Hunting bedding area?

[traditional beagle]

Always been afraid to do this. Has anyone ever done this on a regular basis? If so , do you have any tips about how to go about it with success?

[rastaman]

Unless you can get in and out undetected EVERYTIME, it will work once or twice at best.  Just my experience...

[traditional beagle]

Kinda wondering if certain weather conditions could be reliable as to let the deer feed until at least day light hours arrive and enable a hunter to slip into bedding area and get set up for their arrival back. I know risky but just thinking. Now I'm not talking trophy bucks, just deer.

[mcgroundstalker]

Try not to under estimate those "just deer" little darlings. They have me figured out many times. In fact, the deer head for parts unknown just as my truck gets into the driveway at my hunting cabin.

Weather can help out a lot. Bad weather that is. Many people feel it's the best time to be out there. Just keep your shot short and true. Rain and snow can hide a blood trail rather quickly and do a number on your glasses too!  :rolleyes:  Do I Know It!


... mike ...     ...

[traditional beagle]

No I'm not under estimating any deer. I just meant that I probably wouldn't even take the chance on a big buck but if I tried to learn on doe or young bucks and learn that I can't get it done without screwing up everything then I sure won't try it on a mature deer. To me there is not to many deer any smarter than the old doe.

[greyghost]

Food source, hunting pressure, time of year (moon, rut, etc) weather conditions (rain, wind, fronts etc.) So many variables. It can be done, but I know of no one that can do it on a regular basis in the same area.

But just like any thing else once they get bumped or know you were there in their safe/comfort zone, or their travel routes they will change.

I try and stay on the fringes of the thicker bedding areas.

Many deer including mature deer will be in open big woods usally a third of the way below the ridge top in a blow down overlooking the bottoms.

But if you know they are in the thickets, going in after them may be only a one shot chance.

[YORNOC]

I can give excellent advice on this topic! DO NOT do anything that I've ever done trying to hunt a bedding area. I've blown the whole deal every time. I stay away.  

[BCWV]

I was out of options and hunted a bedding area today. I took a small doe on the ground. Our gun season is in and the deer are in the thick stuff till dark. I felt I had nothing to lose as I wasn't going to get a shot any other way.
I made a bad shot on a small doe, I was sick when I saw my arrow impact, but she only went 30 yards. Had it been a bigger deer I'm sure it would have turned out much worse. I'm very thankful for the short recovery. I owe it to a WW Elite and the good Lord.

 

 

I stay away from bedding areas untill gun season. The pressure of all of the hunters puts them off any schedule or pattern untill late December where I hunt.

[GingivitisKahn]

I zapped one in her bed today as well (  http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=096806  ).  Sometimes you don't know where the beds are and you just get lucky but for the bedding areas I know of and try to ambush frequently - I'm a big chicken.  Can't see intentionally invading that area.

[landman]

I never hunt them there.    It's completely off base and when the deer go off to bed down I leave them alone.    Much as I love my venison that's the least I can do.