I experienced hunting my first "primary" bedding area ever. I have limited access to areas and I have only ever hunted land that is travel routes to and from bedding areas to food sources. I have seen small beds in weeds and such, but this area is huge, like maybe 20 by 30 yards, with multiple beds, and the beds are nice ovals worn down to the bare dirt! It is on a small island in a swampy area. Not just mashed down weeds that they may use occasionally. After finding this hot spot late into the season and seeing tons of tracks and lots of rubs and scraps, but no deer I was doing more scouting and realized that I was parking my truck and walking within fifty yards of the main bedding area, they had me pegged every time!!

I will now be parking up the road a little ways and there is a small ditch that passes around three side of this area. I am planning on building a small makeshift bridge to cross the ditch so I can come in from different angles and be farther away from the bedding area on approach and then hunt a main trail better, there is only two trails going into and coming out of this bedding area, they are like deer side walks! Hoping the ditch crossing idea will put me away from the beds, but on the trail.

Well I plan on hunting with my dad alot more this year, he is 65 I think, and he had a real hard time in ladder stands, but I think he did it out of being strong in front of me. So I plan on building him a nice ground blind to help make it easier for him and help cover up his movements and sound. I also plan on building at least two 20" ladder stands also and placing at the new spot I spoke of.