Bedding on ridges vs. lowland (swamps) - when?

[PaulFWI]

Hunting driftless Wisconsin this year, I'm wondering why I'm not encountering deer on ridges during the day (still-hunting into the wind into ridge points).

I read they bed on southern-facing ridges, and also in lowlands. When, for each? Is it a matter of hunting pressure, weather, etc.?

(I think the answer is "yes" but would love to hear wisdom from old-timers.)

 

[Native Hunter]

Hunting pressure will move mature buck bedding to where no humans are being encountered. Lack of encountering humans trumps terrain features and elevation in that case. The bedding may be high or low ground as long as humans are not being detected in the area.

As far as bedding on ridges, mature bucks will generally bed on the military crest of a ridge point. They will switch ridge points based on wind direction. As an example, if the wind is coming from the West, they will bed with their back to the wind facing East and looking downhill. Their noses alert them to danger coming from behind, and they can dash over the hill before the threat can see them.

The downhill slope to the sides and in front of them allow them to visually detect threats coming from those directions. If anything comes from the front or sides, they have an advantage over the threat, because they are uphill from it and see it in plenty of time to successfully react. The buck can quicky jump up and in a couple of leaps be running West on level ground while the threat is still at a disadvantage from having to run uphill.

But what the heck do I know about deer hunting........ Good luck.

 

[PaulFWI]

As far as bedding on ridges, mature bucks will generally bed on the military crest of a ridge point. They will switch ridge points based on wind direction. As an example, if the wind is coming from the West, they will bed with their back to the wind facing East and looking downhill. Their noses alert them to danger coming from behind, and they can dash over the hill before the threat can see them.

That's what I've read but I've also encountered bucks on ridge points hunting into the wind, during the day.

I think this only works well if the wind is strong enough to mask both all scent and a lot of sound too.

Anyway, lately, here in Kickapoo they're not there.

They must be in the swamps during the day. Pity those are so difficult to hunt unless you're doing drives.

 

[Native Hunter]

That's what I've read but I've also encountered bucks on ridge points hunting into the wind, during the day.

I think this only works well if the wind is strong enough to mask both all scent and a lot of sound too.

Anyway, lately, here in Kickapoo they're not there.

They must be in the swamps during the day. Pity those are so difficult to hunt unless you're doing drives.

Yes, not many humans willing and/or able to go into swamps. I personally have never hunted in a place with swamps, but it seems the logical place to go if you want to disappear from bullets.

 

[1100LT20]

Not sure what swamp looks like in WI, but here in Louisiana when the pressure is on the deer head for the swamp and will bed in ankle deep water. Jump them up in this mess all the time in December and January.

 

[yoderjac]

Ankle deep water may be a bit cooler in WI In Dec and Jan. I'm guessing they might be bedding ON ankle deep water rather than IN it.