Quick Decision. Need opinions

Hunting a local conservation area in the morning and I've never been there. Should I hunt the fields or go to a large ridge (possible bedding area?).

Things to consider: going to be in the teens in the morning, gun season just ended, and I've never even stepped foot in the area. Except to fish the lake.

Any opinions would be great before I head out. Feel free to check it out. Bismark conservation area, missouri.can pull the map up easily on Department of conservation website

Thanks fellas

 

So you plan on finding a good hunting spot in an area you have never been too in the dark?

 

Sleep in and scout it tomorrow for either an evening hunt or the next morning hunt. No way I would scout it in the dark.

 

Did some online scouting with a topo map. Had decent success doing it this year just haven't tried this place. And I can't scout tomorrow considering its thanksgiving lol

 

If you're really set on hunting it tomorrow without having scouted it, I would get there right as the sun starts peaking over the horizon and still hunt from the ground. You'll be able to scout and hunt at the same time. I dont really see how you could account for wind direction if you dont know where they're coming from, but it might be worth a shot. Other than that, I really dont think its worth stomping through there without knowing where you're going in the dark. You could potentially bump some deer in the process.

 

Why not hunt it blind! Being post gun season the last two places I'd hunt would be a field edge or a hardwoods ridge. I didn't bring up a map, but I'd try to find and hunt an edge of thick cover. Edge of thick brush, wet swamp, etc. Something nasty enough where a buck may be holding up post high hunting pressure.

 

Hunt it. The meek may inherent the earth but doesn't mean they will have a sagging game pole. Public land, no boots on the ground kinda info, your most upside comes from being bold and hunting.

 

I would definitely go out in the morning even without scouting the area from the ground. I would try and find a food source close to a bedding area since the temps will be cold the deer will need to be taking in calories. Don't be afraid to move around though.