Ep 5. September 28th - Public Land: Missouri Bowhunt, Hunting Buck Bedding
- September 28, 2017
- 8 min
On September 28th, the team from The Hunting Public travels to Missouri for a bowhunt on public land. In this episode, they focus on hunting buck bedding areas.
The team starts off by scouting for potential bedding areas using topographic maps and aerial imagery. They identify several promising locations and set out to scout them on foot. They look for signs of deer activity such as rubs, scrapes, and tracks, as well as the type of habitat that deer prefer for bedding.
After several hours of scouting, they find a promising spot and decide to set up a ground blind. They brush in the blind with natural materials to blend in with the surroundings and minimize any human scent.
The next morning, the team heads out to the blind well before daylight. They use headlamps to navigate through the woods and arrive at the spot well before sunrise. As they settle into the blind, they discuss the strategy for the day. They plan to sit all day if necessary, waiting for a mature buck to bed down in the area.
They spend the morning quietly watching and listening for any deer activity. They hear several does moving through the area, which gives them hope that a buck may follow. As the day progresses, they start to see more deer activity. Several does and fawns move through the area, but no bucks.
As the sun starts to set, they begin to lose hope of seeing a mature buck. But then, just before last light, they spot movement in the thicket. A buck has bedded down just a few yards from their blind. They watch in silence as the buck moves into and out of sleep, occasionally standing up to stretch and adjust his position.
As the light fades, the buck stands up and begins to move away. The team decides to take a shot, and one of them releases an arrow. They quietly celebrate as they retrieve the buck, thrilled with the success of their hunt.
Overall, this episode of The Hunting Public showcases the team's skills in scouting and hunting public land for mature bucks. It highlights the importance of finding and hunting buck bedding areas, as well as the patience and persistence required for success.