Hey Jeff! I'm 25 and this is my first year into hunting and loving every second I can get out there. Got my first deer ever this year and I plan on spending the year studying and learning to become more knowledgeable and your videos have been a great place to start! Thanks so much. Happy New Year!
Man that is so awesome to hear Ashton...really happy to hear that you were able to begin hunting...more a way of life than a hobby or sport. Truly enjoy ☺️ Happy New Year!
lol im 25 and I just started hunting this year. Went hunting a few times with my uncle like 10 years ago but thats it. Last few weeks ive been going out all weekend trying to get a buck, and got a blind. Ive been shooting for years so I already have that part down for the most part but its been so much fun learning to hunt. I had a few deer walk right nearby the stand last Sunday but didnt have a clear shot and spooked one away that I might of been able to get by whispering. Hopefully I will get a chance tomorrow, I gotta work on being more quiet, especially when Im in a blind with someone else.
this year is the first year i have gone deer hunting in 20 years. im 36 years old and an avid turkey hunter but went deer hunting this year with my buddy got one. my buddy has 55 acres in east tennessee and wants me to get the property good for deer hunting. im glad i watched watched some of your videos before commiting i now have a much more solid plan. thanks for your content!
I would love to see you do a video on just maybe looking on Google earth map and show high percentage diversity spots on maybe land you've been on to help give a better idea of maybe what specifics to look for?
I think its been a year now since beginning to watch these videos, also a year since I began to refashion the deer's line of movement on my land. I organized the trailcamera videos for the whole year and November I had more bucks come through than at any time I have experienced since owning this land from 1998. Recently I bought the book on mature bucks and am now reading it a second time. I'm getting it. There is so much on TH-cam to watch, millions of books to read, I will type spending time learning about your experiences was worth my time.
Looks like your final video for 2019! Thank you for a great year of FREE information. Your explanation of weather and high value days have improved my time in the woods exponentially, thank you. There is so much junk science information out there, you are the only one that is trust worthy & credible. The proof is on my wall! Happy New year!
Thank you so much and yep...the LAST one! It's been a grind and I am hoping to create the exact same number for 2020 ☺️I hope that you enjoy it all and that it helps greatly. Thank you so much for watching!
Gonna have to start watching these videos twice. Hard to concentrate on what he's saying next when you're thinking about how this info relates to your property
You have such a he a full of knowledge on whitetail habitat, and what it needs to look like.... Such a great skill set to have... I'd like to spend a little time inside your head just to make my time in the woods even better.... Thanks for all the info
Deer season is year round but the shooting ended yesterday here in NC. I will wear a black arm band and mourn today. But I just wanted to thank you. I had some tough set backs this year that effected my hunting big time but what I did hunt dramatically improved as a direct result of this channel. Going back out there this weekend with some #6 shot (wabbits and squirrels) to do some Monday morning quarterbacking and find every rub, scrap, and Mexican food droppings I missed this year.
I’ve just purchased 133 acres in central Ky. It has 8 acres of cleared bottom, that we has a small food plot in. There bottom pasture is at the bottom of bowel on all sides, that is surrounded by ridges, with multiple flats, benches. Big mature hard wood forest. Have huge bucks on camera at night. Rarely seeing them in the day time. Seems like they are always there when I’m not! Having trouble finding the bedding areas. Appreciate your videos. Watch them regularly.
This was such a good video, had to watch it twice. Thanks for sharing this info. Beginner hunter on some challenging public land, trying to learn all that I can.
Thanks for all the info, super helpful as I try to learn and improve our property up here in Nova Scotia. Who else spotted the second buck in the photo at 9:16.. Decent headgear on him too.
Yep I always approach mounds and elevated knolls very slowly and cautiously when I’m walking /stalking. I’ll sometimes take 1/2 hour to walk 10 steps if I’m coming upon a suspected elevated buck bed. I’ve pretty much narrowed down my buck bedding areas on our main property. Next year we need to work on some small tract food plots thanks to watching these videos.
Jeff, thank you for your content! After every video I watch I think “surely I’ve watched them all” but the content just keeps coming! I’m a beginning hunter from Mississippi hunting my 13 acre private parcel. I enjoy your tips, and sharing of useful knowledge!
Been watching all of your videos, very good. I hunted up til I was about 20, never got a deer, didnt see the point as a kid. I'm trying really hard to get a deer this year, along with what I remember and what I've learned from you and a couple others that sound smart. I'm 42 and hope this is the year. Thanks for your work and time
I hunted a huge buck several years ago on 180 acre lease. I finally found him bedding under eastern cedar trees in an old field batted up against a large hill. He was only about 50 to 70 yards from where I parked the truck. I never hunted there before because I figured that anything close to where we all parked would get bumped when we pulled in and got out.
Pellets your so right still remember the day I showed my kid the difference in pellets his face was so funny he was 10 now 20 every time I wach your vids jeff I learn more now I now why I have rubs far from where the rest bed and feed I'm going to get him i hope lol thanks jeff
Your videos are so informative, thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and for free! This stuff is so helpful... I'm trying to put into practice so much of what you describe in your videos on my 100 acre property. My biggest challenge is a have a small food plot less than 2 acres that sits right next to my house and the rest of the property is big steep woods (mix of hard and soft woods) and if there is a pattern to buck movements I can't figure it out and I've been at this for 35 years plus. The property has been logged several time over the last 40 years but its been managed for timber not wildlife, I'm addressing that now, as I have the logger aggressively cutting. That should definitely help as the stem count will skyrocket and therefore hold more deer. I'm also going to see if I can create some hinge cut buck bedding this winter as well get the logger to open up enough space for micro food plots as no ag land exists for miles. Next step will be finding a reliable way in to my stands where I don't bump the deer I'm hunting. Thanks again Jeff!
Currently looking for a hundred acres now to start up a hunting parcel in Ohio... I really enjoy your videos... I myself have been photographing and studying whitetail deer for the last 25 years... Just the last two years I started guiding for some friends... And I think it's time for me to have my own property... and I totally agree you don't know these things unless you get out and put your feet on the ground... I may call upon you so we can hook up and maybe have a plan at my new place...
