Hi im new to this site. Can anyone give me some tips on where the big boys prefer to bed? Land im hunting in is mainly hardwoods and some tag elders sourounded by CRP fields.

Hey Gumby...welcome.
There are a few rules of thought on bedding areas. there are those who say that a dominant buck will prefer to bed in an elevated location with the wind in his face. That's great, but they don't always have this option where I hunt. When I am scouting a new area, I try to find just the opposite. The low lying, usually thicker vegetation to look for beds. The bucks will bed down in this thick stuff (usually a cedar swamp, or briars) They will have several exits and entrances depending on conditions.

Good luck (9 hrs to first light!)
jack

I believe the primary feature to be aware of when discerning buck bedding areas is cover. Big bucks usually prefer to bed in thick cover/brushy areas. Sounds like the CRP fields in your hunting area might offer the kind of cover a big buck seeks. This time of year...if you scout carefully and do your best to eliminate or at least minimize your scent, then you should be able to find a buck core area(staging area near bedding area) and then you can pick a spot on the edge. That has been my strategy and it has produced some exciting hunts. You will know when you find a core area as it is usually quite loaded with sign! Good luck and always be safe!