Big woods buck bedding A common issue is that these overgrown areas are often underutilized and undermanaged. Apr 25, 2023 · 3 Reasons Why Clear Cuts Consistently Hold Big Bucks The whitetail deer is a creature of habit. The Big Woods Bucks crew from New York discusses the traditions, lore, and legends of hunting the Adirondacks, and traditional techniques for killing an Adirondack buck, including tracking, still 18K views, 415 likes, 5 loves, 22 comments, 12 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Big Woods Bucks: Can you see the 9pt Buck bedding 18 yards from me ?? Look for the movements. By dissecting it, I don Oct 14, 2020 · Contrarily, Martonik targets buck bedding throughout the entire season. Mature bucks need space, and during most of hunting season likely won't bed close to other older deer. Nov 21, 2024 · Hunting a buck bedding area during the rut could be your ticket to hanging an old bruiser on the wall. But sometimes life tosses you some twists and turns, and you end up following a different set of stan The Big Woods Bucks Podcast. Check out his Facebook page, Sherk’s Guide Service, where he frequently posts trail camera photos, stories, and photos of Jan 11, 2024 · These spots of blended timber provide cover, feed, and bedding areas for deer in the big woods, and big bucks will often use these lines of blended timber to travel from one area to another. Big woods buck have sense of randomness that will drive a bow hunter nuts. Big woods bucks are wanderers and may have a home range that extends for 10 miles in any direction. You May 19, 2022 · Specific Deer Beds vs. Heavy snowfall is the animals' greatest enemy, and winter yarding areas like cedar swamps, their greatest ally. 7. Awesome!! At Big Woods Bucks, our goal is to revive and promote hunting in its most ancient, purest form, by getting out into the big woods, learning to read the woods & subtle sign that makes the biggest difference in your success. The top three taglines will be selected by Hal Blood and a panel of Big Woods Bucks team members, and the winners wil Nov 20, 2024 · Joe, Hal, Bill and Jamison discuss results of 1st week hunts from Big Woods Outfitters and also share a few tips for different weather conditions and progress of rut. In the fall these blended timber spots are easy to spot from a distance as the bright green conifers and the gray leafless hardwoods will draw very Nov 21, 2024 · By continuing to focus on buck bedding areas (similar to early season and pre-rut plans), hunters can find a big ol’ buck. Feb 3, 2022 · A big-woods buck’s bed that is beaten down into the mud. When velvet starts to shed and testosterone begins to flow through a buck’s body, he becomes a much different animal than who he was during the spring and most of the summer. SAVE 20% on Hunt Stand: JUSTHUNT20. 342: Hunting Late Season Mountain Bucks WITHOUT Logging Cuts with Jason Redd. That's the ten right there. 13:35. With the Benoit family’s fade out of the mainstream media, Blood picked up the mantle and has now taught thousands of eager trackers how to walk down a buck Oct 13, 2013 · If you have knowledge of buck bedding areas in the distance, a funnel near buck bedding as they move toward the roads can produce. Here are seven keys to Noskoviak’s big-woods success. Listen to Hal and co-host and Maine Guide Joe Kruse as they unlock the secrets to big woods whitetails. He has been hooked on tracking big woods bucks since he was a young hunter and read the first book Larry Benoit wrote. Feb 12, 2010 · Re: Big woods hill country buck bedding and staging Unread post by dan » Sun Aug 31, 2014 7:29 pm BassBoysLLP wrote: How would you hunt the second buck bed in the video. Unlike deer in smaller tracts, big-woods bucks never have to leave their home ranges; all their needs can be met within the habitat’s protective cover. Ninety percent of the bucks I kill are carbon copies, in terms of how I hunt. Aug 6, 2018 · Find their general bedding areas, either benchs or points ect then use topographical features that connect or link the bucks general area to the doe groups bedding areas. He met up with Hal Blood in the big woods back in 1993. Oct 25, 2013 · Big woods bucks don’t have to be a mystery, if you look for clear cuts, water bodies, and a few oak trees, success can be right around the corner, or um… that big oak full of acorns. Part 5 – Scouting buck bedding areas. Every year I spend as much time as I can deer hunting in the big woods. Nov 17, 2024 · Well I was blessed with another great deer season again this year in the Adirondacks, as most of you know I hunt public big woods all season from my small canvas Snowtrekker wall tent. In many regions, loggers will leave the big pine and hemlock trees on the interior of the logging cuts. ly/3hQfdmw. In a couple of states, crossing that line will earn you a patch, hence the phrase "Patch Buck". We don’t go far and there’s already more tracks than we have seen all morning, new and old. (Photo: Getty Images) The key to ambushing white-tailed bucks skirting the edges of legal shooting hours is catching them early during their evening journeys. Feb 4, 2020 · Infalt said hunters must closely monitor what they see in the woods. It doesn't matter what size or type of bed that you build, deer choose their bedding areas based on location and stress. Most deer trackers won’t even head out into the woods until there’s at least a couple inches of powder on the ground. 