ORIGINAL: GMMAT
Here's another thought Duke.....
What do you think about a buck bedding where he's able to SEE his primary scrape(s)? Any experience with this. I got to thinking about this later in the year. He's already certainly in a spot he's comfortable with as it pertains to prevailing winds.....but I'm wondering how often it happens he's able to see those primary scrapes????
I have alot of experience with bucks bedding downwind of their scrapes. I see it all the time. Just saw it again.. about 10 days ago. Great buck bedded downwind of his scrape.. like 70 yards downwind. And then.. the ole boy went straight crosswind.. walked downwind of heavier cover.. with an ability to see over a CRP and cut cornfield.
As far as sight.. I'm not doubting it would happen. But then the buck would have to feel comfortable bedding where he did. REAL comfortable. And seeing a doe is not the same thing as smelling a doe's "potential"... so to speak. Which a veteran of the love game would know. (older buck)
It would be my guess that a younger buck would do this (as they are antsy as haitis with the breeding thing still).. but an older one.. I think would be more apt to getting scent of his scrape rather than visual.
But I never put it past a buck to get what he wants to get.. anyway he can.. when its time to get it. So obviously there would be times a buck would not be able to get scent of a particular scrape without putting himself possibly at risk. Then.. I could see a buck only getting visual of a scrape.