How To Find Deer: Deer Bedding Areas In Pine Thickets

[@JohnLee-jk5ew]

I’m new to your channel. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I’m also a new hunter that needs to learn how to hunt deer. I need to learn their behavior etc.. then I’ll need a bunch of trials and tribulations to learn the hard way from failure, Let’s Go!

[@kevinmiller1220]

Hi Jacob, never too old too learn. Not as many pine stands up here in Ohio but do have some so the thinner areas in pines que me in to look there where it's likely to be thicker w/undergrowth where sun gets to the ground.

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

Yes, and you can to it with other trees as well.

[@gaelewis6623]

Wow love your video!Now I no why I I've been spoken deer didn't realize they was bedding so close to my food plot and I looked at Ariel view and light bulb came on in my head bedding areas all around me,wow!Thanks for video such a eye opener.I can really see how to play the wind and get better access to my stands, awesome.

[@landonk2039]

Good job on the videos! I have hunted and walked these same zones you are showing. Spot on information. Well done.

[@georgepearson940]

This is amazing! It’s so obvious, why didn’t I think of that? Thank you

[@samanthagates1746]

Hi george

[@Jasperrockymtnride66]

This is what I was looking for! Thank you

[@snakethepeg7828]

Wow great find, this channel is great for a newbie deer hunter like me. Do you have any videos on their diet and what they eat at different times of the year?

[@jeremysilcox9362]

Jacob, I have another question. Can you use cut cedars and saplings to build bedding areas for deer? For example piles of debris as the exterior, then lay them across each other and tie them up to other trees to form a canopy? From my experience bucks like to be at the base of two hills creating a funnel with the hills to the north behind them and then having it open to the south so they can lay with their backs to the north winds and see in front of them with an exit strategy in every direction. Please correct me if I am wrong with any of this and interject with ideas if you can please. I am a teacher and coach so I don't have a ton of time to manage my property. I am open to all advice.

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

Yes you can build bedding areas like that. The best way is to hinge some trees that are there and use trees that are already growing in the area. Bucks will bed in many places. To me most of the time when there is a hill involved they like to be up the hill some. It gives them a better vantage point. Yes they like to be able to see in front of them and they want plenty of escape routes. They also like to have a canopy of some kind. You sound like you are on the money to me.

[@theedeliveryman]

Great videos Jacob! Recently my 4x4 busted and it's in the shop and even when it comes out, I'm going to have to be easier on her. This means I'm looking for new hunting territory in a county with lots of public land, but not always easy to access. I've used Google Earth for a couple of years now to scout, but your videos sure make it more efficient and I'm wagering they will help put meat in the freezer. Thanks for making the time to make them. The Khan Academy of deer hunting!

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

Your welcome and thanks for the comment!

[@lonniehollifield133]

I just picked up a lease, 55 acres of young pine and briar and you can't see past 15 to 20 ft. How do I hunt this??

[@DawgyJones]

If it’s all thick you gotta get in there. You’ll be close enough to poke em. Clear some of the thickness out for next year and hunt the edges. The big deer love the thick cover.

[@lonniehollifield133]

I found a power Line right of way and have about 100 yards I can see before the property line so I'll hunt there and after season is over I'll go in and make some shooting lanes and maybe build a couple of shooting houses.

[@melissajohnson2935]

@@lonniehollifield133 for about 20 years now we have hunted a 200 acre pine thicket lease. 1 side is thick with trees (like he described) and no real water source. PERFECT doe spot! They seem to love fawning in that. The other side has a creek and is also a pine thicket but the trees are thinned out more and have so oak tree thrown in...that's the side you hunt if you want the bucks! They will venture over to the other side during rut...but the side with the water, pines and some acorns is a great spot for bucks and does all season. So if you can find a spot with water close by (even if its just a massive hole that hold water that you create) that's where you want to cut some shooting lanes!

[@lonniehollifield133]

Melissa, this area has a creek crossing the power line right of way. I've watched does water there all season as it's the only spot that isn't grown up.saw one good buck but I didn't see him until he was leaving.

[@angelaprater2679]

John here it be a helper to these guys deer bed down normally on the south east side reason being is the wind in their face the sun on their back ridges as well. So walking to your or blind remember this as well.

[@nated7373]

Hi, do you do private lesson?

[@NiMi93]

Wow thank you, this was really insightful -I'd have never thought of this

[@trappage]

Great vid ...I found with Google earth you can change the seasons of your view so that thick growth really sticks out...and big deer imo like to follow thick growth(pine, cedar etc) with clear stuff much like a fence line. Question, where would you set tree stand/s in this instance?

