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Cover Close to Home: Five Oddball Hiding Spots for Late Season Bucks
Photo by Bill Kinney
Yes, pressured late-season bucks typically seek remote, nasty cover. But some of the biggest, savviest survivors hole up right under our noses, in oddball places we tend to overlook. By uncovering a buck’s secret lair, you can begin to formulate a plan for success. Your first step is to stop ignoring these five hidey holes:
[1] Field-Edge Brush Dumps
Bucks do not always travel far from the food source to lay low. In fact, one of their favorite spots is a pile of bulldozed brush right at the edge of a farm field. Not long ago, I kicked two Pope and Young deer from just such a spot. Both had felt secure not 10 feet off a cut corn lot.
[2] Rotting Logs
Most hunters know that blowdowns with many branches are big-buck bedding areas. But the far subtler dead log is also a prime spot. A branchless deadfall that’s 3 or 4 feet in diameter conceals most of a buck’s body, while gray-brown bark matches a late-season buck’s coat almost perfectly.
[3] Backyard Bungalow
Some bucks choose to hide close to danger, bedding down near barns, backyard outbuildings, and even occupied homes, as long as there isn’t too much human traffic. I’ve seen a buck hunker down behind two ornamental cedars with his back against a cement foundation.
[4] Old Farm Implements
Most farms feature a graveyard of rusting corn harvesters and broken-down wheel harrows. And most hunters pay them no mind whatsoever. Meanwhile, tall grass grows up around the rusting metal machinery, making a good hideout for a smart, old buck.
[5] Lone Trees
Who thinks to look for a buck under a lone tree growing in the middle of a field? You, if you’re smart. Look closer and you may find that there’s some tall grass or brush that the farmer couldn’t till right under the tree. It’s a perfect spot for a buck to be ignored as he watches for late-cycling does.
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Comments (28)
great tips!
well sounds like some of these might work thanks
One of the biggest bucks I have ever seen was hiding near a bulldozed pile. I really did no think much of it until now.
Ive seen big bucks sit just off fields like that and they were only about 10 ft from a road, where you would never expect a buck to be.
The biggest buck I have ever seen was laying against my barn door at the farm at 1:00 in the afternoon
I have seen two mosters bedded down in a 6x10 patch of grass in the middle of a picked 200 acre corn field. They would have never been seen but they got up to eat a little early.
That sounds like what I was dealing with over the weekend it keep hearing things but never saw anything.
Excellent article. Its amazing how the big bucks will find the most unlikely place we would ever think of to hide in. My friend found a big bucks hideout because his horse was freaking out and the buck jumped just feet in front of them. He went back a few days later and got it. was just an area of scrub brush the size of a couple cars.
I found a buck bedded on a dirt access road through the marsh. There's 10 feet of brush, briars and cattails on each side. Enough to hide many deer beds. After a stalk, i could've arrowed him in his bed, but wanted to wait for him to stand because of a tangle of vines. He never stood, just flew outta there. He didn't go far though and offered me a shot about a half hour later, trying to get back to his cover.
I have seen several big ones near the edge of a tree line, often in a little finger that sticks out into an open field or a high spot where they can see what is coming from about any direction without moving. You have no way to get close to them since they can see you coming from a long way off, even though you know right where they are. That's why they are the big ones!
It's true i flushed out a huge 4 point 10 feet in the woods on the border of a sod field.
I always glass over the big logs and blowdown when I am walkin into where I hunt at. I might spen a bit more time closer to the road this weekend and see if they are around.
I did a pigeon once.
I've had deer launch out of 4 ft. long thickets no higher than my chest.
great ideas i have bunches of cut down trees and overgrown grass good tips
Yes, correct, they are sly animals and learn over the years about short sighted hunters. Keep on walkin!
One of the biggest deer I've seen, was bedded down under a lone tree in the middle of a field. Let's just say Mr. Big caught me by surprise!
those are great tips thanks might have to look a little closer at some spots
good tips for old whitetails
i will make shure that i look there.
I watched ( followed ) a big mature buck run into the center of town. Go into a childrens play area of the park,go into a calvert that ran under the main street traffic light and bedded down. This was 3 miles from a public hunting area. They don't get big being stupid
Great tips! Thanks
this is some pretty good information!
Great Tips, Thanks. Ill Have to check these out later on in the season.
I have such an area with down timber rotting and it is not far from my house,i intend to try this suggestion out.thanks.
I have such an area 100 yds from my house and plan to hunt with a bow after the 2 week gun season is over .I am going to use a crossbow since i can no longer hunt with a compound bow due to health concerns.
good pointers
good tips
Post a Comment
I did a pigeon once.
Ive seen big bucks sit just off fields like that and they were only about 10 ft from a road, where you would never expect a buck to be.
Excellent article. Its amazing how the big bucks will find the most unlikely place we would ever think of to hide in. My friend found a big bucks hideout because his horse was freaking out and the buck jumped just feet in front of them. He went back a few days later and got it. was just an area of scrub brush the size of a couple cars.
I found a buck bedded on a dirt access road through the marsh. There's 10 feet of brush, briars and cattails on each side. Enough to hide many deer beds. After a stalk, i could've arrowed him in his bed, but wanted to wait for him to stand because of a tangle of vines. He never stood, just flew outta there. He didn't go far though and offered me a shot about a half hour later, trying to get back to his cover.
I've had deer launch out of 4 ft. long thickets no higher than my chest.
great tips!
well sounds like some of these might work thanks
One of the biggest bucks I have ever seen was hiding near a bulldozed pile. I really did no think much of it until now.
The biggest buck I have ever seen was laying against my barn door at the farm at 1:00 in the afternoon
I have seen two mosters bedded down in a 6x10 patch of grass in the middle of a picked 200 acre corn field. They would have never been seen but they got up to eat a little early.
That sounds like what I was dealing with over the weekend it keep hearing things but never saw anything.
I have seen several big ones near the edge of a tree line, often in a little finger that sticks out into an open field or a high spot where they can see what is coming from about any direction without moving. You have no way to get close to them since they can see you coming from a long way off, even though you know right where they are. That's why they are the big ones!
It's true i flushed out a huge 4 point 10 feet in the woods on the border of a sod field.
I always glass over the big logs and blowdown when I am walkin into where I hunt at. I might spen a bit more time closer to the road this weekend and see if they are around.
great ideas i have bunches of cut down trees and overgrown grass good tips
Yes, correct, they are sly animals and learn over the years about short sighted hunters. Keep on walkin!
One of the biggest deer I've seen, was bedded down under a lone tree in the middle of a field. Let's just say Mr. Big caught me by surprise!
this is some pretty good information!
I have such an area with down timber rotting and it is not far from my house,i intend to try this suggestion out.thanks.
I have such an area 100 yds from my house and plan to hunt with a bow after the 2 week gun season is over .I am going to use a crossbow since i can no longer hunt with a compound bow due to health concerns.
those are great tips thanks might have to look a little closer at some spots
good tips for old whitetails
i will make shure that i look there.
I watched ( followed ) a big mature buck run into the center of town. Go into a childrens play area of the park,go into a calvert that ran under the main street traffic light and bedded down. This was 3 miles from a public hunting area. They don't get big being stupid
Great tips! Thanks
Great Tips, Thanks. Ill Have to check these out later on in the season.
good pointers
good tips
Post a Comment