I think older bucks 5+ years just about always approach their bed by first scent checking it. I know around here, they usually walk in heavier cover and elevated if they can.... Think they like to scent and visually check their beds? Most of the time i look for any edge that is 50-100 yards down wind as this seems to be the most effective range for them here. I don't think pressure dictates their approach as much as what time they approach. If they get pressured they, 5+ year old bucks,tend to go nocturnal more than changed their routine. Now if you pound the bedding areas over and over then they will abandon it for one less pressured. I also think you can bank on this habit of J hooking more than you can rely on setting up on a single bed in evening hoping he is in that bed.... They just are not that consistent here. I rarely if ever set up on a specific bed.... I target bedding areas approaches and exits. These can range from 2 acreas to 20+ acreas around here. Big bucks here seldom use the same exact beds, cover is readily abundant and secure here. For me, the one thing that makes a bedding area a great buck bedding area is the presence of water (pond, lake, river, etc....). I seldom find the dominate buck further away then 200 yards from a reliable water source. I've seen them travel two + miles for food and does but I never see that in regards to water. Could be a southern thing but I find this true in most areas I hunt. A buck can go a long time without food source or a doe, they can find cover almost anywhere as they really are adaptable, but they can not go for long without water. They can and do get a lot of the water from dew and frost, in the early morning, but when it's hot and when they are rutting they need water.
So I look for beds in relation to secure water.... I then set up on approach to the water source, or in some cases between the water and beds.
Morning hunting may not work everywhere, but it's worked best for me everywhere I have hunted.... But that may be because I believe in it so well..... We all know mental/confidence plays a key role in success. To me a big buck leaving his sanctuary in evening during daylight is far more cautious and alert then a buck that's been out feeding all night with no troubles and is heading back to his home turf.... I just find that they relax more and are more active then a lot of people believe in the AM.
ALSO, I GET SET UP EARLY.... Can't stress that enough. I find that they arrive back to the core early but often feed, browse, spar, etc., well after daylight in their core areas.
All this is my personal experience. I think AM hunting is more of a precision thing and you don't get many breaks..... But once you get set up right it's pretty successful. There are some areas I would love to AM hunt but I can't due to approach, wind. Property boundaries..... I won't compromise until everything is just right.
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