How do bucks leave their bed?

[Schaef7]

Still new to hunting deer bedding and looking for some advice. When a buck leaves his bed, does he travel with the wind at his back, wind in his face? Or doesn’t wind really play a factor in the direction a buck goes once he leaves his bed?

[oldrank]

He will travel the most secure route to where he wants to go. Thermals may be more important than wind.

[Schaef7]

Thanks for the reply!

[funderburk]

Yep. Couldn’t agree more with oldrank.

To make the best guess on his exit route, you need to know what’s likely on his mind given the time of the season. Early season he’s probably headed towards food or water first. During late October/early November, he might be headed toward a scrape area that’s within 100 yards from his bed.

At the end of the day (literally ) it’s really up to him where he goes after leaving his bed. But knowing the most preferred destinations in the area (food, water, scrapes) is what keeps you in the game.

[Edcyclopedia]

On their hooves...

[may21581]

He will travel the most secure route to where he wants to go. Thermals may be more important than wind.

X2 I generally find them heading in the direction they have been watching and monitoring.

[jmaas07]

He will travel the most secure route to where he wants to go. Thermals may be more important than wind.

Agree. Hes going to want to get some scent of where he wants to go when hes close, in regards to thermals mentioned above, an example would be a low spot in an ag field

[dan]

I find that when leaving the bedroom sign don't lie... The trails you find coming out of bedding are the ones they are using regardless of wind, as long as he has the right wind to bed there in the 1st placed... Sometimes there is only one exit trail and its easy, sometimes there are several. When there are several, one may lead towards an early food source, one a later food sorce, maybe one goes to bedding... deciphering when and when they get used can be tricky, but important. Backing up to food sources and knowing where and what bucks are doing in the area before you hunt can help, as can monitoring the trails during season from a safe distance and choosing the one with the freshest sign...

Morning is a little different. they tend to want to smell the bedding area before entering. Not sure if this is to detect other bucks / deer or to determine predators. Likely both. But they tend to come in from down wind and often don't use the main trails, and often arrive well before shooting light...

[Schaef7]

Thanks for all the replies everyone!