Bedding and Feeding Areas??
11-28-2012, 02:53 PM
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Great Mills, MD
Posts: 204
Bedding and Feeding Areas??
I've read on the forums that you should setup between the bedding and feeding areas. How do I find where the bedding and feeding areas are. I've seen several tracks, rubs and scrapes in the area that I'm hunting. But I don't know if I have setup in the best area.
11-28-2012, 03:40 PM
#2
Fork Horn
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Mi.
Posts: 282
Not sure how to answer without knowing the area. And climate. But here goes.
Stable weather pattern and mild hunting pressure deer around sunrise to say 10 am(some areas even later) that are not feeding and using well established runs are going somewhere,usually secure cover to rest and chew cud. Bedding area! Large blocks of cover near agriculture like an over grown christmas tree farm,swamp, second growth former clear cut areas,a area in forest with lots of blown down trees,overgrown field,ect provide cover,weather a factor as to preference but security high on list too. A clump of cover,brush,tall grass by a barn or shed or in a field,low spots are all enough for a deer or small group if their not bothered to bed.
Those deer runs often fan out on "ends,"tracking deer in snow would illustrate well. Deer are filtering into feeding or bedding area. They will bed in feeding areas during the night to process food then load up and head for cover in pressured areas before day lite. No pressure areas deer can bed in food or close. My opinion they want to distance them selves away from it almost to the point of passing different groups sometimes going the other way. Crazy but maybe a way to avoid predation?
Need to find what preferred food is at time of hunt,where it is and how deer that are not in it will most likely approach it,even in producing oaks they could stay in if deer don,t feel secure during day they go lay low,where? This is not gospel but hope it helps.Good luck and have fun!
Stable weather pattern and mild hunting pressure deer around sunrise to say 10 am(some areas even later) that are not feeding and using well established runs are going somewhere,usually secure cover to rest and chew cud. Bedding area! Large blocks of cover near agriculture like an over grown christmas tree farm,swamp, second growth former clear cut areas,a area in forest with lots of blown down trees,overgrown field,ect provide cover,weather a factor as to preference but security high on list too. A clump of cover,brush,tall grass by a barn or shed or in a field,low spots are all enough for a deer or small group if their not bothered to bed.
Those deer runs often fan out on "ends,"tracking deer in snow would illustrate well. Deer are filtering into feeding or bedding area. They will bed in feeding areas during the night to process food then load up and head for cover in pressured areas before day lite. No pressure areas deer can bed in food or close. My opinion they want to distance them selves away from it almost to the point of passing different groups sometimes going the other way. Crazy but maybe a way to avoid predation?
Need to find what preferred food is at time of hunt,where it is and how deer that are not in it will most likely approach it,even in producing oaks they could stay in if deer don,t feel secure during day they go lay low,where? This is not gospel but hope it helps.Good luck and have fun!