The public land I'm hunting has woody browse literally everywhere and not much else. There are deer tracks all over the place with very few defined trails. Having such a hard time zeroing in on a defined bedding area.
That's a tough one! I look for elevation change in this areas. If none I look for changes in habitat. Swamp edges, timber harvest, waterways, hunter access areas. Definately need to find change and edges if changes. One if the best things about hunting public land...you never have to married to a specific location. If an area doesn't have what I am looking for I immediately leave... Happy Scouting and Happy New Year ☺️
This is some great information thanks Alot Jeff I thought big pellets buck little pellets doe big track buck little track doe so much to learn still it doesn't matter how long you hunt it seems like I'm always learning something new so if I had two does bed 30 yards from me buck is bedded some were in this 200 yard strip it's pine oak and oak browse the tips are chewed off thankx again Jeff for your valuable information and time
I got hooked to your channel about a month ago its the best ive found im a michigander and most hunting channels dont apply to michigan im looking forward to 2020 deer season with my new understanding of whitetails i expect great things in the coming years i mostly hunt public near manistee national park love the woods and white tail i cant tell u how much i apreciate your channel have a safe and happy new year
Love your content! Discovered you last year before the season started and began implementing your principles and harvested my target buck in three sits!
LOL great video Love the fact that as you are talking a very nice buck is proving what you are talking about. What is your education make round. I have a cousin who retired as a game biologist in Utah. When he was home he always knew where to find bucks too His family had a deer camp in Cambria county Pa. This was before trail cameras were a thing so he wasn't able to show us the deer before he shot them.
Question for you....do you find that the bucks like the more open areas using trees or log as backcover....or thickets with back cover? I know the doe seem to like that thick stuff and bed in groups as i find the circles of beds. the reason I ask is because i have a section of hardwoods. all oaks, some poplar....over the years we have had a ton of oak wilt, many died and blew down. So those areas that had a huge canopy are now bushes, red osier, willow, just thick bushes etc. Obviously those areas are now huge bedding and travel now that it's so thick you can barely walk and the deer just love it. I have an area in that is all oaks mainly, ZERO under growth, just leaves and few trails. There are trails but from observation it's not a day thing, rarely if ever do i see deer moving through that open area. I was thinking about selectively cutting some of those oaks and poplar trees and letting the tops lay, open the canopy and get the raspberries and small poplar regeneration. What is your take on that? I feel like it's a 4 to 5 acre section that really is used very little by deer, any deer for that matter during the day. I literally don't see all that much for rubs, I will see food area rubs, we have plots....but I can say that I never found "buck" areas where you see the typically 4 to 5 bed type rubs. I'm just thinking I can make more area they feel comfortable. We do only fall plots....so our resident summer doe pop is about 3 to 4 families on 150 acres. we do see a big influx around Oct 1 to the 10 of mature bucks, hitting scrapes etc. some become locals, some seem like travelers bedding elsewhere. We have ag all around us, so we are always gonna have some doe, but i wouldn't say we have a lack of bedding, it's marsh, goldenrod, and we have about 50 acres of hardwood mix.
Great videos. Tough to filter your advice down on my hunting environment. West Virginia is a little different then Michigan but i still find great info from your videos
Followed your advice about hunting temperature drops in Nov. and killed my nicest 8 point to date. Waiting for the mount now. I had a NICE 10 point on camera. Only showed up once. Checked cameras today and he made it! He's real nice now and there's four others in the same area. I'm catching them either early or late in the evening. All within shooting hours. It's public land there's no way to spot light this area and not many people hunt it. Hopefully I can get this figured out. On Google Earth it looks pretty obvious where they're bedding but one location crosses a pretty busy road and the other is across very seldom traveled dead end road then a decent size creek. Getting exciting now.
I live in upstate NY, in the past 8 years, I've found all the buck beds within 20 yds of the ag district nieghbors back yard, where I hunt/live, lots of woods, lots of ag. Spend all day in the woods, only to see eyeballs in antlers in my back yard in the thick when I'm pulling into the drive after ordering pizza😆
Where should we hunt when we do find those areas, this helped me with me spot and confirms that those are good spots, but should I hunt between or close by one of them
I find in the big woods of northern Wisconsin, the bucks seem to like to bed right in the slashing. I do find they bed on terrain features but man those slashings seem to be attractive to them!
Great content, as usual! Thank you. These issues drive me crazy, because I hunt public land river bottoms where the same topography stretches over hundreds of acres. It's Corps of Engineers flood control land in MS that hold water much of the year. Cypress and our version of "buck brush" (some call it "iron brush") so thick that a long shot is 40 yards. Determining where deer bed in these areas has proved almost impossible, because the environment is so consistent. No elevation changes, and very little food. Nothing green this time of year except some briers and dewberry. The only method I've come up with is identifying trails/travel routes.
Great video... You referred to a topo map several times during the clip. It would have been extremely helpful if you would have shown what you meant by a "diversity" on a topo map. Thanks for the tips and great videos. My son (11yrs old) and I enjoy sharing these and discussing them.
Thanks for putting out good content. I found your channel after I got my new bow this year, and I look forward to implementing some of your strategy for this coming years hunting seasons. Have a great new year!
Jeff, thanks for all the great info throughput the year!!!!! I appreciate all your help, and ESPECIALLY your friendship. Happy New Year to you and Diane!!!!! Bob
So after i find the buck being spot where should i place ladder stand, blind, shooting house etc....? I need help with stand placement. Very helpful and I've found that. Just how should i hunt it
I’m wanting to plant some trees on my property but not sure which is best for my region. Southeast is we’re Im located and I have several location on same property to have a variety if that’s possible. We don’t get much snow if ever at all. I already have enough hardwoods for the acorn part but I would like to get several spot to hinge cut to create more thick pockets
Hi Jeff I have been reading your books and just getting started on them but I have a lot of doe bedding around are food plots but the doe are only using the beds at night in your experience is that usually because of cover or not having a complete system of habitat
Definately Justin...complete system, but also a very likely sign that the food has been spooked out due to hunting pressure. For example not only do we not spook out the plots except when we shoot from 150 yards+, but we don't enter this bedding areas until after the season. The bucks are bedding on the 30 acres of cover towards the fringes. Without the daylight food and bedding, there won't be the buck movement during the daylight either.
