Tactical question.....UPDATED
 

Ok....here's the scenario...It's really windy here today, sustained wind around 20 with gusts well over 30.......It is the PERFECT direction to stalk a draw I have along a corn field where I have seen 2 shooter bucks.

I can slip in the extreme north end, and SLOWLY make my way south, glassing every step of the way. Here's the catch though......It's a bedding area. Do I dare stalk a bedding area, or stay the hell out of it???

RE: Tactical question.....
 

I thought you were a Jedi in a training? Can't you use "The Force"?;):D

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I wouldn't put a stalk on a mailbox. I'd get busted.

NOBODY in these parts (that I know of) hunts that way. It's totally foreign, to me. I wish you luck if you try it, though. helluva rush, I bet.

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Here's a pic of the place I am referring too. An extreme amount of patience will be required, no doubt. That's not the part I'm worried about though......The fact that it's a bedding area is what I am concerned with....Should I mess around in there or not??

The yellow is my entry route, and no, I won't actually be walking on the highway.....The blue arrow is the wind direction, and the blue circled area is the bedding area. I am also concerned about that draw that comes in from the west......I would have to be careful there, not to get upwind before checking it out. If I pass this spot up, and they're in there......bye bye birdie....

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If the wind is going to be right, and you do a good job of containing your scent, maybe even apply a cover scent...i wouldnt see a problem heading into the bedding area. The only problem that might arise is if you see a doe, it will be hard to get around her to keep moving without having her bust out of there. Be incredibly patient and slow. GOODLUCK!

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It's worth a shot, I'd do it. My only deer this year was a spot and stalk.

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Is the beginning of the yellow arrow leading from your house? If so, nice setup you got there. I say go for it man. I've been putting on some stalks here lately and have forgotten how much fun they can be. Just be prepared to see deer at any moment.;)Good luck!

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Not my house...no......Man, I've always been told to stay out of bedding areas.....I'm nervous about sneaking around in there....

But, it sure would be a good way to use their biggest advantage to their DISadvantage.....An aggressive move no doubt...

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shouldn't be a problem.especially since the wind will also help cover up some of the noise. and defintely be extra careful with your scent. at this wind speeds one swirl and your done.

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Well, I've heard the same. Don't let others' OPINIONS steer you in the wrong direction. I know it makes sensenot to sneak around in a deer's bedroom but this also could do the trick. You may be passing up the best hunt in your lifetime.

I've been told things to do (mainly things not to do) in the deer woods. Guess what? I did them anyway and have been very successful. Just go with your gut feeling. Obviously, YOU want to go in there today. Go for it!

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Are you looking to catch them in their beds or moving away from them?

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Catch them IN it......they aren't gonna be moving much at all today......Big weather system coming in tomorrow though...

I just don't want to run them out of their bedding area all together.....If I bump the big guy out of there....who knows where he will end up.

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Do you have this place to yourself?

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Yes.

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I'd approach this with 2 options.

1. Get aggressive and go in stalking very carefully. But I wouldnt do it without a climber on my back. Mature bucks will and do almost always come back to their bedding areas to make sure all is ok... so to speak..if the get bumped... I you get the shot while stalking great! if not and you bump one.. set up your stand right where you bumped them or move forward reading the escape route and set up where you think they would re-enter to come back to thier beds... they will comeback especially if your the first guy to bump him or them in there in a long time.... Now if they continue to get bumped in there, they will not tolerate this long adjust bedding spots...

Again, take as stand with you today on your back and hang it right on them if you dont get a shot. Be in that stand the rest of the day if the winds directions are good. If the winds are two strong, hang it and leave, come back 2 hour before daylight and get in it at least one hour before daybreak. If you have the right wind...you may easily kill one of the bucks or buck that you bumped..he come back I've seen the big guys do it a lot..

Second.. play it safe and creep in on the fringes of that bedding area and use a soft grunt call..small bucks.. type and spar.. challenging the bigger bucks turf. Those bucks have been banging heads at night garaunteed already and are establishing a hiearchy.. if he hears you he may just come out to take a look. If its reallly thick in there he will most likely work in slowly down wind of you.. if you try calling of course your winds need to die down somewhat for him to hear you.. thats why I would take rattling antlers...you can get real loud with them in high winds..

Third..stay home on the couch and watch the NFL

If it was me, I think I would look at the hour by hour forcast and see if the winds are going to die down somewhat and I would challenge his turf..by calling..

If I stalked in there I would definately pack a stand for the next morning hunt if you bump him out of a bed or them out thier beds..they will come backat least once.... your the only one hunting in there..

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Thanks, Troy. I REALLY appreciate you taking the time to post that. I NEVER would have thought to bring my stand with me.....I am just nervous about jumping them out of there this close to the rut......thanks again.

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I guess i was confused on it your gonna stalk around in the bedding areas or just get in and sit for them to move. I'd do it forsure if your just gonna go it and sit and wait for them to move. Go in after them in their area is very daring............ I LIKE IT!!!!!!!!! I say go for it that could be a hell of a hunt and if you get one you know you earned it by stalking and go after then instead of waiting for them to come to you..... I say do it and post up some pics!!!!!!!!!

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If your gonna go, you better get your but out there soon.

I wish you luck my friend. I'm not giving you any advice, out of my field of expertise. I am not a stalker.

Just don't get . ( Hows that using one of our new smilies?)

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Any luck Mobo?

RE: Tactical question..... UPDATE
 

Well, I decided to head in there. But I only hit the fringe of it, I didn't really get into where they are bedding at....

It was a worthwhile trip. I had some obligations this evening so I only hunted until 5, but I found some HOT black oaks....The deer are really pounding the acorns out of these trees, as well as the cut corn field next to it. So I hung on the edge hoping to catch them coming out of bedding into feed.....It was darn hot today, and I didn't expect them to move much anyway. But it's going to be cooler this week, so I'll sit there a couple evenings, wind permitting.

That spot is very simple to get to, and very low impact. It would suck in the morning as the deer would be in the corn, no way to get there w/out running them out, but for an evening stand....spot on.

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Here in South Carolina....i would say that you are crazy. Too thick. Too hot. Too everything.

RE: Tactical question..... UPDATE
 

Glad to hear you didn't have a wasted evening. I'll be out all day tomorrow and maybe Tuesday depending on the rain thats moving in. Good luck!

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South Carolina nothin......Most folks right here in MO say I'm crazy anyways.....

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LoL... You do know that they have hospitals for that kinda thing these days?:D

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Oh, and as a sidenote......my bino's busted all to hell.....That's just friggin wonderful.......I'm now officially w/out glass till X-mas.......great....juuuuuuuuusst great......

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Stalking with a stand on your back is tough! Been there done that!!

I love still-hunting, been at it for 20 years with a gun! I've only been doing it with a bow for a few years, and have not got one yet, but I have been within range of a couple! Just no perfect shot yet!!

Wind is good. It helps hide your motion, and the noise!
I would be cautious about stalking into a bedding area! All it takes is one wrong step, and all the deer are gone! Theymay slowly come back, but if they do, they will circle, and come in down wind, and they will be very leery!A lot of the time, they don't even go that far! They will bound off aways, stop turn around and investigate!! If they see you climbing a tree, I wouldn't imaging that they would be back too soon!!

The only thing better than having one walk under your stand, is outsmarting one on the ground. IMHO!

GL
Vikes