Do bucks drop down, or go up in evening?

[johndeere506]

Just wondering if there is more frequent pattern here. These bucks are bedded 1/2 to 3/4 elevation. Feeding on corn piles down low and small plots and oaks up high. Which one are you betting on late season? I saw doe groups go high, didnt try low yet to see what going on.

[dan]

They go which ever direction they feel like in the evening. scouting is the only way to determine it.

[Bucky]

Bottoms are harder to hunt.... they can do either. I’d stick to hunting higher with predictable wind and good access.

[Tennhunter3]

In my areas I've seen alot more bucks cruise low.

It might be because of pressure up high. More hunter, human activity and logging up high.

When most bucks get up the last hour the thermals are dropping off the sides of the hills.

I've sat many times overlooking the thermal tunnel trail but I have seen very few deer ever use it.

[mheichelbech]

In my experience it’s driven by whatever is their fancy at the time. If it’s agriculture food and that is down low, I’d look low diets. If it’s above, look above. Same goes for doe bedding during the rut.

Rubs outside the bedroom could give you an idea, of course tracks if you can find them. If you can find his primary bedding and then a rub line coming out of it this tells you. Same thing coming back in.

[dan]

Bottoms are harder to hunt.... they can do either. I’d stick to hunting higher with predictable wind and good access.

Good point.

[johndeere506]

Bottoms are harder to hunt.... they can do either. I’d stick to hunting higher with predictable wind and good access.

I access from the bottom but waay off to the side. There is no pressure on top, and the bottom pressure is really far w corn piles from neighbors. The ridge top is about 10% of the forest area, the rest is hillside and bottom. There is a little old clover plot up there that I saw a bunch of doe in last weekend. I suspect the best buck bedding is on a point nearly halfway down that overlooks a huge thermal hub. The point drops sharply on caltopo right there at the end of point, and is extremely thick just above this point w old cleacut and briars. I can hunt the bottom sneaking up the back of a perpendicular point, to maybe see bucks come down. But could see far and maybe learn. The top is limited view, but has the plot where all the doe were going. The thermals are huge here with a north facing slope they seem to start earlier and are strong. Maybe I'll try both on evening hunt this weekend and learn something.

[johndeere506]

Bottoms are harder to hunt.... they can do either. I’d stick to hunting higher with predictable wind and good access.

Good point.

Thanks. I may try high first and if nothing big shows I'll either stalk the bedding the next day or hunt low on the second try.