5 Creedmore (2022) This Browning BLR in 6. Accessing Funnels and Pinch-Points Perhaps the biggest mistakes hunters make when accessing these funnels is the manner in which they get to them. Mar 25, 2022 · I find some good buck bedding areas on the leeward points on my turf, but am sure the neighbors land also has bedding areas. You’ll walk your legs off, lose the track, find the track, get lost, and a lot of times you’ll never even see the buck,” Lanny Benoit calmly said. Mature bucks are king in Oct 20, 2024 · When I scout hilly terrain in offseason I look for the “rule of thumb” bedding areas first and look for rubs and scrapes coming from that bedding and follow trails out to see where they go. In this newest edition, Hal combines both books into one easy-to-read and understand version, with highlights and new information since his first two books were written. Bucks will use the scent carried with thermals to collect information necessary for their survival such as doe bedding area activity and human intrusion. Many of you have emailed asking for more trail cam pics and videos of Big Woods Bucks. I read Hal Blood 1 and 2 already. Each episode will provide insights into the tried and true system Hal has used for the last 40 years to hunt big woods bucks. When You Find a Buck Bed. Long story short - when it comes to scouting, figure out where bucks are bedding, and work backwards from that. Limit 10 taglines per person. I just jumped the buck. Hal shares a perfect example of a huge scrape right on a transition. Apr 24, 2018 · I'm not going to go into major detail here as one could go on and on about buck bedding in the big woods. Feb 17, 2010 · I think bedding in big woods is not at all consistant like it is in small parcel-high pressure areas. The reality of hunting big-woods deer is much different than hunting in other settings, especially agricultural areas. Dec 7, 2024 · The rut gets all the attention when it comes to big bucks hitting the dirt, but let’s be honest; during the frenzy of the breeding season, with deer running willy nilly through the woods, a lot The legendary Big Woods Bucks fanny pack. · Maine hunter Tim Eisenheimer discusses his pursuit of giant Maine bucks, including how he approaches his hunts and what he does to scout and locate bucks. He said bucks use these sites for about a week each year at the peak of the rut. Thus, understanding the broader area, gauging wind patterns, and visualizing potential bedding scenarios become paramount. So the most heavily used trails will not be the ones the big bucks will be using on a regular basis. Bedding in certain ways allows them to see danger coming from a distance while also smelling any threats upwind that could approach from behind them. If you've got the ambition, determination and patience to hunt a deep-woods buck, go armed with a reliable firearm, a good pair of walking boots, food and water. You can locate these big buck bedding areas by finding a concentration of rubs and droppings. If you create a "Buck Bed" in a doe bedding hotspot it will fill with does and fawns, and likewise if you create a "Doe Bed" in a buck bedding honey-hole it will be filled with bucks. Jun 17, 2018 · Aaron is scouting for buck bedding in big timber!NEW Legendary Anglers - http://bit. During the rut, bucks might move their bedding areas closer to does. The Big Woods Bucks crew from New York discusses the traditions, lore, and legends of hunting the Adirondacks, and traditional techniques for killing an Adirondack buck, including tracking, still Oct 20, 2022 · Neil Pendleton getting into the bedding area of a big buck during Massachusetts bow! Jan 2, 2025 · Come explore the big woods and timber in North America with Master Maine Guide and deer tracker Hal Blood. Contact Us @ (248) 459-8991 louis@stealthoutdoors. Both answer questions about: “The 10% of the woods the deer use” How to find the 10% How significant transitions are When is the rut this year and much more Head over to the Big Woods Bucks website to learn how to track and hunt the big woods Big Woods Bucks and Skinner Sights BLR in 6. A big-bodied big woods buck visits a signpost rub in Maine. If a person scouts hard and learns the location of some big buck big woods bedding areas he/she could then place strategically located "food sources" and moniter them via trail camera ( or good old fashioned deer sign). Once the rut ends, movement is at an all-time low, with deer trying to recover and hide from any human intrusion. Jun 4, 2020 · Dan Infalt, whom many consider the godfather of hunting buck bedding areas, points out that bucks, especially mature ones, pick their bedding areas for very particular reasons. That's the bad news. Oct 24, 2015 · Big