Whitetail Habitat Solutions thank you I spent a lot of time last year on making the food plot and this year I’m turning my attention to cover and daytime browse we have a lot of red osier dogwood but it’s to high for them to eat and will be spending time curing them down
Looking at satellite maps with foliage on. Look for the areas that look like cellulite, lots of dimples. Those areas have been cut. Areas that are tight like a broccoli floret are open woods/old growth.
Total newby question but I located a great bedding area and am wondering do I want to place myself within the smaller bedding area(10acres)or near it out in the open and off the food plot it borders? The patch of timber parallels the food plot and there is no cover beyond that. Hope this make sense, but feel would spook deer if were to try to access the small bedding area.
Elevation change water and creek intersection hard to access with swamp and loaded with prickers next to crop field. River access only spot and scrap galore. Big bucks.
Jeff I have a question for you, I always see your properties as primarily hardwoods. I'm on a 700 acre lease in Virginia and about 70% is pine woods that have/ will be timbered. Any info you know about how deer travel, bed and use pine woods from 10ft young pines to mature 40ft pines? I've been after a large 8 point for 2 years and can't pinpoint his bedding area seeing how I think its off my property. Thanks for any help and all the videos!
Thanks Jeff. Once again great info. My biggest problem is I have 100 acres and all the property around me has either been logged or completely cut down over the past 6 or 7 years and has created excellent bedding. My property has the only fields for literally over a mile any way you go. I only get bucks to show up during daytime starting around October 20th or so. I have plenty of doe. Any idea what I can do to hold these bucks on my property so I can hunt them early season instead of waiting for the rut? Thank you and Happy New Year!
Definately making sure that you have high quality food sources (non ag) in the form of season long food plots. The rest in switchgrass pockets and early successional growth. Nothing planted in the Summer in the form of food. That will suck in the does during the Fall to bed close to your food, with the bucks bedding behind and within your borders. If pressure pushes bucks in the outside of your land, they will have the depth to bed on your land. The food should be located to the side of your land...possibly 2 sides to create an inside out deer movement, where deer bed on the inside of your land or your neighbors borders, and then head towards your food in the afternoon, and then leaving your land after dark. Just pure hardwood Regen is easy bedding to compete with, with sturdy grass and early successional growth pockets, all adjacent to non ag quality food sources.
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 I just have to make a plan and make it happen. I just watched your video on water holes also. One or two of those will be on my list also. Thanks for your help.
Great content as always Jeff, may the coming year be even better than this one for you and your family!! Can't wait to see new videos in 2020.Resolve to stay healthy,hunt hard be happy!!
Tex...thank you so much. Despite the kids of my father this year we have been truly blessed. I hope to continue that in 2020 and I hope that you and your family do too ☺️ Really hope to see you in person some time in 2020...we can't wait 25 years again, or whatever it was...too long!
Kind words old friend,I know how sincere they are,If you should happen to get out this way and and can spare an hour or two,we could have lunch and have a good talk i know what a busy schedule you have.But if you can't i'll understand , You are above and beyond any thing else on u-tube on all things deer, wishing you success and Gods Blessings in 2020!!!!! @@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751
You’ve given me a new perspective from everything I’ve watched. Especially for me because I only have public land to hunt and I’m trying to refine my hunting style because my 8yo daughter is wanting to get into it so much. And it’s hard because public land here gets kinda dangerous even with blaze orange. We’re having to get so much further in the woods but getting there is hard because of time restrictions. When the lands open up your in a waiting line to get there. It was one thing when it was just me but when you take a child it’s hard. The old saying about when the sun comes up the shooting starts.
I always look for Dubliner mock scrapes deer pellet when they go bathroom give u idea how active they are in area find few beds look for near by food source water near by swap if u got snow on ground u find if doe til in heat there be signs in snow.here point when looking for rubs take note which direction those rubs being made from tree to tree.buck will leave several rubs in straight line for example u look at tree found rub on side of tree that facing north then I see other one doing same thing on next tree continue on next one.u may find few scrape along way.he telling were he going .i found pattern of buck rubs in straight line going east. And big scape on ground leaf all moved around only way tell if scape is fresh is there strong odor from it by buck made it maybe if u lucky u see pellets that fresh will have seam coming off it it be soft.if scape was made in snow next to rub by near by tree u may see yellow stain in snow made by buck .i found rubs scape in funnel area and near by small knoll and bedding area over looking fields food source if it get cold or start rain bucks does will go into pines for cover or thick area have good cover even when snow.but when start do that they may leave there beds head to field to eat so warm there body with fuel keep them warm at night
Great info brother .. this is helping us ..at camp to plan .. improvements (layers) Also I wish you had pretended to eat the deer pellet for fun ... sample the protein / levels. . haha like the pee bottle joke I’m still laughing about that was fun .. hah thanks Jeff
Ha, thanks Hunt! Really love hearing that it helps you guys out. You know ..I just may do that. Substitute cocoa pebble of course ☺️ Thank YOU and Happy New Year!
Great info. Jeff, if that parcel had a ridge at the middle portion, rather than a bowl, then dropped off down low again to the back, would you still expect mature buck bedding along that fringe back side down low?
Great content. I hunted quite often when i was young. Then after my time in service and retiring from civilian government service, I started my own business. Got back into the woods last year and this year and hoping to take my first archery buck. I do have a question do you find that deer (buck in particular) travel the same paths coming and going? I know bucks like to travel with the wind to their face, but that can’t be possible all the time. Do they run the same small areas in circle like patterns or do they typically have a different route back to the bedding areas from how they get there.
