Went scouting again this weekend, looking for some more public land to hunt. While scouting one of the public areas, I found some interesting stuff. About 100 yards or less from the parking area, I found what looked like a bunch of doe and fawn beds. I kept walking along the path that they were by and marking their location on my GPS. Right at the edge of the tree line and a hill, I stopped to mark a spot and as I was putting my pen away, I heard a snort to my right. I looked over and saw a big ol' buck with about 7 or 8 points, one of which was a drop-tine. He snorted and stomped at me one more time and then took off. I finished walking up the hill and sure enough found what had to be his bed and one about the same size right next to it. I'm surprised that he was bedding down so close to the road and the parking lot and am not sure exactly how he will travel through the area. I posted a picture of it below, hopefully you guys can take a look at it and give me some ideas. Pictures are better in the next post. The satellite image has a big red dot that shows where the buck bed was. The other beds were East of his. The red lines are trails that I find or other directional deer sign. I have had a chance to scout the Northeast side of the WMA yet, but the buck headed that direction after I spooked it. I saw at least one other doe over there as well. You have to forgive me for blacking out the stuff on the topo map. I just don't want anyone to internet scout a place I spent a couple hours in already.
when on public ground for the first time I look at the farms that join it. avoid houses are farms with 3d targets and 4 wheel drives in the drive way(hunters). but the old grand ma and pops farm may have fruit trees and gardens. I have found some awesome trails heading to theses spots over the years. good luck
Any other advice? Looking for one of those map reading experts on here. I can usually count on at least Shadow to give up some advice.
Big, what direction was the wind blowing when you scouted? SW or W? I am no expert but I will take a look at your maps here soon. I enjoy trying to predict deer movement, especially when someone is actually going to hunt the area and let me know what they see come the hunting season. It really helps me learn.
Without knowing anything about the land I like my dots in pink to choke movement. Is that a small neighborhood to the northeast?
Yep, that's a small neighborhood to the northeast. You were thinking pretty much what I was about the choke points. The trail that I followed that came up from B and headed towards J had a stop in it where they got some water. I was thinking J might be one of the chokepoints too. There's heavy vegetation on either side and marsh. J's the only place where it's dry all year. I'm going to have to go back up there one night this week and glass from the North and see if I can figure out where exactly they're coming out from. Thanks for your insight Shadow. Always nice to have a sanity check.
I wouldn't put much stock in where the doe bedding is, it will probably move as season starts and the pressure hits the land. I hunt on a large public parcel, about 7,000 acres. The good doe bedding during season tends not to have near the activity now as it will in a Oct-Dec. As far as the buck bed, if it seems logical for a buck to be there it will probably continue to be used through season unless he is harassed there. In short, does move around throughout the year and I believe bucks find a few good beds that provides the proper protection and use them regardless of time of year. Every deer is different but I believe this is the tendencies of bucks vs. does.
