Bridge in the Big Woods

Discuss the science of figuring out our prey through good detective work.
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Singing Bridge
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Bridge in the Big Woods

Unread postby Singing Bridge » Mon Feb 20, 2017 10:38 am

Spent the day scouting buck bedding in the big woods today. I found quite a few buck beds in several different areas. Only one of the buck beds had a rub right in the bed. The others didn't show any rubbing until the buck hit a staging area.

Almost every buck bed of the dozen or so I spent time in had deer hair in them. It was also fun to see all the chopped tufts of hair around a couple of doe bedding areas. They are really kicking the daylights out of each other right now.

When I reached one buck bed in this area it was coated with hair from a dead buck.

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A short distance from the bed I found this:

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This buck isn't the biggest using these bedding areas but he was a three year old and would have been a fine buck next fall.


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Re: Bridge in the Big Woods

Unread postby mathews418 » Mon Feb 20, 2017 12:14 pm

Very nice Bridge!!! Too bad about the dead buck, he would have made a dandy.
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Re: Bridge in the Big Woods

Unread postby Bubbles » Mon Feb 20, 2017 12:27 pm

Nice! Man, is Michigan snow free already?
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Re: Bridge in the Big Woods

Unread postby stash59 » Mon Feb 20, 2017 12:35 pm

:doh: :clap: :handgestures-thumbup:
Happiness is a large gutpile!!!!!!!
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Re: Bridge in the Big Woods

Unread postby Hawthorne » Mon Feb 20, 2017 1:16 pm

Nice find Bridge! I listened to your podcast last night .Awesome stuff!
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Re: Bridge in the Big Woods

Unread postby JakeB » Mon Feb 20, 2017 1:22 pm

SB, really enjoy your post about the big woods. Any chance you would mind describing where the beds were located?

I'm starting to piece some things together in the big woods/swamps that I hunt and it's not the easiest thing to do. My most rescent finds are on the north ends of 1-3 acre ponds on willow humps surrounded by water.
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Re: Bridge in the Big Woods

Unread postby WV Bowhunter » Mon Feb 20, 2017 1:24 pm

Nice buck, it's a shame a bunch of them go out that way.
Luck is when preparation meets opportunity!!
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Re: Bridge in the Big Woods

Unread postby Jackson Marsh » Mon Feb 20, 2017 1:32 pm

Nice finds SB! Bummer about the dead buck.
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Re: Bridge in the Big Woods

Unread postby Stanley » Mon Feb 20, 2017 1:38 pm

Good stuff.
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.
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Re: Bridge in the Big Woods

Unread postby Mibowfreak » Tue Feb 21, 2017 1:17 am

Great find Bridge. Its to bad about finding that dead buck.
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Re: Bridge in the Big Woods

Unread postby Singing Bridge » Tue Feb 21, 2017 2:47 am

Bubbles wrote:Nice! Man, is Michigan snow free already?


The farther north you go in Michigan right now the more snow you will encounter. This area is about half covered with snow but it is going fast with these high temps.
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Singing Bridge
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Re: Bridge in the Big Woods

Unread postby Singing Bridge » Tue Feb 21, 2017 2:50 am

Hawthorne wrote:Nice find Bridge! I listened to your podcast last night .Awesome stuff!


Thank you for the feedback, its been a while since I thought of the podcast. It was fun to do, thanks to Mario doing a great job walking us through it and asking insightful questions.
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Re: Bridge in the Big Woods

Unread postby Wetfoot » Tue Feb 21, 2017 4:13 am

That's pretty cool. Nice find. I find deer very often like that. Guys either are too intimidated to track a deer into a really wet or nasty area or shoot something they don't have a tag for. I've never understood that mentality. I did find one right at the end of season a couple years ago that Coyotes has ripped apart. Pretty ugly!
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Re: Bridge in the Big Woods

Unread postby Singing Bridge » Tue Feb 21, 2017 4:57 am

JakeB wrote:SB, really enjoy your post about the big woods. Any chance you would mind describing where the beds were located?

I'm starting to piece some things together in the big woods/swamps that I hunt and it's not the easiest thing to do. My most rescent finds are on the north ends of 1-3 acre ponds on willow humps surrounded by water.


Most of the beds I scouted were along a transition line in the big woods. In particular, these beds were inside a bog that butted up against big timber.

It sounds as though you are definitely on the right track. Going to water anywhere inside a big woods will show you edge (a transition line) where the water meets the woods. Rivers, beaver ponds, lakes, bogs, marshes and swamps all create edge against the big woods where the bucks travel, feed, bed and conduct rut activity.

Beaver ponds are "normally" outstanding for big woods buck activity. The opening the pond creates will have thick cover growing next to it with great exposure to the sun. A mature buck can bed, feed, water, stay in security cover and have does to chase all in this environment created by the ponds.

Dry land areas that excel are often where feeding areas but up against the big timper. Aspen regrowth in clear cuts, stands of red osier dogwood (these are excellent) and other feeding areas can produce great mature buck activity. Oftentimes the feeding areas are thick enough to provide bedding.

Any elevated ridges, hills, bluffs and the like create topographical edges that bucks often utilize as well.

Fire specifics at me anytime, I'm always glad to lend a hand.
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Re: Bridge in the Big Woods

Unread postby Dewey » Tue Feb 21, 2017 5:42 am

Sounds like fun. I need a big woods scout as it's been awhile. Nothing like exploring endless amounts of huge public lands. 8-)

Too bad about the buck. I feel fortunate that I haven't found any dead deer so far this year.


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