I've located a possible monster buck in my area. He (or they- there may be more than one) bed in this thick brush on the west side of a ridge. The brush is made up of some round bushes with thin branches that make it hard to see through them. Perfect bedding area for a buck. I bumped a buck early in my rattling session today from that spot as I was walking by. All I saw was his tail though as he ran off. On the way back I bumped another buck but I got a better glimpse of it. He was a monster from the looks of it.
On the other (east) side of the ridge it's just a normal wooded area with no thick brush. I was rattling on that side of the ridge today. On the trail that I use on top of the ridge it's covered with dry leaves that make a lot of noise which probably alerts the deer to my presence. In that area on the trail there are numerous scrapes right above where I bumped the deer.
What would be the best approach to hunting this situation? Should I stake out a spot on top of the ridge and watch the scrapes? Perhaps using one of those stink sticks to lure them to the scrape.
Or should I set up on the bottom of the west side of the ridge and rattle?
A cold front is coming through tomorrow and the wind should be perfect for the second scenario.
On the other (east) side of the ridge it's just a normal wooded area with no thick brush. I was rattling on that side of the ridge today. On the trail that I use on top of the ridge it's covered with dry leaves that make a lot of noise which probably alerts the deer to my presence. In that area on the trail there are numerous scrapes right above where I bumped the deer.
What would be the best approach to hunting this situation? Should I stake out a spot on top of the ridge and watch the scrapes? Perhaps using one of those stink sticks to lure them to the scrape.
Or should I set up on the bottom of the west side of the ridge and rattle?
A cold front is coming through tomorrow and the wind should be perfect for the second scenario.