Bedding Deer
 

What does everyone think are the key ingrediantsfor making a good deer bedding area.
Thanks

RE: Bedding Deer
 

absalutely no human activity

RE: Bedding Deer
 

the thickest, nastiest and as said by redneck, with the least human pressure and for big bucks sometimes the least other deer, i have found that the big dogs like to bed away from others in the thickest of thickets unless it is the rut.

RE: Bedding Deer
 

Very very thick with the least human activity.

RE: Bedding Deer
 

I hunt where this huge thicket meets the woods. I love transition areas. They know they're safe in this bad boy, but when they leave.;)That's a thicket!:D

RE: Bedding Deer
 

The thickest and safest place I would say .

RE: Bedding Deer
 

Under my stand:D

RE: Bedding Deer
 

Early, I got a spot just like that up on a ridge whereI hunt..

RE: Bedding Deer
 

One key ingrediant would be Deer in the area.
And like said before stay out of it.
And just set up close to the trial going to or from the bedding area.
Good Luck

RE: Bedding Deer
 

The least place you expect. I see many mature bucks laying up in the middle ofopen fields with a grass waterway and lone tree in middle of it.About 10 years ago I hunted the edge of a cut corn field and watched a monster 10 pointer that was beddeddown in some tall grassby a telephone pole running out toan oil pump. He wouldlift his head up and watch everything that moved. When a car would comedown the roadhe wouldlay his headdown flat until the vehicle passed. He probably did this 6 times in 2 hrs.That huntgave me have a newoutlook on mature whitetail. I always thought they were animals that ate, crapped, breed and hade some tasty back straps on them. They do learn how to survive and thanks to some sloppy hunters many of them get educated.

RE: Bedding Deer
 

Like everyone else has said its got to be thick and I think it has to protect them from the elements. Look for areas where natural terrain would block the wind/snow/rain and such. Its got to have many different escape routes incase you come through be in somewhat close proximity to food/water and such. On a farm I hunt IALWAYS find deer beds on a pine tree island in the middle of some lowland.

I've never hunted deer beds, I stick to trails/food and water. G'luck

RE: Bedding Deer
 

I normally would say the thickest places, but too many times I have had does and fawns come in and just plop down all around one of my stands in the warm morning sun in open woods on a hillside, not thick by any means, its all standing oaks etc. They will stay there as long as I can manage to stay quiet and stay still, or some other animal spooks them.

RE: Bedding Deer
 

I always believe, it's where the deer feels secure.
It must also provide a retreat from the elements when the weather turns nasty.

These areas will certainly change with the weather and the seasons and especially when hunting begins.

If a deer can bed down on the side of a ridge and feel safe, that's where they will go.
If they feel they need the security of a thick, nasty, dark, old cedar swamp, well - that's where you'll fnd them.

It ain't Rocket Science.

Sometimes, ask yourself, where would you go in the woods to stay for the day. A place where you feel secure and out of the elements.

As youfinally arrivethere, be careful, 'cause you just might be sharing that area with a whitetail deer.

RE: Bedding Deer
 

I think Jimmy S got it dead on... All to often I have found deer beeded in the tall grass in set out pines or laid up right next to a brushpile, on the side of a hill in a fresh cut-over... I don't think it has to be thick at all, it's all about getting away from the elements and feeling secure... Those deer in the tall grass know they can't been seen and that deer against that brushpile knows it's got plenty of cover behind it to prevent it from being detected... They are much more inteligent animals than many give them credit for...