I'm getting ready to start my off-season scouting. And i am wandering...do deer change bedding areas during different times of the year? For instance, if I discover a bedding area in July is it likely to be the same come October?
Deer definately change their bedding habits throughout the year. Many factors determine this. Change in food source. Change from hot to cold weather. Human intrusion. Bachelor groups breaking up. Wind direction Weedy or tall grass fields becoming available Crop rotation Fawning period Predators Etc.
So basically i shouldn't really begin to focus in on bedding areas until close to the start of the season?
It's never to early to start scouting. If you can keep tabs on deer from now until the season you should be ahead of the game. Don't put too much pressure as to drive the deer away though. I guess it's a little easier for me due to our open terrain where I can scout from a long ways away with good optics. How much property are you talking about scouting?
I hunt 300 acres, 200 is planted pines and the remaining 100 is hardwood bottoms. It's surrounded by dairy farms on 2 sides and a 'pay to hunt' on the other two sides. But I also picked up another location recently, I don't know the exact acreage but I know it is less than 300. So if my spring & summer scouting isn't focused on bedding, what should I focus it on? Just keeping tabs on my herd? Or am I way off? Haha
I mainly scout just to keep tabs on the herd. The blacktail out here don't pattern quite like whitetail. I don't think you could go wrong keeping tabs on them as long as you don't spook them. There's many knowledgeable whitetail guys on here that will give you a more in depth answer, but to me keeping tabs on your deer population has never made anyone a worse hunter.
Thanks I appreciate the advice! I just have to keep myself from being too intrusive, bc if I had it my way I'd be in the woods everyday! But I'm going to try to keep the traffic to a minimum this off season but still get some good scouting done. Delicate balance....should be interesting!
Exactly. Many factors attributable to bedding locations. Bedding locations can vary, from day to day, however, the "vicinity" of the bedding area in relation to the entire land mass, generally doesnt change, as much, but it still changes. The actual bed location, does. Any information is usable information. I wouldn't discard ANY information relating to the animals I'm hunting. Every little piece of intel acquired, will lend its piece to the bigger picture. The most successful hunters I know, generally speaking, scout ALL season. They're constantly glassing, running cameras, walking their properties, etc, etc. If you're constantly gaining information about the animal you're hunting, it's going to aid in your chances of harvesting him/her.
Thanks guys, I really appreciate all the info. Do any of y'all have a certain plan that you follow? I was referred to cuddebacks 'game plan'. Do y'all have any other suggestions?
