I hunt small parcels on the edge of a man-made break line. I catch them exiting their sanctuary for dinner......and coming home in the mornings. Yeah....I'd say I'm a few hudred yds from their CORE bedding area.....but I bump them all the time (a few here and there) coming and going. I think they're just staging at these spots.....or they got caught coming home late.

One place i hunt is REALLY close to their bedding area......and thinking back.....with our rut starting as late as it did.....I hold to my original statement.

Now I'm not talking about Pre-rut/chasing. I'm talking about when it was in full swing......and post (although post-rut was likely out of season, for me).