard time finding the beds they might not be on that parcel :think:

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image
User avatar
Lockdown
Moderator
Posts: 9957
Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2014 4:16 pm
Location: MN
Status: Offline

Re: Best ways to locate buck beds

Unread postby Lockdown » Wed Sep 07, 2016 2:31 pm

What has helped me find beds is LOTS of cyber scouting. Look at a property multiple times. I often do this days apart. Sometimes you notice things you overlooked before. I make my best guess at where the beds will be. Sometimes I'm right, sometimes I'm wrong. And yes there are times when I don't find much at all. That's normal IMHO. Not every property has great bedding.

The important thing is to be thorough in the field. When you find a bed ask yourself why its there. You might have expected it to be there and already know why its there, but analyze everything anyway.

After I find beds I always go back home and cyber scout it some more and relate what I saw to what I see on the aerial. Doing this has helped me tremendously.

The more you cyber scout and put boots on the ground, the better you'll get at finding beds.
User avatar
PK_
500 Club
Posts: 6894
Joined: Tue Nov 20, 2012 5:10 am
Location: Just Off
Status: Offline

Re: Best ways to locate buck beds

Unread postby PK_ » Wed Sep 07, 2016 2:33 pm

I think the best way would be to train a bed dog.

We have deer dogs, blood dogs and shed dogs. So I know it could be done.

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image
No Shortcuts. No Excuses. No Regrets.
Everybody's selling dreams. I'm too cheap to buy one.
Rich M wrote:Typically, hunting FL has been like getting a root canal
User avatar
Singing Bridge
500 Club
Posts: 7162
Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2010 1:11 pm
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pro ... 1329617473
Location: Logged in - from above
Contact:
Status: Offline

Re: Best ways to locate buck beds

Unread postby Singing Bridge » Thu Sep 08, 2016 1:29 am

whitetailassasin wrote:
Singing Bridge wrote:
mheichelbech wrote:What are your major successful ways for finding buck beds? Some properties I hunt, they have been easy to locate and where expected, some not so much.
My most successful has been post season with a snow and following tracks or just walking around in areas where I would expect to find them...Lee side of a hill, thickest areas of small woodlots on agriculture, spots where a buck can see what he needs to see and smell what he needs to smell, that is looking at areas that if I were a buck seeking security (or does), where would I bed. Also following a trail until it peters out.

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image


Public or private, transitions in cover and topography.

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image


I wondered the same thing, maybe if private and your having hard time finding the beds they might not be on that parcel :think:

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image


That can definitely be the case and when it is it is time to create bedding... If possible.

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image
User avatar
wmahunter
500 Club
Posts: 1268
Joined: Wed Jul 20, 2011 12:43 am
Location: West Central Florida
Status: Offline

Re: Best ways to locate buck beds

Unread postby wmahunter » Thu Sep 08, 2016 3:50 am

mheichelbech wrote:What are your major successful ways for finding buck beds? Some properties I hunt, they have been easy to locate and where expected, some not so much.
My most successful has been post season with a snow and following tracks or just walking around in areas where I would expect to find them...Lee side of a hill, thickest areas of small woodlots on agriculture, spots where a buck can see what he needs to see and smell what he needs to smell, that is looking at areas that if I were a buck seeking security (or does), where would I bed. Also following a trail until it peters out.

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image


Using a closed contour map (1 ft contours) is the fastest way I have found potential bed sights here in FL. Then boots on the ground verifies it.

Certain points and high sports on a topo I have realized are possible beds as well.
There was a topic on here about the topo "Bench". Out of 3 benches I checked out this weekend 2 were used beds and the last was not.
User avatar
headgear
500 Club
Posts: 11625
Joined: Wed Sep 08, 2010 7:21 am
Location: Northern Minnesota
Status: Offline

Re: Best ways to locate buck beds

Unread postby headgear » Thu Sep 08, 2016 4:18 am

The #1 thing I look for is places other hunters don't want to visit because of water or distance. Those are usually the easiest to find, after that I start looking for some of the overlooked spots close to parking, trails, roads but those are very dependent on the local layout, I don't seem to find too many of them but enough to keeping trying. After that it is just kind of gaining experience and knowing what to look for, places where a buck can use the wind and thermals or terrain where nothing is going to sneak up on him. You can get pretty good at it after a while and pick out a lot of beds from aerials. You absolutely still need to put boots on the ground because for every 10 or 20 spots that look good on aerials you might find 1 or 2 quality bedding areas. You will almost always find beds is locations you look for them but recognizing the best spots from the average spots so you don't want to waste too much time hunting can take some practice.
mheichelbech
500 Club
Posts: 4188
Joined: Thu Nov 21, 2013 10:00 am
Facebook: mheichelbech@gmail.com
Location: Charlestown, IN
Status: Offline

Re: Best ways to locate buck beds

Unread postby mheichelbech » Thu Sep 08, 2016 5:53 am

PK_ wrote:I think the best way would be to train a bed dog.

We have deer dogs, blood dogs and shed dogs. So I know it could be done.

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image

They even have porn dogs now!

[ Post made via iPhone ] Image
"One of the chief attractions of the life of the wilderness is its rugged and stalwart democracy; there every man stands for what he actually is and can show himself to be." — Theodore Roosevelt, 1893


  • Advertisement

Return to “Scouting”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 22 guests