woods bed hunting is a daunting task to find a primary bed, secondary beds are easier to locate for the shear fact their is quite a bit more of them. The landscape was constantly changing. I could hunt all fall, waiting to pull the trigger on only the biggest of bucks. Aug 4, 2023 · Hunting buck bedding areas can be challenging due to the hunting pressure, especially on public land, but it’s also rewarding. Nov 9, 2011 · Deep-woods bucks spend their entire lives far from civilization and the stifling hunting pressure that goes with it. Spring Seeps in Draws and Sidehills As large areas of ground begin to freeze and the snow starts piling up, it becomes harder for the deer to browse on grasses and other food sources lying close to the ground. I’ve had a little luck, but the odds aren’t great. They can also be some of the most attractive bedding areas for big bucks. Posted 2020-10-07T10:54:00Z by Josh Honeycutt. A buck headed to bed is like a person driving home from Jan 12, 2022 · I do, too. Mature bucks will bed in the same bed anytime the wind is in their favor. Clear-cuts are also easily visible on imagery and are great food sources for deer. Apr 24, 2021 · In this video Chad is following Pennsylvania native, Steve Sherk, through the big woods of Pennsylvania to do some post season scouting. Food Sources Where are the deer bedding?! It's a common question, especially for hunters who are hunting in big woods. Time Of Year And Deer Bedding Areas. This one lead to a community scrape and a scrape line off that community scrape where the bucks could come in down thermal or wind. Unbelievable. Buck urine spots will be closer to the center of the bed. Knowledge is important because: In short, the mature bucks will be wherever the cover allows them to be. Just exploded out of his bed. Reactions: Bowhunter 1188 , greg728 , mauser06 and 2 others JHC APPAREL 👉 https://bit. There are few constants in a mountain buck’s life, but bedding location can be one. · Big Woods Bucks on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. See full list on exodusoutdoorgear. Not only was it mountain country, but it was also cut country, and hunting big woods bucks in clearcuts and selective cuts is not an easy task. Nov 29, 2022 · The whitetail rut gives the best odds for putting your tag on a big woods buck. Thanks! First, let’s define “big woods. Oftentimes, you can’t get within close proximity to a bedded deer. Oct 25, 2024 · To increase your chances of nabbing that elusive big buck, you must understand one key factor: where they sleep. But therein lies a great part of the charm. I have had way more sucess with that then trying key in on specifics of the buck. In this DVD from the Hunting Beast, Dan Infalt teaches us how to identify bigwoods buck bedding, break land down, and much more. Nov 18, 2022 · The whitetail rut gives the best odds for putting your tag on a big woods buck. Deer are creatures of habit, and if you can figure out their bedding areas, you’re already a step ahead in the hunt. Joy believes that because the habitat is so vast in the big woods, bucks tend to have larger home ranges and core areas. But it's rarely in the middle of the woods or on the edge of a cornfield. ” I define big woods as chunks of timber of at least 400 acres. These big bucks are not traveling down the same trails most of the does and young bucks are using. Haircut Buck 2019 - Sound is low- harsh weather conditions-Headphones Recommended Dec 10, 2024 · 12 Tips, Opinions, and Advice on Tracking Big-Woods Bucks. ly/2GyZjYyGet 10% off Woodhaven Custom Calls w/coupon code THP2018 - http Nov 5, 2023 · In my home state of Mississippi and other places across the deep South, the monotonous and generally flat terrain presents its own set of challenges. Dec 13, 2023 · Instead of sparse bedding and miles of crops, you have smaller tracks of open woods and endless swaths of potential bedding. Which is whether Bucks are going to avoid your campsite. ” Big bucks recognize these areas as safe spaces, as predators (even hunters) often cower at the mere mention of water. Sometimes you can see urine spots. 163: Hunting Late Season Mountain Bucks with Gordon Dalton. We will start this off by sahring a daytime video fo a buck Oct 23, 2024 · I was so excited for the opener this year thinking I knew were there was many bigwoods buck bedding areas. Much of that is at lower elevations, but some is higher up, and bucks prefer the latter due to scenting advantages. What they find, particularly if they come from an area with plenty of open space or deciduous forests, is that the big timber reality Apr 17, 2018 · Around 11:30 we head back out into the big woods. Where the square corner of the swamp butted up against the bluff to the West, and Boreal forest running short ridges to the East, I put in a mock scrape. Neil Pendleton getting into the bedding area of a big buck during Massachusetts bow! Feb 26, 2010 · I think I am hunting too many of the single big woods buck beds and not the larger buck bedding areas in early season. But I’m trying to understand more about the mature bucks and how they bed in these areas. Hal made his name as one of the foremost Outfitters in the state of Maine. 