I really like and I try to listen too your facts This Year in Michigan I hunted Near Houghton lake Area and I was about 20 yards away from a Marsh as I sat in my tree stand for 3 hours I made the biggest mistake I got out to dip my wicks with Buck lure and turn towards my left and a Doe was 20 yards away but I didn't have my Crossbow with me , It was still tide to my tree stand rope she caught me red handed so I crawl on my knees to retrieve my crossbow and she was gone well what really happened is that she went to my left and came up the middle towards my tree stand ten feet away from me and I still was caught red handed because I was on the next branch dipping my wicks No Doe , So the next day again sitting in my Tree Stand I got down and checked my Camera but I had my Crossbow in My hand this time checked my camera turned to my Right and A doe was bedding 11ft away from me when I started to line her up for a shot she got up her Ass was facing me so I tried shooting her in the neck as I shot towards her neck she put it down and I missed out harvesting another Doe, Well I was Successful this year November 13th I took a Doe at 20yards in my tree Stand and I also too a Button Buck at 35-40 left-handed when I am right-haned my Buddy's couldn't hit the broadside of a barn if it was in front of them. thank you for your tips I really Appreciate everything you share about deer Hunting.
always great info jeff I love running the woods and swamp this time of the year found new buck bed the other day mapping how to get in there for next year thanks dead stream killer mi
I currently have a stand with a camera on a tree 10 feet away. It is on public land looking over a clear cut from 2 years ago. I get a ton of pictures of big bucks but not once have I gotten one in daylight. I don’t know what to do to see them during the day. Any suggestions? Also love the content
So if the doe bed on a low bench near the food and bucks are bedding closer to the top or over the ridge how do you access the stands up there without busting them out?
Hello, in my opinion all access is different and situational. Most guys try to get close to the bedding area to hunt, but not right on it. Perfect scenario would be you get in 50 - 100 yards or so without spooking him...
I told my fiance I wasn't going to hunt in January.... well after striking out today on the 31st of December I think I just might have to hunt in January lol. Still got 1 buck tag
I can't wait to get home from work I have a nice big 4 year old 8 point on a new private land I'm hunting, his bed is the land im on. 4 acres I only have one wind to hunt and one spot to sit because its so small but I have seen about 4 times now just no clear shot. I'm going to change up where my stand is and actually sit in the weeds in this giant hill looking into his bed with the south west wind in my face blowing across the parking lot and I'm going catch him as soon as he breaks into the clearing of the red pines. He's bedding inside the pines with great vantage points and serious swirls of scent. But with a steady 13 mph wind in my face I can get within 15 yards of him. I have done it once already but my cross bow stock got caught up in my gear and that wind swirled in there he got my scent and bolted. He's been back since then and I have stayed away to let the heat die down, let him get comfortable again and I'm going to take him on November 18th. It will be raining and windy. He won't ever see me coming or smell me. He's mine.
Happy New Year! Thank you for the great content. I’m new to deer hunting and the info on your videos are by far the best I have seen. I have yet to get a deer, but have learned a lot that I think will begin to pay off in the future. Do you offer personal instructions? If so how can learn more about your services?
Whitetail Habitat Solutions I am from northern NH I live in PA but up north the woods is endless and during the rut the bucks seem like they will travel very far to find a doe. Do they travel because of the doe numbers or the amount of woods?
If I had just the knowledge this man has forgotten I would be a better hunter. Jeff has something rare that a lot of people have lost these days and that's woodsman skills. If you cant learn from him you should take up piano playing.
Great video! A high percentage of logged areas on my property makes finding specific beds quite difficult but I know that's temporary. Extreme elevation areas on our place does help. Happy New Year!
So, if you are looking for bedding areas and finding them, aren't you potentially scaring the deer out of their bedding areas? Also, is there a certain time of day that is best to look for bedding areas, like is there a time when the deer probably wouldn't be there?
David, in my opinion, Jeff is referring to post season scouting. The idea is to know where they generally bed so you are prepared for future seasons. You can run and gun in the season, but from my experience, that buck won't let you bump him more than once and still return.
He's watching you.Watching him on your phone. That is really cool.Great stuff Jeff.You are really getting a following on your channel. People can really relate to the information you talk about. And you have so much proof to back it up.Happy New year to all of you.Is Diane still after them??
Hey Jeff! I'm 25 and this is my first year into hunting and loving every second I can get out there. Got my first deer ever this year and I plan on spending the year studying and learning to become more knowledgeable and your videos have been a great place to start! Thanks so much. Happy New Year!
Man that is so awesome to hear Ashton...really happy to hear that you were able to begin hunting...more a way of life than a hobby or sport. Truly enjoy ☺️ Happy New Year!
❤
lol im 25 and I just started hunting this year. Went hunting a few times with my uncle like 10 years ago but thats it. Last few weeks ive been going out all weekend trying to get a buck, and got a blind. Ive been shooting for years so I already have that part down for the most part but its been so much fun learning to hunt. I had a few deer walk right nearby the stand last Sunday but didnt have a clear shot and spooked one away that I might of been able to get by whispering. Hopefully I will get a chance tomorrow, I gotta work on being more quiet, especially when Im in a blind with someone else.
Thanks, Jeff, for making this seemingly difficult topic easy to understand for the common man.
this year is the first year i have gone deer hunting in 20 years. im 36 years old and an avid turkey hunter but went deer hunting this year with my buddy got one. my buddy has 55 acres in east tennessee and wants me to get the property good for deer hunting. im glad i watched watched some of your videos before commiting i now have a much more solid plan. thanks for your content!
I would love to see you do a video on just maybe looking on Google earth map and show high percentage diversity spots on maybe land you've been on to help give a better idea of maybe what specifics to look for?
Good morning Jeff, thanks for sharing your knowledge, and doing so with such honesty and integrity.
Your passion and business success go hand in hand.
You are very welcome Kevin! I hope to do my best in 2020 and I hope that you enjoy the journey. Happy New Year ☺️
I think its been a year now since beginning to watch these videos, also a year since I began to refashion the deer's line of movement on my land. I organized the trailcamera videos for the whole year and November I had more bucks come through than at any time I have experienced since owning this land from 1998. Recently I bought the book on mature bucks and am now reading it a second time. I'm getting it. There is so much on TH-cam to watch, millions of books to read, I will type spending time learning about your experiences was worth my time.
Jeff, great information as usual. This relates perfectly to the public land big woods of PA with the clearcuts and swamps I hunt.
I found a little doe in my bank account and some big bucks in my wife's purse.
Lol 😂
LMAO
harvest them bucks🤣🤣
Haaaaa lol
Did you ever find that jack rabbit in your bed?
