Thermals drop in the evening and rise in the morning. I've found does as well bucks prefer to travel the benches. It's the path of least resistance. In fact, if the bench is too pronounced and open, mature bucks are more apt to take the secondary trails above and below the bench because they're in more cover being less exposed. Bucks are bucks and usually keep their wits about them,
'til they're coupled up.
Cuts or valleys below the bench will have the deer wanting to cut around them
up to the bench instead of cutting across them. It's easier traveling. Reverse that and if the area above the bench is too steep that will push the deer down onto the bench. So you could find areas where the spot below the bench is cut out and a mini-ravine created by the elements or a spot above the bench where it's steep, these are places more apt to funnel any deer. A dip, drop, mini-valley or cut out just below the bench push the animals up onto the bench, reverse what a steep hillside does.
What you want to do is look for the secondary trails above and below the bench, then start looking for larger tracks. That will better help you fine-tune your ambush point. Larger tracks reveal larger animals and hopefully a big buck, if that's what you're after.
Deer also, bucks especially, will bed on the side of the bench that is usually opposite the wind direction. It's mainly to keep out of the cold and if the deer can get light exposure for warmth, it's a double-attraction.(a third is for wind scent advantage) So depending on the wind that day, that's where you could set up at. If the bench is small and tight, preferable with slight cover and a good view below, a buck could bed right on top of that bench so he can look down to see any danger and pick up drafts from wind above and behind him using his nose to detect danger too. To top that off, if you can find that spot on a point on the bench, there's a high likely chance there's a bedding spot there.
I recommend this strategy for you because you mention the feeding areas, which are not that far off. Since the buck won't have to travel that far, it will be closer to dark before he gets up and starts making his way. If you want a shot at him, you'll have to get closer to his bedding area and since you said it will be around the second rutting time, he won't be as keyed up to run around all over God's earth looking for a mate, instead settling down to his old habits.
If it were me and it being that time of year, I want to know where he's bedding, then strategize what trail(s) he is mostly accessing to get to the feeding area and hunt those spots when the wind is right. Since does aren't his main focus any more, he's focusing more on food which will replenish the weight he's lost chasing.
Good luck,
iSnipe
