Should I hunt a bedding area during the early season?
Filed under: Hunting Tactics
Question
Hello Mr. Grant,
I have a couple of questions to ask and you were the first person that came to mind when I needed an answer. I am still a fairly new bow hunter and have a couple of questions about the area that I am hunting this year. I am hunting the Conservation Area about 10-15 miles outside of my hometown, Vandalia, Mo. I would have attached a picture of the area that I am hunting but couldn\’t seem to find one that had everything that I needed on it. I am taking my first day in the woods this Saturday but am second guessing on the spot that I have chosen to hunt. I picked a point where I am in the middle thicket of 3 CRP fields with the Vandalia Lake to my left and a freshly cut corn field to my left. The CRP fields have been used this summer for the deer to bed down. I am concerned on if I should not hunt this area due to it being so early in the season. I will only have a few times to hunt this year due to a new member in the family. The Conservation fence line will be about 15 yards off to my right when I am sitting in the stand and there is a natural waterway that funnels through the middle of the area. There is thick brush to the back of my with a pretty good path dug out about 5 yards from the tree that I will sit in. If you go to Google Earth, you can see the lake that I am talking about. I will be hunting the right side of the conservation land and was needing some expert advice on the area that I would be hunting. I know that deer act in many odd ways and anything can happen when you go but i figured the more knowledge that I had, the better my luck. I have squirrel hunted this area just recently and found that the CRP fields is where the deer seem to hang out. I have accidentally jumped a couple of fawns around the fields that I have decided to hunt and hope that the bigger deer are going to be around. I do believe that the path that is in front of my stage is a travel corridor for these deer to move between CRP fields and between the corn field. Hopefully you can help me settle this internal feud and ease my fever. Im very avid and any imformation would be great. You may have to scroll south to find the lake if you use Google Earth. Follow HWY W till Audrain County RD 524. Go West on County RD 524 till you see the lake. Thanks!
I have a couple of questions to ask and you were the first person that came to mind when I needed an answer. I am still a fairly new bow hunter and have a couple of questions about the area that I am hunting this year. I am hunting the Conservation Area about 10-15 miles outside of my hometown, Vandalia, Mo. I would have attached a picture of the area that I am hunting but couldn\’t seem to find one that had everything that I needed on it. I am taking my first day in the woods this Saturday but am second guessing on the spot that I have chosen to hunt. I picked a point where I am in the middle thicket of 3 CRP fields with the Vandalia Lake to my left and a freshly cut corn field to my left. The CRP fields have been used this summer for the deer to bed down. I am concerned on if I should not hunt this area due to it being so early in the season. I will only have a few times to hunt this year due to a new member in the family. The Conservation fence line will be about 15 yards off to my right when I am sitting in the stand and there is a natural waterway that funnels through the middle of the area. There is thick brush to the back of my with a pretty good path dug out about 5 yards from the tree that I will sit in. If you go to Google Earth, you can see the lake that I am talking about. I will be hunting the right side of the conservation land and was needing some expert advice on the area that I would be hunting. I know that deer act in many odd ways and anything can happen when you go but i figured the more knowledge that I had, the better my luck. I have squirrel hunted this area just recently and found that the CRP fields is where the deer seem to hang out. I have accidentally jumped a couple of fawns around the fields that I have decided to hunt and hope that the bigger deer are going to be around. I do believe that the path that is in front of my stage is a travel corridor for these deer to move between CRP fields and between the corn field. Hopefully you can help me settle this internal feud and ease my fever. Im very avid and any imformation would be great. You may have to scroll south to find the lake if you use Google Earth. Follow HWY W till Audrain County RD 524. Go West on County RD 524 till you see the lake. Thanks!
Thanks so much!!! Can not wait to hear from ya!!!
Scotlan,
It sounds like you have a good plan! Nothing beats boots on the ground scouting. In general, I typically don’t hunt within bedding areas until much closer to the rut. It may be difficult to approach your stand without alerting deer. Even with limited time to hunt, I suggest having at least two setups so there are options for different wind directions. If the wind isn’t favorable for this setup, I’d strongly suggest hunting another area or spend the time scouting for an alternative setup.
Is there a location between the cover and food that’s accessible to hunt?
Enjoy creation,
grant