Looks like your final video for 2019! Thank you for a great year of FREE information. Your explanation of weather and high value days have improved my time in the woods exponentially, thank you. There is so much junk science information out there, you are the only one that is trust worthy & credible. The proof is on my wall! Happy New year!
Thank you so much and yep...the LAST one! It's been a grind and I am hoping to create the exact same number for 2020 ☺️I hope that you enjoy it all and that it helps greatly. Thank you so much for watching!
Gonna have to start watching these videos twice. Hard to concentrate on what he's saying next when you're thinking about how this info relates to your property
Most definitely Jesse! I truly hope that they help you out, and Happy New Year 👍
Completely agree jesse! Lol
I have google earth pulled up and keep pausing the video.
Wonder if Scott would consider doing a video of him using onX or google earth and show us map examples of the features he’s describing
You have such a he a full of knowledge on whitetail habitat, and what it needs to look like.... Such a great skill set to have... I'd like to spend a little time inside your head just to make my time in the woods even better.... Thanks for all the info
This guy knows his stuff.
Deer season is year round but the shooting ended yesterday here in NC. I will wear a black arm band and mourn today. But I just wanted to thank you. I had some tough set backs this year that effected my hunting big time but what I did hunt dramatically improved as a direct result of this channel. Going back out there this weekend with some #6 shot (wabbits and squirrels) to do some Monday morning quarterbacking and find every rub, scrap, and Mexican food droppings I missed this year.
I’ve just purchased 133 acres in central Ky. It has 8 acres of cleared bottom, that we has a small food plot in. There bottom pasture is at the bottom of bowel on all sides, that is surrounded by ridges, with multiple flats, benches. Big mature hard wood forest. Have huge bucks on camera at night. Rarely seeing them in the day time. Seems like they are always there when I’m not! Having trouble finding the bedding areas. Appreciate your videos. Watch them regularly.
This was such a good video, had to watch it twice. Thanks for sharing this info. Beginner hunter on some challenging public land, trying to learn all that I can.
Thanks for all the info, super helpful as I try to learn and improve our property up here in Nova Scotia.
Who else spotted the second buck in the photo at 9:16.. Decent headgear on him too.
Yep I always approach mounds and elevated knolls very slowly and cautiously when I’m walking /stalking.
I’ll sometimes take 1/2 hour to walk 10 steps if I’m coming upon a suspected elevated buck bed.
I’ve pretty much narrowed down my buck bedding areas on our main property.
Next year we need to work on some small tract food plots thanks to watching these videos.
Jeff, thank you for your content! After every video I watch I think “surely I’ve watched them all” but the content just keeps coming! I’m a beginning hunter from Mississippi hunting my 13 acre private parcel. I enjoy your tips, and sharing of useful knowledge!
13 acres isn’t enough.
Been watching all of your videos, very good. I hunted up til I was about 20, never got a deer, didnt see the point as a kid. I'm trying really hard to get a deer this year, along with what I remember and what I've learned from you and a couple others that sound smart. I'm 42 and hope this is the year. Thanks for your work and time
I hunted a huge buck several years ago on 180 acre lease. I finally found him bedding under eastern cedar trees in an old field batted up against a large hill. He was only about 50 to 70 yards from where I parked the truck. I never hunted there before because I figured that anything close to where we all parked would get bumped when we pulled in and got out.
Pellets your so right still remember the day I showed my kid the difference in pellets his face was so funny he was 10 now 20 every time I wach your vids jeff I learn more now I now why I have rubs far from where the rest bed and feed I'm going to get him i hope lol thanks jeff
Thank you for all the great info! I’ve been watching your videos for about a month now and have learned a good bit
That's great to hear Chad...really appreciate you watching! Thank you!
Your videos are so informative, thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and for free! This stuff is so helpful... I'm trying to put into practice so much of what you describe in your videos on my 100 acre property. My biggest challenge is a have a small food plot less than 2 acres that sits right next to my house and the rest of the property is big steep woods (mix of hard and soft woods) and if there is a pattern to buck movements I can't figure it out and I've been at this for 35 years plus. The property has been logged several time over the last 40 years but its been managed for timber not wildlife, I'm addressing that now, as I have the logger aggressively cutting. That should definitely help as the stem count will skyrocket and therefore hold more deer. I'm also going to see if I can create some hinge cut buck bedding this winter as well get the logger to open up enough space for micro food plots as no ag land exists for miles. Next step will be finding a reliable way in to my stands where I don't bump the deer I'm hunting. Thanks again Jeff!
Currently looking for a hundred acres now to start up a hunting parcel in Ohio... I really enjoy your videos... I myself have been photographing and studying whitetail deer for the last 25 years... Just the last two years I started guiding for some friends... And I think it's time for me to have my own property... and I totally agree you don't know these things unless you get out and put your feet on the ground... I may call upon you so we can hook up and maybe have a plan at my new place...
The public land I'm hunting has woody browse literally everywhere and not much else. There are deer tracks all over the place with very few defined trails. Having such a hard time zeroing in on a defined bedding area.
That's a tough one! I look for elevation change in this areas. If none I look for changes in habitat. Swamp edges, timber harvest, waterways, hunter access areas. Definately need to find change and edges if changes. One if the best things about hunting public land...you never have to married to a specific location. If an area doesn't have what I am looking for I immediately leave...
Happy Scouting and Happy New Year ☺️
Jeff, thank you for the lessons in how it all works!
This is some great information thanks Alot Jeff I thought big pellets buck little pellets doe big track buck little track doe so much to learn still it doesn't matter how long you hunt it seems like I'm always learning something new so if I had two does bed 30 yards from me buck is bedded some were in this 200 yard strip it's pine oak and oak browse the tips are chewed off thankx again Jeff for your valuable information and time
I got hooked to your channel about a month ago its the best ive found im a michigander and most hunting channels dont apply to michigan im looking forward to 2020 deer season with my new understanding of whitetails i expect great things in the coming years i mostly hunt public near manistee national park love the woods and white tail i cant tell u how much i apreciate your channel have a safe and happy new year
Love your content! Discovered you last year before the season started and began implementing your principles and harvested my target buck in three sits!