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

Thanks, I am glad you liked it. Placing stands for me depends on the weather, what time of season it is, how much pressure has been on the deer, and what I have observed from observation stands. I have killed several deer around this thicket and one really good buck inside this bedding area. There are several spots that are good for stands but it all depends on what part of the season it is on witch ones are good at witch time.

[@parrotbill]

Well Deer Season is over for me in North Florida. This was my first year with my new knee, couldn't go in the woods for over 10 years. Before then I hunted Grouper & Snappers with a speargun in the Keys. So finally I was ready for the woods and didn't think about scouting until deer season had already started, so I didn't get my deer. But the good news is I can trap & hunt Beaver, Coyote and Hogs all year round, so I will be scouting deer from now until the next deer season. Thanks to your videos I am better equipped with knowledge for scouting, keep those videos coming.

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

+Parrot Bill Believe it or not deer season ends here tomorrow (the last day of February). I might go just for the heck of it. To be honest I'm ready for some fishing! I took my boat out today and made sure everything is in order for some bass fishing. I am ready to set a hook!!!

[@parrotbill]

Jacob Schmitt We are socks of the same sort.

[@jkshackelford]

We are hunting about five miles north of Nome, Texas.

[@michealwheeler4129]

great video I was hoping u could help me I have the same pine thickets as u r showing on this video and I can't find any big bucks! my land in in eagletown ok if that helps you. right off hwy 70 east side of town south side of the road.

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

+Micheal Wheeler I have a couple services I offer on my website that should help you. I help design a hunting plan and/or habitat plan. Check it out! deerhuntingschool.com/

[@nate3116]

Awesome info! I'm new to hunting and this will help me out a lot. Thanks again.

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

Your welcome!

[@packletackle9047]

Nate Christian outdoors how has hunting gone for you

[@TheHunter1887]

I hunt in pine thickets in South Georgia and I've killed a 14point,4 eights and many doe in the last three years after watching... Great vids

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

TheHunter1887 Thanks! Sounds like you are doing well keep it up.

[@x2cupthegamer296]

Kidd_Smitty what part of Georgia I hunt in middle Georgia in thickets

[@dman-rg9en]

@@x2cupthegamer296 so how many deer are you allowed to kill a year there anyways? unless you are an indian in oregon 1 is the limit and the killing of does is very limited.

[@Eyesofthasouth]

Thanks for the tip. I hunt in central louisiana and there are a lot of pine thickets like this. Would you hunt the down wind edges of areas like this?

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

+Eyesofthasouth Yes, most of the time.

[@johnpaulk994]

Lemme guess, kisatchie?

[@219garry]

So what are the other trees? Is this more of a fall photo where the leaves have fallen off the surrounding trees??

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

Gee purrs there just a mix of trees going in where they thinned the pine trees. Yes it’s a winter picture.

[@219garry]

@@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool I'm talking about the great big barren looking areas surrounding the pines. Is that all hardwoods that's thick once you get in there?

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

Gee purrs yes it’s hardwood no it’s not thick at all

[@219garry]

@@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool OK thanks, I just started looking at Google Maps for deer and I notice a lot of areas like that where you can see fallen trees all over the place but no leaves. I figured it was an image after leaves had fallen and it really wasn't as open as the image would suggest.

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

Gee purrs if there is a lot of downed trees it probably is thick at the ground level

[@southernfishfinders6856]

I tried purchasing your online school and it says it can’t be found. Thanks

[@CobraAviTek37]

I need some more help with areas like this. I just joined a club like this last year, it's my first time hunting land that is nothing but pine trees. It's planted in rows by a paper mill company that harvests them when the time is right. I have an area the is some what thin with pines, I think it just looks thin because the trees are younger. There is a lot of undergrowth, think thorn bushes, Devils walking stick, and a few other assorted species of trees along with some very thick grass. I have no idea how to begin to even approach this land and find the best places for setting stands. I currently have two set up on these 40 acres and I chose two areas with different characteristics. One is mainly grassy with sporadic Devils Walking Stick and very easy to walk through. The other has a lot of bushes, younger trees of various species, and saplings growing and I had to do a lot of clearing with a machete. Basically cleared out a 75 yard row. Can you make a video selecting stand location in a pine thicket that has no real land differences from the aerial photos?