046: Public Land Whitetail Tactics with Johnny Stewart Oct 20, 2024 · I scouted a new big woods piece in PA last March and was able to locate buck bedding areas and some nice scrapes and rub lines associated with bedding as well as some doe bedding. Sep 24, 2024 · Finding big bucks isn't about following the crowd or sticking to traditional hunting grounds. Come explore the big woods and timber in North America with Master Maine Guide and deer tracker Hal Blood. In steep terrain, does are usually toward the top of a hill, which makes it tougher to rely on the bucks using the trails running parallel to the creek to scent-check those bedding areas, as the bedding areas are much higher. Hardwoods and palmettos as far as the eye can see. Sep 16, 2015 · The biggest bucks taken in Noskoviak’s wilderness camp have scored 213 non-typical and 184 net typical—both taken by rifle hunters. Because of this, deer will bed on the island of cover and walk or swim through the shallowest portion to get to the mainland each evening. Deer Bedding Areas Finding a worn-down buck bed is a phenomenal feeling when there are beat-down trails with big rubs leading in and out of it, and all of the stars align. (Photo courtesy of Steve Sherk) You have to remember that in most big-woods settings, there’s little to no agricultural food sources. Ep. Dec 9, 2024 · 10 Reasons Why Late October Is the Best Time to Tag a Big Buck 10 Reasons Why Late October Is the Best Time to Tag a Big Buck By Josh Honeycutt Podcast: Secrets of GPS Collared Bucks with Dr. Steve is one of the Nov 5, 2024 · A Big Woods Bucks production dedicated to interviewing Adirondack hunters and discussing what it takes to be successful in these unforgiving woods. If you find this, mark it on your OnX map and get ready to dissect it in all of its glory. This book is a revised and an updated version of the Authors first two books: Hunting Big Woods Bucks and Big Woods Bucks Volume II. Therefore, locating a buck’s bedding area should be your primary focus early in the season. Yes, I'm a Big Woods buck hunter, but I also have a family to feed and venison is important to us. Nov 18, 2016 · The fateful stand was hung near a doe bedding area and left alone until mid-November when my friend shot the buck as he cruised through the area looking for love. Simply put, he is a seasoned outdoorsman/woodsman and has much to share. Not only does he enjoy hunting them himself, but he takes pride in making sure other hunters are successful, too. Oct 6, 2021 · Sometimes the first place a buck will go when he gets up from his bed is to work a scrape. The taglines should be hunting and woodsman skills related. com Nov 4, 2016 · Don’t get me wrong, if he sees a big track on the ride in and it hasn't come out of that block of woods, he's going in after it. *If you want to learn more about buck bedding, be sure to check out content from The Hunting Public or The Hunting Beast. While the 400-acre minimum might seem small, I base my definition on how bucks use the habitat. Often, bucks alternate between multiple beds in a particular big woods area. Again best way to find the primaries is to track with snow and gather intel for following years. Designed and used by Maine guides, built for the Big Woods. The last pack you'll ever need. Each episode will provide insights into the tried and true system Hal has used for the last 40 years to Sep 23, 2020 · If you find a scrape or rib line a buck may be using set up on the line as close to bedding as possible. Jun 13, 2024 · Hunting deer in the big woods, where deer densities may as low as a few animals per square mile, is rarely easy. Just too much chance involved, i scout big woods every year and never wind up going to any of them. The time of year also plays a big role in where deer will be bedded. Finding the "Buck beds," or the areas that deer fre Apr 11, 2023 · Thermals can oftentimes be a mature bucks lifeline, especially in a big woods hill country setting. Deer have an abdorbanant amount of "safe" bedding and may not return to the same bedding areas all the time. These hunts lead me on adventure Dec 5, 2022 · The whitetail rut gives the best odds for putting your tag on a big woods buck. Nov 18, 2016 · Dan: Beginning of the pre-rut, I'm hunting buck bedding areas with lots of sign, rubs, and scrapes. Staying at a good steady pace we cut a buck track, another decent deer but nothing he’s Jul 25, 2018 · Majority of the big woods I’ve been hunting the last two years have been quite challenging. Apr 9, 2020 · Big woods bucks aren’t as picky about bedding as deer in more developed settings. Dec 21, 2016 · The Old Gentlemen Buck by BWB Team Member Logan Rackliff It was the morning of the last day of the regular firearms season here in Maine. Nov 4, 2020 · When it comes to hunting, Steve Sherk couldn’t give a hoot about those corn-fed Midwestern whitetails. Yet, when the option is to go tracking or sit on the couch and watch the weather channel hoping