Wow that is awesome TS...congrats!! I love to hear that and I will do my best to keep it coming...
Please do a "michigan myth" video!! I think you'd have plenty to talk about! Lol thanks for all the free info and God bless!
Man I think that is a great video!! Where all myths are born 😁
LOL great video Love the fact that as you are talking a very nice buck is proving what you are talking about. What is your education make round. I have a cousin who retired as a game biologist in Utah. When he was home he always knew where to find bucks too His family had a deer camp in Cambria county Pa. This was before trail cameras were a thing so he wasn't able to show us the deer before he shot them.
Already spent 3 days scouting and got 5 spots picked out...one tree is fully prepped!
Nice...that sounds awesome!
Thank you I will take as much info on buck bedding as I can get. Extremely interesting!!
Question for you....do you find that the bucks like the more open areas using trees or log as backcover....or thickets with back cover? I know the doe seem to like that thick stuff and bed in groups as i find the circles of beds. the reason I ask is because i have a section of hardwoods. all oaks, some poplar....over the years we have had a ton of oak wilt, many died and blew down. So those areas that had a huge canopy are now bushes, red osier, willow, just thick bushes etc. Obviously those areas are now huge bedding and travel now that it's so thick you can barely walk and the deer just love it. I have an area in that is all oaks mainly, ZERO under growth, just leaves and few trails. There are trails but from observation it's not a day thing, rarely if ever do i see deer moving through that open area. I was thinking about selectively cutting some of those oaks and poplar trees and letting the tops lay, open the canopy and get the raspberries and small poplar regeneration. What is your take on that? I feel like it's a 4 to 5 acre section that really is used very little by deer, any deer for that matter during the day. I literally don't see all that much for rubs, I will see food area rubs, we have plots....but I can say that I never found "buck" areas where you see the typically 4 to 5 bed type rubs. I'm just thinking I can make more area they feel comfortable. We do only fall plots....so our resident summer doe pop is about 3 to 4 families on 150 acres. we do see a big influx around Oct 1 to the 10 of mature bucks, hitting scrapes etc. some become locals, some seem like travelers bedding elsewhere. We have ag all around us, so we are always gonna have some doe, but i wouldn't say we have a lack of bedding, it's marsh, goldenrod, and we have about 50 acres of hardwood mix.
Great videos. Tough to filter your advice down on my hunting environment. West Virginia is a little different then Michigan but i still find great info from your videos
Followed your advice about hunting temperature drops in Nov. and killed my nicest 8 point to date. Waiting for the mount now. I had a NICE 10 point on camera. Only showed up once. Checked cameras today and he made it! He's real nice now and there's four others in the same area. I'm catching them either early or late in the evening. All within shooting hours. It's public land there's no way to spot light this area and not many people hunt it. Hopefully I can get this figured out. On Google Earth it looks pretty obvious where they're bedding but one location crosses a pretty busy road and the other is across very seldom traveled dead end road then a decent size creek. Getting exciting now.
Wow, I asked for this a week ago or so, and here it is, thx Jeff, much appreciated.
This was released 9 months ago
I live in upstate NY, in the past 8 years, I've found all the buck beds within 20 yds of the ag district nieghbors back yard, where I hunt/live, lots of woods, lots of ag. Spend all day in the woods, only to see eyeballs in antlers in my back yard in the thick when I'm pulling into the drive after ordering pizza😆
On State land. Especially in Michigan its about being in the right place at the right time.
Where should we hunt when we do find those areas, this helped me with me spot and confirms that those are good spots, but should I hunt between or close by one of them
I find in the big woods of northern Wisconsin, the bucks seem to like to bed right in the slashing. I do find they bed on terrain features but man those slashings seem to be attractive to them!
9:16 there is a nice buck in the background right in front of the nose of the first buck you can only see horns then gone next frame
Great content, as usual! Thank you.
These issues drive me crazy, because I hunt public land river bottoms where the same topography stretches over hundreds of acres. It's Corps of Engineers flood control land in MS that hold water much of the year. Cypress and our version of "buck brush" (some call it "iron brush") so thick that a long shot is 40 yards. Determining where deer bed in these areas has proved almost impossible, because the environment is so consistent. No elevation changes, and very little food. Nothing green this time of year except some briers and dewberry. The only method I've come up with is identifying trails/travel routes.
Great video... You referred to a topo map several times during the clip. It would have been extremely helpful if you would have shown what you meant by a "diversity" on a topo map.
Thanks for the tips and great videos. My son (11yrs old) and I enjoy sharing these and discussing them.
Thanks for putting out good content. I found your channel after I got my new bow this year, and I look forward to implementing some of your strategy for this coming years hunting seasons. Have a great new year!
Jeff, thanks for all the great info throughput the year!!!!! I appreciate all your help, and ESPECIALLY your friendship.
Happy New Year to you and Diane!!!!! Bob
Can you include maps of an example about what you are talking about? Great info, thank you!
So after i find the buck being spot where should i place ladder stand, blind, shooting house etc....? I need help with stand placement. Very helpful and I've found that. Just how should i hunt it
I’m wanting to plant some trees on my property but not sure which is best for my region. Southeast is we’re Im located and I have several location on same property to have a variety if that’s possible. We don’t get much snow if ever at all. I already have enough hardwoods for the acorn part but I would like to get several spot to hinge cut to create more thick pockets
Hi Jeff I have been reading your books and just getting started on them but I have a lot of doe bedding around are food plots but the doe are only using the beds at night in your experience is that usually because of cover or not having a complete system of habitat
Definately Justin...complete system, but also a very likely sign that the food has been spooked out due to hunting pressure. For example not only do we not spook out the plots except when we shoot from 150 yards+, but we don't enter this bedding areas until after the season. The bucks are bedding on the 30 acres of cover towards the fringes. Without the daylight food and bedding, there won't be the buck movement during the daylight either.
Whitetail Habitat Solutions thank you I spent a lot of time last year on making the food plot and this year I’m turning my attention to cover and daytime browse we have a lot of red osier dogwood but it’s to high for them to eat and will be spending time curing them down
Looking at satellite maps with foliage on. Look for the areas that look like cellulite, lots of dimples. Those areas have been cut. Areas that are tight like a broccoli floret are open woods/old growth.
