*Are wind directions and elevation changes creating a tough hunt for you? To help unravel the secrets of using the wind to your advantage, make sure to read, “How to Hunt Whitetails in the Wind” or “The Unfair Advantage of Whitetails and Topography”.
Although some talk about a churning wind tunnel within the military crest, where bucks can scent above and below at the same time, I have not experienced this to be factual in the field, in any way. In fact I have based my hunting success on that fact, for over 2 decades. My preferred stand locations allow me to access from above with the wind at my back, and into the rising thermals from below. Although there is a brief period of time right before and just after daybreak when the wind direction is settled and not rising until temperatures increase, that is no problem. The mature buck bedding locations that I hunt are far enough away from field edges and food sources, that I do not expect to see a mature buck until a sweet spot of an hour to 4 hours after first light. However, when the temperatures begin to climb, the thermals will begin to conistently lift from below, creating a vaccum that begins sucking my scent up and away from the actual crest of the ridge, and then harmlessly above and over the hollow. A morning stand position above the expected line of deer traffic, often creates the perfect setup, to take advantage of cruising mature bucks that are scenting the rising thermals from below, to scent check for receptive does. And if a mature buck happens to cruise above you? Your scent should be taken away from the hillside, so that he will not detect you from above, or below.
Where does a buck bed on the lands that you hunt?
By following the diagrams from above, you should find that you have enough of a selection of potential prime buck bedding areas on your land to not only scout and find if they are already there, but to create if they are not. Heavy hunting pressure areas, major food sources and potential doe bedding locations are fairly easy to find in any habitat, and if doe bedding areas are stumping you, just look locate the first layer of adequate bedding opportunity adjacent to a major food source. However, the rest of the habitat can at first seem like a sea of randomness, when locating buck bedding areas. If you follow the above bedding areas in the diagrams, I have found can not only reduce the randomness of potential buck bedding areas, but that you can eliminate the majority of acres to specifically scout, to create dependable, high quality setups for mature buck stand locations.
The maps contained within this article were provided by HUNTERRA. For more information about how to map all of your hunting needs, make sure to check out www.hunterra.com.
