Hunting near a buck's bedding area in the mornings is a crap shoot in my opinion. Outside the rut.....the only mature buck I've seen was running to his bed just before first light. I've got a buck I'm targeting this year.....that I might try to sneak in in fron of one morning.....but I'm gonna stay back from really close to where I think he's bedding......as I'd hate to get pinned down by him coming home and bedding near me (no matter what time I got there in the AM). I'd fully expect him to get "home" before first light......so like I said......I think it's a crap shoot.

Outside the rut......I think your best chance would be hunting the evenings "kinda" near his bedding area.....and you'll need to be ready at last light. I'm always impressed with the guys who learn to hunt these guys in non rut times. They're a different breed of hunter IMO.

What I'm trying to do is.....think more like a buck....and less like a "deer". My sightings have reflected this new approach......but I knew that going in. I haven't seen a deer in my last 5 sits.