You make it sound so easy . Should try figuring out a buck in eastern Canada . Lol.
Alot of great information. Thank you.
Curious what stand you like to carry in on public land where you're not able to leave it in the tree.
Great video! Thankful that you're willing to share the knowledge!
Total newby question but I located a great bedding area and am wondering do I want to place myself within the smaller bedding area(10acres)or near it out in the open and off the food plot it borders? The patch of timber parallels the food plot and there is no cover beyond that. Hope this make sense, but feel would spook deer if were to try to access the small bedding area.
I’ve learned some things here. Thanks for the videos.
Elevation change water and creek intersection hard to access with swamp and loaded with prickers next to crop field. River access only spot and scrap galore. Big bucks.
Do these techniques apply to other large game such as elk and moose as well?
Yes you should do a video of "Michigan fads". I think that would be great. We have a ton of them, lol.
Jeff I have a question for you, I always see your properties as primarily hardwoods. I'm on a 700 acre lease in Virginia and about 70% is pine woods that have/ will be timbered. Any info you know about how deer travel, bed and use pine woods from 10ft young pines to mature 40ft pines? I've been after a large 8 point for 2 years and can't pinpoint his bedding area seeing how I think its off my property. Thanks for any help and all the videos!
Thanks Jeff. Once again great info. My biggest problem is I have 100 acres and all the property around me has either been logged or completely cut down over the past 6 or 7 years and has created excellent bedding. My property has the only fields for literally over a mile any way you go. I only get bucks to show up during daytime starting around October 20th or so. I have plenty of doe. Any idea what I can do to hold these bucks on my property so I can hunt them early season instead of waiting for the rut? Thank you and Happy New Year!
Definately making sure that you have high quality food sources (non ag) in the form of season long food plots. The rest in switchgrass pockets and early successional growth. Nothing planted in the Summer in the form of food. That will suck in the does during the Fall to bed close to your food, with the bucks bedding behind and within your borders. If pressure pushes bucks in the outside of your land, they will have the depth to bed on your land. The food should be located to the side of your land...possibly 2 sides to create an inside out deer movement, where deer bed on the inside of your land or your neighbors borders, and then head towards your food in the afternoon, and then leaving your land after dark. Just pure hardwood Regen is easy bedding to compete with, with sturdy grass and early successional growth pockets, all adjacent to non ag quality food sources.
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 I just have to make a plan and make it happen. I just watched your video on water holes also. One or two of those will be on my list also. Thanks for your help.
@@flyerzfan10 hard work done right will be rewarded for sure... definately add the waterholes if needed. Mock scrapes too...
Great content as always Jeff, may the coming year be even better than this one for you and your family!! Can't wait to see new videos in 2020.Resolve to stay healthy,hunt hard be happy!!
Tex...thank you so much. Despite the kids of my father this year we have been truly blessed. I hope to continue that in 2020 and I hope that you and your family do too ☺️ Really hope to see you in person some time in 2020...we can't wait 25 years again, or whatever it was...too long!
Kind words old friend,I know how sincere they are,If you should happen to get out this way and and can spare an hour or two,we could have lunch and have a good talk i know what a busy schedule you have.But if you can't i'll understand , You are above and beyond any thing else on u-tube on all things deer, wishing you success and Gods Blessings in 2020!!!!! @@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751
You’ve given me a new perspective from everything I’ve watched. Especially for me because I only have public land to hunt and I’m trying to refine my hunting style because my 8yo daughter is wanting to get into it so much. And it’s hard because public land here gets kinda dangerous even with blaze orange. We’re having to get so much further in the woods but getting there is hard because of time restrictions. When the lands open up your in a waiting line to get there. It was one thing when it was just me but when you take a child it’s hard. The old saying about when the sun comes up the shooting starts.
Great knowledge and insights.Thanks,Jeff.
Hey Jeff, where are you located? State wise. And how much would it be to book you to do some scouting?
I always look for Dubliner mock scrapes deer pellet when they go bathroom give u idea how active they are in area find few beds look for near by food source water near by swap if u got snow on ground u find if doe til in heat there be signs in snow.here point when looking for rubs take note which direction those rubs being made from tree to tree.buck will leave several rubs in straight line for example u look at tree found rub on side of tree that facing north then I see other one doing same thing on next tree continue on next one.u may find few scrape along way.he telling were he going .i found pattern of buck rubs in straight line going east. And big scape on ground leaf all moved around only way tell if scape is fresh is there strong odor from it by buck made it maybe if u lucky u see pellets that fresh will have seam coming off it it be soft.if scape was made in snow next to rub by near by tree u may see yellow stain in snow made by buck .i found rubs scape in funnel area and near by small knoll and bedding area over looking fields food source if it get cold or start rain bucks does will go into pines for cover or thick area have good cover even when snow.but when start do that they may leave there beds head to field to eat so warm there body with fuel keep them warm at night
Great info brother .. this is helping us ..at camp to plan .. improvements (layers)
Also I wish you had pretended to eat the deer pellet for fun ... sample the protein / levels. . haha like the pee bottle joke I’m still laughing about that was fun .. hah thanks Jeff
Ha, thanks Hunt! Really love hearing that it helps you guys out. You know ..I just may do that. Substitute cocoa pebble of course ☺️
Thank YOU and Happy New Year!
great video...would love to have you here! What were the cameras that you mentioned? I use Muddy and I find them very good but sometimes hit/miss
Great info. Jeff, if that parcel had a ridge at the middle portion, rather than a bowl, then dropped off down low again to the back, would you still expect mature buck bedding along that fringe back side down low?
So are you going into the bucks bed room and placing cameras? Maybe I misunderstood seems like you'd want to stay out of there
Thank you for your advice. I really wish i could get you on my property. Do you come to south ga?
Great content. I hunted quite often when i was young. Then after my time in service and retiring from civilian government service, I started my own business. Got back into the woods last year and this year and hoping to take my first archery buck. I do have a question do you find that deer (buck in particular) travel the same paths coming and going? I know bucks like to travel with the wind to their face, but that can’t be possible all the time. Do they run the same small areas in circle like patterns or do they typically have a different route back to the bedding areas from how they get there.