for a snowstorm, most choose to go hunting. In big woods a deer can stand in their bed and normal browse around for hours within 20 yards of it before moving to better food sources. You should think about the Dec 6, 2024 · My primary tracking rifle is a Winchester Model 94 Trapper with a straight stock, hoop lever, and 16-inch barrel. I find more buck beds that are just slightly worn down but find multiple ones around the edge of a thicket. It's better to create multiple small bedding areas than one big one. For instance, mature bucks often bed on leeward ridges, ridge endings, bench edges, and more. Dec 30, 2014 · That's it. Nov 22, 2022 · Doe bedding, buck bedding, food sources, and everything in between can be tough to identify when hunting the big woods unless you have years of experience in the area. 5 Creedmore was raffled off at the Big Woods Bucks 2022 Spring Thaw event to benefit the Travis Mills Foundation and its mission of providing assistance to wounded veterans. There was 2”-5” of snow on the ground and the temperature had risen to slightly just above freezing in the night. Jan 26, 2024 · I've often discerned where bucks are bedding without pinpointing a single bed. Here is one example of a confirmed bedding area based on a hunch from aerial imagery. Hal’s guiding career began in the Late 80’s and after 25 years of unmatched success, he sold his business to take a break from the pace of a year-round business and to have the time to hunt more on his own. I have six of them—in 30-30 Win, 38/55 Win, 375 Win, 356 Win, and 444 Marlin. During the coldest part of deer season, you’ll find midday buck beds in green growth, like mountain laurel, on southern exposures. Unbelievable big bucktail. In some areas, the bucks generally grow old and die without ever getting a whiff of a stinky Oct 19, 2020 · 6. Nov 4, 2024 · Joe and Hal give a quick update on their adventures during the 2024 moose season but get in depth on how to prep for the 2024-2025 deer season. Oct 7, 2020 · How to Hunt Big Buck Bedding Areas. Feb 9, 2016 · The tracking thread really, REALLY struck a lot of interest in me. 100% American-made with virgin wool. 1. A friend of mine loves to hunt late-season bucks by trying to shoot them out of their beds. “When you look at a buck bed you’re going to say, ‘wow this is the ideal setup,’ when you start considering the wind and sight and hearing advantages,” he said. Feb 10, 2017 · It's time to find out the #1 buck bedding habitat tip that you can use, to discover or create, the best mature buck bedding areas in the woods! #1 Buck Bedding Habitat Tip. A mature buck may push other deer out of the clear-cut, but many will still get away with working the edges. Apr 7, 2022 · I had to guide three weeks, meaning that gave me two weeks to find a buck. 2013-10-25 Mgaede Jan 21, 2021 · “Whether you plan to hunt hill country, cattail marshes, river bottoms, or big woods tracts of timber, knowing what the cover consists of provides a solid starting point on what to look for. Quiet, lightweight, simple. The system works for any type of Big Woods hunter. I used to think that this time of year was nearly impossible to be consistent with killing mature bucks In this video I breakdown down a very unique buck bed I stumbled across along a swamp edge. For instance, if you’re a southern hunter, you’ve probably heard, “Deer won’t bed there, it’s not thick enough,” or “Yep, there’s a big buck bedded in that thicket. May 23, 2021 · In this video Chad is following along with, Pennsylvania Native, Steve Sherk to learn how he scouts, runs cameras, and hunts big woods buck bedding areas. Young bucks, does and fawns tend to bed closer to the food, while mature bucks bed beyond them. Part 6 – Mapping Public Land Whitetails | Q and A. Jul 14, 2019 · The 200 pound standard for a New England buck is one that many trackers chase, including me. Often, the deer numbers are low, the cover is extremely thick, and many northern habitats can include numerous natural waterways, making navigation extremely difficult. In big woods, it could mean interiors of timber or in spots with the thickest cover and Oct 22, 2024 · Looking to get into a new public land spot…wondering how close I can approach bedding areas to set up in tree? Using a saddle so relatively quiet. HOW TO HUNT BIG WOODS BUCKS! – Mapping Whitetails. By late November physical and mental burnout can be a real factor. These woods have new and older cuts with skidder trails going different directions and much flatter. 