Hunting Deer Bedding Areas During the November Rut
By Mike KangasNovember 15, 2022
![Main image blog](https://spgwebsites.blob.core.windows.net/media/blogs/Kangas_Mike_November_2022_Realtree_Blog_Pic_111422 (002).jpg)
During November’s cold mornings, hunting deer bedding areas can result in some great stories and successful hunts...
Across the
nation, hunters often dedicate a lot of time to pursuing big bucks during
November’s cold mornings. This time of year, hunting deer bedding areas can
result in some great stories and successful hunts. Particularly in early to
mid-November – i.e., peak rutting or “Chasing” time – the action can really
pick up.
Here in
Minnesota, shotgun season runs from Nov. 5-13, while bow hunting remains active
through the end of the year. I’ve long felt late fall to be an excellent time
for hunting tradition, spending time with the family in the stand, eating
snacks, waiting for that record-setting buck to appear.
The month also
makes me think of ideal ways to use deer bedding areas to ensure a successful
hunt, so let’s take a closer look at my strategy and how it helped me last
year.
Get Close to
Deer Bedding & Transition Areas to Spot the Big Bucks
You may sit for days during November and not
see a thing. Then, in a flash, everything can seem to happen at once. It turns
out that getting close to deer bedding areas is a big part of this. Bucks
cruise the downwind side of these places this time of year, looking for a hot
doe.
These bucks tend to be more active in the
daylight and it’s not unusual to see them on their feet in the middle of the
day. Early to mid-November is perfect for all day sits, though be sure to also
check out the transition zones between bedding areas. Typically, any small tree
lines among sloughs, or the leeward (and roughly top third) side of hills are
spots bucks tend to cruise.
Last Nov. 2, I set up in a tree between two
main bedding areas on a pinch point of cover. With an hour of light remaining,
I started doing some rattling to see if I could bring in some curious deer.
About five minutes later, I saw a beautiful buck walking downwind of my setup …
and I got him. My proximity to the bedding areas is really what made it all
happen.
About the Author
Mike Kangas is a
Realtree
Land Pro and REALTOR® with Dalton, Minn.-based United Country Real
Estate | Aasness Auctioneers (Auctions and Real Estate/Team Aasness). Born and
raised on Minnesota’s “Iron Range,” Mike is an accomplished outdoor professional and land manager. His
understanding of real estate markets, specialty properties, land improvements
and hunting techniques bring value to landowners and obsessed hunters like
himself. You can
find Mike at HuntingLandMike.com and UnitedCountryAasness.com.