Do does bed the same area. If when stalking your run into bedded does, is that going to be a typical spot or is there randomness to it at times?
I really like and I try to listen too your facts This Year in Michigan I hunted Near Houghton lake Area and I was about 20 yards away from a Marsh as I sat in my tree stand for 3 hours I made the biggest mistake I got out to dip my wicks with Buck lure and turn towards my left and a Doe was 20 yards away but I didn't have my Crossbow with me , It was still tide to my tree stand rope she caught me red handed so I crawl on my knees to retrieve my crossbow and she was gone well what really happened is that she went to my left and came up the middle towards my tree stand ten feet away from me and I still was caught red handed because I was on the next branch dipping my wicks No Doe , So the next day again sitting in my Tree Stand I got down and checked my Camera but I had my Crossbow in My hand this time checked my camera turned to my Right and A doe was bedding 11ft away from me when I started to line her up for a shot she got up her Ass was facing me so I tried shooting her in the neck as I shot towards her neck she put it down and I missed out harvesting another Doe, Well I was Successful this year November 13th I took a Doe at 20yards in my tree Stand and I also too a Button Buck at 35-40 left-handed when I am right-haned my Buddy's couldn't hit the broadside of a barn if it was in front of them. thank you for your tips I really Appreciate everything you share about deer Hunting.
always great info jeff I love running the woods and swamp this time of the year found new buck bed the other day mapping how to get in there for next year thanks dead stream killer mi
Nice...sounds like a good scouting mission ☺️ Thank you very much and Happy New Year!
Interesting video.thank you for all you do and happy new year to you and your family
I currently have a stand with a camera on a tree 10 feet away. It is on public land looking over a clear cut from 2 years ago. I get a ton of pictures of big bucks but not once have I gotten one in daylight. I don’t know what to do to see them during the day. Any suggestions? Also love the content
i am from canada and im just getting into hunting. Any tips to start hunting and things you need
So if the doe bed on a low bench near the food and bucks are bedding closer to the top or over the ridge how do you access the stands up there without busting them out?
Hello, in my opinion all access is different and situational. Most guys try to get close to the bedding area to hunt, but not right on it. Perfect scenario would be you get in 50 - 100 yards or so without spooking him...
Please do a video on Michigan fads! It would be extremely entertaining
How much do you charge to come out scout and come up with a plan for new private land
I told my fiance I wasn't going to hunt in January.... well after striking out today on the 31st of December I think I just might have to hunt in January lol. Still got 1 buck tag
Ha, I think you need to 😁 Wait, does that mean you are going to break and NYs resolution in less than 24 hours? Lol...
Good luck and Happy New Year!
I can't wait to get home from work I have a nice big 4 year old 8 point on a new private land I'm hunting, his bed is the land im on. 4 acres I only have one wind to hunt and one spot to sit because its so small but I have seen about 4 times now just no clear shot. I'm going to change up where my stand is and actually sit in the weeds in this giant hill looking into his bed with the south west wind in my face blowing across the parking lot and I'm going catch him as soon as he breaks into the clearing of the red pines. He's bedding inside the pines with great vantage points and serious swirls of scent. But with a steady 13 mph wind in my face I can get within 15 yards of him. I have done it once already but my cross bow stock got caught up in my gear and that wind swirled in there he got my scent and bolted. He's been back since then and I have stayed away to let the heat die down, let him get comfortable again and I'm going to take him on November 18th. It will be raining and windy. He won't ever see me coming or smell me. He's mine.
Been eating a lot of venison chile...really messes with my pellets
Ha, I bet...especially if spicy 😁 Happy New Year Stephen!!
Happy New Year! Thank you for the great content. I’m new to deer hunting and the info on your videos are by far the best I have seen. I have yet to get a deer, but have learned a lot that I think will begin to pay off in the future. Do you offer personal instructions? If so how can learn more about your services?
When you say big woods areas it’s good to hunt the buck bedding area not try to hunt specific beds right?
Yes for sure Jake...great point!
Whitetail Habitat Solutions gotcha because I am a fan of bedding areas
Whitetail Habitat Solutions I am from northern NH I live in PA but up north the woods is endless and during the rut the bucks seem like they will travel very far to find a doe. Do they travel because of the doe numbers or the amount of woods?
If I had just the knowledge this man has forgotten I would be a better hunter. Jeff has something rare that a lot of people have lost these days and that's woodsman skills. If you cant learn from him you should take up piano playing.
What do you mean by "go back" when you find the doe bed? Like the way you came?
Great video! A high percentage of logged areas on my property makes finding specific beds quite difficult but I know that's temporary. Extreme elevation areas on our place does help. Happy New Year!
So, if you are looking for bedding areas and finding them, aren't you potentially scaring the deer out of their bedding areas? Also, is there a certain time of day that is best to look for bedding areas, like is there a time when the deer probably wouldn't be there?
David, in my opinion, Jeff is referring to post season scouting. The idea is to know where they generally bed so you are prepared for future seasons. You can run and gun in the season, but from my experience, that buck won't let you bump him more than once and still return.
If I sent you coordinates, what would you charge me to break down public land? This is my second year and I haven’t found anything
What state?
Wow awsome information! Nailed it with this video
Thank you very much...I truly hope that it helps ☺️ Happy New Year!
Love the content. What does a consult cost? In person only?
How about if you don’t have food plots and you hunt areas with ag fields all around would a doe bed near the ag fields and how deep in.
LoL Michigan fads... Not sure if you have time for all that, but I would enjoy watching, no matter how long that would be.
He's watching you.Watching him on your phone. That is really cool.Great stuff Jeff.You are really getting a following on your channel. People can really relate to the information you talk about. And you have so much proof to back it up.Happy New year to all of you.Is Diane still after them??
Learn your area with these 5 tips involved. I've found a huge buck bowls with a nice funnel with these tips.
How do you access those areas without pushing the bucks though
i just started im 29 today and im learning all of this for the first time it is a lot
Happy birthday. Don't over think it.
@@sureshots8155 thank you very much
I guess I missed it? How does one distinguish a buck bed from a doe bed?