Turkey hunting last weekend (no birds for miles), I did a little scouting. I was walking up a small hill when I heard something running off. When I reached the top, sure enough, a big bed.

This thing was full of hair, perfectly maintained, and he could'nt have picked a better spot. Behind it, a very steep hill, on both sides, smaller hills and in front of him a large field. The wind usually blows from the field.
He can bolt before any intruder can even see him.


It's gonna be tough to get a game plan on him. Behind him is private, not accessible to me. There is no set food source here, it's BIG woods. I did find a couple of nice rubs about 100 yards to the east.

What do you think? Stay clear till the opener, then sneak in way before daybreak with the climber along the rubline?

Get thaere before him! Is that a dead tree?

cool find

Nice looking bed. I would try to see if there are any trails leading away from his bed. The way you described it, he may be tough to get near while he is on his bed, but on a trail leading away from the bed there might be a nice ambush spot.

looks like critters are having a good time with the dead tree. nice bed though.

I would try to figure out where he goes and/or where he comes in from and hunt between there and the bed. I stay out of actual bedding areas and hunt the perimeters of bedding areas. I'm no pro, just my $0.02.

I agree w/ njbuck. I would't try a morning stand if he's got 360 degrees covered.
Find a rub line leading away from the area around 200-300 yrds out,
you don't want to spook him out by getting too close.
Just hope he's going to show himself before shooting light ends.

Good Luck.

Hey Super, I don't know that I would plan an entire season on finding 1 bed 6 months prior to the season. Scout the area, use trailcams etc and see whats going on on that ridge and surrounding area.

No need to make a guess now..you have time to get much more info.

Good find.

Am I the only one that thinks the tree looks NOTHING like a rub?

There are PLENTY of guys here who'll tell you to hunt the deer "sign". I won't be one of them. I've seen deer bed in the field below my house......then bed across the road near a pond....then choose a spot, elsewhere. I went looking for a SMALL, DEFINED bedding area when I first started looking. What I didn't realize is a bedding AREA is just that.....an AREA.

Like I said.....a LOT of guys here will tell you to hunt buck (and deer "sign"). I follow the does, all year.

I wish you luck.