ORIGINAL: GMMAT
I have a GREAT staging area that's been my top producer for bucks in the short time I've been hunting them. It's also a doe haven......hence the reason I hunt does FOR bucks. I'm playing the hand I was dealt to my advantage.
This area is (area I have access to) is only about 5 acres. It's an oak flat that has about 4-5 different mast producing species. Deer will "stage" in this flat before darkness......and re-stage in this area before going into their bedding area(s).....which is only 40-50 yds from the oak flat......before bedding in the mornings. They routinely go in and out of this area in the mornings.....as they feel it'sa safe place for them to be out in the daylight. I routinely have deer in this flat on up into the late morning hours.
I wouldn't consider this area a "destination" food source.....because there are other mast producing areas that they venture to in the evenings. I suppose this is due to their natural browsing tendencies.
It really is a GREAT spot, though.....very near their sanctuary. I believe it wouldn't be NEARLY the spot it is.......if I had access to their bedding area(s).
Your comments are spot on from my point of veiw. I have a 'staging' area (the base of a wide draw) that I hunt where deer pile up before moving out to cropland. While I consistanly see deer there, generally they are little bucks and does. Using a trail cam, however, I have seen the big boys that pass through there in the night, after shooting hours. The reason I hunt it is I do not have permission to hunt near where they are coming from (bedding area). I am sure staging areas can pay off, but it has been my experiance that getting closer to bedding areas is a better bet for intercepting mature bucks in the 'prerut'.