Bridge in the Big Woods
- Singing Bridge
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Bridge in the Big Woods
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.
A short distance from the bed I found this:
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.
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.
A short distance from the bed I found this:
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
Very nice Bridge!!! Too bad about the dead buck, he would have made a dandy.
- Bubbles
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Re: Bridge in the Big Woods
Nice! Man, is Michigan snow free already?
- stash59
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- Hawthorne
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Re: Bridge in the Big Woods
Nice find Bridge! I listened to your podcast last night .Awesome stuff!
- JakeB
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Re: Bridge in the Big Woods
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.
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.
- WV Bowhunter
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Re: Bridge in the Big Woods
Nice buck, it's a shame a bunch of them go out that way.
Luck is when preparation meets opportunity!!
- Jackson Marsh
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Re: Bridge in the Big Woods
Nice finds SB! Bummer about the dead buck.
- Stanley
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Re: Bridge in the Big Woods
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.
- Mibowfreak
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Re: Bridge in the Big Woods
Great find Bridge. Its to bad about finding that dead buck.
- Singing Bridge
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Re: Bridge in the Big Woods
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.
- Singing Bridge
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Re: Bridge in the Big Woods
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.
- Wetfoot
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Re: Bridge in the Big Woods
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!
- Singing Bridge
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Re: Bridge in the Big Woods
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.
- Dewey
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Re: Bridge in the Big Woods
Sounds like fun. I need a big woods scout as it's been awhile. Nothing like exploring endless amounts of huge public lands.
Too bad about the buck. I feel fortunate that I haven't found any dead deer so far this year.
Too bad about the buck. I feel fortunate that I haven't found any dead deer so far this year.
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