60 yards away. The good news is you don't need written permission to bowhunt most big woods areas. But his preferred method is to cut a track back in the woods and see where it leads him. Bronson Strickland Podcast: Secrets of GPS Collared Bucks with Dr. You can even predict when bucks will start hitting scrapes almost to the day based on the weather. The one I was on was a little bigger and he finally split off and headed down into the green growth by a brook. Hunting the big woods has its own set of challenges including unforgiving terrain, thick As you can see, Mike pretty much lives his life in the outdoors year round. Beau walks through a mature buck bed that he found while Oct 16, 2024 · Understand Big Woods Buck Behavior. During the actual rut, I'm hunting buck rut beds, and around doe bedding, and after the rut, I'm back to buck bedding, and if it's late season in the north, I usually hunt good buck bedding near food. Dec 13, 2021 · Male deer will typically rub their forehead glands on the licking branch after leaving their buck bedding location. In hilly areas and mountain country, south-facing slopes get the most sunlight and attract deer bedding and feeding. Secondly, deer tend to bed in layers. Apr 12, 2020 · You will almost always see the tarsal glands of the buck in the bed. If you've decided to take on the challenge of understanding mature bucks, you're in danger of becoming addicted and obsessed. But I haven't actually stayed on that one track. It all starts with knowledge. Big Woods Bucks S e r o o p t d s n u 7 c f 4 4 g i 1 7 c l l 2 r a J 0 i n c h 0 1 4 g u t t c 3 5 4 c 0 c a a 4 2 5 u 5 a m u y f 0 · Shared with Public Feb 15, 2022 · Winter bedding areas are usually close to food and have good thermal insulation from conifer trees. It’s likely you’ll find a number of bucks frequenting these scrapes, which actually makes them more attractive to the dominant buck in the area. As the season changes, deer change their bedding locations. 337: How I Keep My Feet Warm in Cold Weather, and Late Season Layering - Mountain Buck Q&A. Oct 31, 2021 · The rut is simultaneously the most exhilarating and frustrating time to be in the whitetail woods. This is the nature of sharing “how-to” information, but in the case of winter scouting for big woods bucks, it would be a disservice. Then I came to his bed with his track walking out of it. While heavy cover doesn't seem to be a priority, sufficient back cover does. Even in areas with unrestricted public Jul 2, 2021 · Probably the most challenging time of year to get big woods bucks in front of your trail cameras is the latter part of summer. Nov 30, 2023 · “Tracking a big buck is the most frustrating thing on the planet. Bucks will typically bed not too far from doe family group bedding areas. A mature buck bed will often be worn flat, have several spoke-like exit trails, and may even have a rubbed tree on the edge of it. It was some of the toughest land I’ve ever hunted. The biggest challenge of guiding is hunting is hunting can be a game of inches in the thicker cover of the big woods of the North. The author killed this Big Woods buck on public land in northern Pennsylvania by finding a slight habitat change from open hardwoods to an open, swampy area. For that reason, finding a good stand location takes a lot of scouting. Some might occasionally feed in a pasture or hay field, but there are few of either near most big-woods settings. If its early October muzzle-loader season, bucks will probably still be in their feeding and bedding patterns. . However, within "big woods" or wilderness hunting areas, it is not uncommon to travel several hundred yards or more without finding any deer sign. When the early rut and seeking phase commences, bucks can travel for miles and miles every night and will be almost anywhere. However, studying mature bucks can also increase your fun in the woods. Jun 30, 2013 · The rut is simultaneously the most exhilarating and frustrating time to be in the whitetail woods. Unlike farm country deer, which can live within small pockets of cover, big-woods bucks can seemingly go anywhere. com : justhunt10. Dec 10, 2010 · The terrain is often foreboding, the vegetation impenetrable and the bucks few and far between. While it can Mar 4, 2024 · Hunters have an undeniable fascination with giant antlered, big-bodied bucks. Sitting in an armchair, his hands folded across his stomach and a small smirk on his May 16, 2024 · Almost always bucks bed with wind advantages. I finally figured out that the tracks and bedding areas were from bucks that used them areas in the winter, not during the green of the early Nov 26, 2024 · A Big Woods Bucks production dedicated to interviewing Adirondack hunters and discussing what it takes to be successful in these unforgiving woods. It sounds like your rut tactics shift to include fresh sign in the doe bedding areas, assuming bucks could be tending or near by and may follow them out. October comes still the same no big bucks in the bedding areas. Bucks choose their beds based on cover, safety, and proximity to food sources, and while ever Big Woods Bucks team member Cam Stevens with a beautiful buck he shot in its in bed with the Henry Repeating Arms 360 Buckhammer while tracking in Maine May 4, 2022 · Cover and Food in One Thick, nasty CRP and overgrown, old fields are some of my favorite bedding habitats to hunt in and around. Save 10% at https://siriusoutdoorgroup. In the big timber, expect fewer shots at bucks due to commonly low deer densities per square mile. But if your tag remains unfilled Kuhnert warns against hanging up your big woods gear too soon. What gets his adrenaline