For the deer experts

[longspur]

Study the wind and how to get in undetected. Mature bucks pick there bedding putting everything to their advantage. Around here in the mountains they typically bed on points or the sides of ridges with the wind at their backs and a good vantage below. Getting in tight to the bedding undetected is the hard part. It usually doesn't take long for them to catch on either.

That's the place. End of point overlooking everything. Wind would have to be out of the south and have to slip in when they weren't there. Tough order. There are some rubs so they at least come by in the fall.

[longspur]

I've been told the round beds are does and bucks make long beds. Is this always the case? I was told lots of things growing up that weren't so.

[Happy]

Never heard that before. When looking at beds there are a few giveaways. 1: is it the best bedding location possible for that area in reference to security and wind direction? Mature bucks take the best locations. 2: Are there any small beds located there? If so that would signify does and fawn bedding not bucks. 3: Tracks? Big bucks make big tracks that usually sink in pretty good. Also if there is snow down (not likely in Georgia) then you can get an idea of it sex by the width of its chest as well as travel pattern. Mature bucks don't tend to wander aimlessly like does. And they tend to travel through the thicker areas in regards to cover and wind direction. These are just some of the things I look at when trying to figure out what I am looking at.

[LaLongbeard]

How close together were the beds. Does will bed in small groups bucks usually bed further from each other. As far as the beds being long, if you've ever watched bedded deer they get up from time to time and mill around then lay back down not in the exact same spot which will make a bed look bigger or longer.

[longspur]

How close together were the beds. Does will bed in small groups bucks usually bed further from each other. As far as the beds being long, if you've ever watched bedded deer they get up from time to time and mill around then lay back down not in the exact same spot which will make a bed look bigger or longer.

The dry beds were about 8-10yds apart. Some of the wet ones were closer to dry ones. They were all about the same size. The rubs were not big trees, about 2" dia. You couldn't get near them without them knowing it.

[wvmntnhick]

I've been told the round beds are does and bucks make long beds. Is this always the case? I was told lots of things growing up that weren't so.

Not necessarily. Does can bed down, stand up, lay back down in nearly the same spot but wallow the bed out. Can be very deceiving honestly. I've seen some huge beds that would lead one to believe it was a big buck only to follow the tracks and find it's a doe. Just par for the course. Big thing is, don't rely on the size of a bed to determine the gender of a deer. If those deer are there late season, hang your stand in August as you'd planned. Stay out of there until late season. Slip in there with the wind in your favor and plan to stay all day. I've been hunting a small farm locally for the past 5 years. I've found that if you're not playing the wind, you're not really hunting. Because the property is smaller than I'm used to and my time has become more limited (valuable), I'm not hunting a stand unless the wind is perfect. No sense ruining a good setup just because it seems "okay." And a mature doe is often times more alert than a cagey buck. You need to do your HW before getting near a bedding area. Honestly, my opinion only, stay out of there. Find the food and intercept them going to it. That is hands down your best bet.


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[wvmntnhick]

I wish I had read all the responses prior to responding. I see the bed thing was already discussed. My bad for making it redundant.


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[longspur]

I wish I had read all the responses prior to responding. I see the bed thing was already discussed. My bad for making it redundant.


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It's all good. I think it was a myth some folk believed back in the day. Like don't pee in the woods and dew claws mean bucks. I've never really concerned myself with the beds or I would have known. I hunt meat not horns. But a mature buck on public land with a bow would produce a tremendous achievement high. Like a big ole high pressure Tom. They are my favorite ones to shoot. Thanks for your input.

[shaman]

I was looking for turkeys in a place where normal people don't go. Walked up on a bedding area of a Bachelor group of bucks. 3 dry beds (it was raining). Several wet beds. Saw the deer on another ridge, they were mature to say the least. Is it likely they will still be bedding there early bow season. I know not to go back in there anymore. What would your strategy be? North Georgia.

I'd not get your hopes up.  Food sources change throughout the year, and they're utilizing whatever is there now, and shortly after winter ends, they'll be out somewhere else eating whatever they can find.  Late summer/early fall will have another whole assortment of food.  Remember these guys have an urge to bulk up the later it gets in the year.  They'll outstrip any food source and them move on.  Their range heading will expand to many square miles.

That being said, I'd think it wouldn't hurt to put up a camera at a choke point and see what happens.