pumping are Big Woods bucks. I hung one camera on a mountain top hub where a couple trails came together to verify the caliber of deer using the area and got a couple decent bucks on camera. Get close, but not too close, stay downwind and make sure to only hunt big buck bedding areas when conditions are perfect. Jul 5, 2023 · Harvesting any big woods deer is a serious accomplishment, and harvesting a mature buck in the big woods is as good as it gets, in my opinion. I eased along on the track as the buck crossed the brook a couple times. However, you can still find success by identifying rut funnels without having all the details nailed down. ” Habitat can vary wildly from county to county, and even section to section, but Prahl has a list of terrain features that always get his attention Dec 20, 2024 · Ep. They also have a variety of bedding areas — even in the early season. The position of the urine in the bed will also tell you if you’ve been tracking a buck or a doe. In gradual, more rolling terrain, does will bed almost in the creek bottoms or on the first bench. Sep 14, 2023 · For years I hunted in Randolph County, WV, on land owned by Mead Westvaco which produced a number of brand name paper products. · Connect with Big Woods Bucks. He discusses the hunt that led him to bagging the highest grossing 8-pointer ever taken in Maine. Big buck bed at 60 yards away from the sea gunside hot down. Hunting the big woods has its own set of challenges including unforgiving terrain, thick May 31, 2022 · Big Woods Bucks is updating the taglines on its t-shirts, and we want your input. Whereas in the agricultural country, mature bucks tend to have only a couple woodlots and thickets where they like to Sep 22, 2010 · HUNT FRESH BUCKS NOW. Mar 10, 2024 · I have found bucks naturally gravitate high-quality bedding areas. September rolls around no bucks. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. Aug 27, 2021 · A majority of the public lands available to hunt whitetails in the North, South, and East are made up of tracts of forests—rather than the farmlands of the Midwest. Designed by team member Mark Scheeren in collaboration with Andy Larson of Skinner Sights. As Rick feared, the buck had been bedded in the bog on the other side of the ice, and the cracking ice had jumped him, leaving two doe beds and a big fresh buck bed. Unlike the big woods throughout Appalachia or the West, a lot of the southern big woods lack apparent terrain features that naturally funnel deer through the landscape. 6. They all regurgitate the same info over and over. That being said, I believe the areas I can't scout will hold and possibly produce deer for me to have the opportunity to hunt. A final key to hunting big-woods bucks is the ability to react swiftly to sightings and fresh sign. By thinking like a deer and hunting smart, you'll significantly increase your chances of bagging that trophy buck this season. Yet bowhunters regularly arrow big-woods brutes measuring 150 to more than 160 inches—impressive deer anywhere. In fact, you usually have the woods all to yourself. I live in a portion of northern Idaho where farmland meets big woods. About 1/2 mile in we came across a few doe tracks and then what Hal thought was a pretty decent buck. This is where mature bucks rest and where you can target specific bucks during the deer season. Aaron First, understand a deer's basic needs — food, water, bedding and space — before establishing a habitat strategy. Martonik finds that bucks commonly bed on the upper third of a hill, where they can maintain a visual advantage over danger approaching from below. A Big Buck Bed in Snow Buck Attitude And Demeanor vs Does Feb 4, 2021 · Hunting big woods mountain bucks can be some of the most difficult hunting there is for whitetails. Apr 14, 2022 · Rick followed this buck through a swamp and over a beaver bog that was covered in about an inch of ice that audibly cracked as Rick skated across it. The amount of cover that you create adjacent to potential or current buck beds, is the most critical aspect of the cover portion of a buck bed. Oct 21, 2020 · There’s a curious thing that happens when hunters romanticize big woods bucks and dream about entering thousands of acres of timber to shoot a dark-antlered bruiser. Does will hit the same food sources year after year. I used to think that this time of year was nearly impossible to be consistent with killing mature bucks Dec 10, 2024 · The resident deer haven’t seen many (if any) crop fields or food plots. If you are a big woods hunter like myself, you've most likely noticed some Hunting and tracking deer across the northeast 2023. The author says that beds like these occur during winter’s harshest periods, when bucks spend the most time in their beds. May 14, 2015 · By using food to define where the does bed, you can more efficiently determine the potential mature buck bedding locations. solo… moving around often as the conditions permit and constantly chasing the next mature buck on my radar, I also self film all of my hunts now, so while Dec 15, 2016 · The buck wandered down and old winter road that another buck had also been. Typically operating solo, bucks don't have the luxury of being able to maintain a 360-degree view so they also have to rely on their sense of smell to keep them alive as they navigate the landscape. Aug 19, 2024 · Listen to some podcast that have "Big woods", "Mountain Bucks", etc. It's not that I have never followed tracks. (Shutterstock) Generally, most deer (especially mature bucks) bed down in the thicker cover. I’ve been successful mainly in part due to putting myself where more deer are and where “THE” sign is. When you find an area with random rubs throughout the area with no obvious direction then you have found either a core buck area or a staging area. Jan 25, 2011 · It can be used as a tool to check deer movement in a big woods, no agriculture, no clear cutting environment. This is a hard message to get across because we often paint a very linear picture of deer scouting, where strategy leads directly to a dead buck. If you don’t spook a deer on occasion your not close enough to the bedding to be effective. I used to think that this time of year was nearly impossible to be consistent with killing mature bucks Nov 8, 2024 · Logging many hours on stand in the big woods during the rut—for several consecutive days— can test the mettle of the toughest hunters. Large thickets of red-osier dogwood will have lots of feeding from the herd in general right now and are worth locating as well in big woods areas. That being said, your odds of finding a big-woods buck have never been higher than during this time of year. Nov 18, 2024 · Tracking bucks in the big woods is almost always associated with snow. In my opinion, the Appalachian region gives you the best opportunity to get away from the crowds and find adventure for that reason Nov 16, 2022 · Stand hunting in the big woods takes on a whole new meaning as bucks do not have any regular feeding or bedding areas. St Dec 19, 2024 · Another example includes bucks bedding in ways that give them a security advantage. This bed is getting used by numerous different bucks on all diff Nov 6, 2017 · Whitetail bucks use staging areas to relax before moving to bedding areas or to survey the scene before advancing. Planning a morning hunt…please help me answer 1) what time should I be completely set up by, and 2) how close can I get to bedding area. 2020 yards right there. The best fanny pack you can buy for still-hunting and tracking in big timber or tough conditions. The thermometer in my truck said 32 Jul 19, 2020 · One big woods buck was bedding part way up a bluff next to a huge swamp. Feb 15, 2018 · Weather, food and the time of rut will influence where the deer will be and what they are doing. By digging through deer research and personal experience, it’s clear that bucks express unique habits and tendencies that culminate into perceived personalities. com Feb 22, 2016 · Finding where a buck beds in heavily wooded wilderness regions can seem like an extremely daunting task. So, here you go. Bronson Strickland Aug 29, 2018 · The term around is critical, as you don’t want to risk bumping a buck from his bedding area; alerting the deer you’re targeting the moment you enter the woods has effectively ruined your hunt before you ever climb into your stand. Every year, new, vast sections of Big Woods Outfitters is run by Master Maine guide Hal Blood. The chart below outlines the “Big Woods Bucks System” Hunting the Big Woods breaks down into three basic techniques: tracking, still-hunting, and stand hunting, each of which has its own advantages. In the mountains, bucks often bed on promontories, and sometimes they’ll bed at the end of a long finger or ridge. 👇FOLLOW US HERE👇Facebook ? Oct 20, 2023 · First, as mentioned, deer select bedding areas that are advantageous for them. So, when my wife told me the freezer was full with moose and bear meat, I was relieved. Sep 16, 2024 · That said, patterning and effectively hunting a big-timber buck isn’t an impossible quest, and the results can be extremely rewarding. These spots are torn up with rubs, but by the time hunters find them, bucks are bedding once more in their usual spots. I always followed tracks during the winter in the big woods, trying to identify certain travel areas the deer favored most. Nov 26, 2024 · Bucks like to bed in thick, brushy cover at low elevations, but beds at higher elevations offer scenting advantages. It's about understanding deer behavior, identifying overlooked spots, and being willing to adapt your strategy. The big buck will usually be on his own trail that will intersect the doe’s trails on occasion. Locating areas to hunt near mountains or swamps near clear cuts can be a good idea as bucks will use these and will keep tabs on the does that use them. Apr 20, 2022 · Lessons from the Legend My host and teacher on this hunt was the legendary Hal Blood, a master Maine guide and author of several well-read books on the art of tracking big woods bucks. NO CAKEWALK. mjpydw mdoz eveawe hetys kcgltk tkand ckesyxu dlqtpgm bsstp fcyp