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

I have several videos on this kind of stuff. I hunt pine and logging areas a lot. I offer video analysis on my website. deerhuntingschool.com/video-analysis/

[@trentonrhodes5219]

Could you look at a place of mine and tell me where beds or where a good spot would be

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

I offer video analysis on my website DeerHuntingSchool.com

[@jkshackelford]

Great Video, My son and I are hunting in a pine thicket much like the one in your video, it's location is South East Texas. My question is, what would you recommend for a bow stand? My location also has a field to the west of the pine thicket. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[@TheNomadBowhunter]

Where are you at in SETX?, I have hunted a lot in Kirbyville and Jasper.

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

+Jason Shackelford Sorry, I just seen you comment. What do you mean when you say bow stand? Are you talking about the actual deer stand?

[@jkshackelford]

Yes sir.

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

+Jason Shackelford I would go with one of the 2 man stands. If he is young and just getting started using a deer stand you can even take one of the sections off to make it shorter. That way it don't scare him and he can get used to it and them put the other section on it and you should be good to go. We have a few of them ourselves.

[@enochb601]

If your question was for location, I would think to scout that area a bit when the season is over. Find out their travel pattern into and out of that thick stuff. Be familiar with the majority wind during season and how to position yourself downwind (if you have an Ozonics system disregard this part, ha). Find a good tree and use the aforementioned suggestions on tree stands, and you should be golden. The key is finding entry/exit points and where they're going to/coming from.

[@vincentc2466]

Isnt the undergrowth dead in winter

[@Lopedog394]

Should i go in these pieces of thick to look for beds? Or just walk around thicket look for trails coming out?

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

You could do it either way. One good way is to set up a good observation stand to see the deer movement. They will come out of their bedding area in the evening and go to it in the morning.

[@CardenBayCo]

Thanks Jacob, pretty good tips. It seems like common sense when I hear you say it but it makes sense from what I've seen in the field.

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

Your welcome, thinks for watching, and good luck in the woods!

[@ricomidence2063]

How do u get a einter Arial pic? Mine keep showing uo summer lol

[@ilovenythismuchilovenewyor5801]

awesome video thanks was very helpful time to try it out make things easier and just by you simply saying deer prefer that more open area w sun coming down to help grow their foods

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

Your welcome and thanks for watching and commenting.

[@waynedavis3116]

lat. 43°56'50.59"N long. 76° 5'26.10"W anyway you could help me find the best way to hunt this property.. thanks keep up the great videos..

[@rickhoward1516]

Anyone got any advice on hunting a thick patch like this? I have a short range weapon spot outside town on the river and I'm about 80% sure there is deer in it. I checked sign mid morning yesterday and there is fresh tracks and some going into it. Its maybe 150 yards wide by 250 yards long but If I try to sneak through it I feel I will just push them out. Its Mulies that dont get a ton of pressure and its on private land. I'm used to hunting the sage up in the hils and didnt fill my tag but I have this option because the season is extended in this area and is either sex. Does all the way until Nov 24th and Bucks until Haloween.

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

Rick Howard I hunt stuff like that all the time I like to get in there in the rut early before daylight try to beat the deer in there and get set up and hunt it all day actually I killed a big buck in this thicket that is in this video doing it

[@rickhoward1516]

@@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool How early? Were talking just outside of town as in just outside city limits with lots of background noise during the day. No tree stand. Go camo and just hide and listen and glass trying to find them beded or sneaking back in? I have either option of buck shot or slug, never done this before. I'm fairly certain deer in this area are nocturnal. This morning I check the clearing leading to it and found another set of single fresh tracks from over night that are large. Its a big deer. Lost track in fallen leaves but I have a good idea where they are going in at.

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

Rick Howard I like to get in there 30-60 minuets before daylight but I’m stand hunting it sounds to me like you are on to something stalking a mule deer in this area you’re talking about with all the background noise should help cover your noise I like getting in these bedding areas in the rut and hunt all day because that’s were the deer spend almost all there time in the daylight and bucks will get up and start looking for does in the middle of the day a lot of the time

[@rickhoward1516]

@@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool Thanks for the info. I will do my best and give you results shortly.

[@rickhoward1516]

@@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool Well I found them. Gave up and was walking back to truck and looked to the north and 2 deer were staring at me 100 yards away. In the binocs I couldnt see horns but thought the deer on the left looked like an old monster buck, thick body and neck and the distinct white on the face you see on mature mule deer. Studying and studying and they turn and run, as soon as they turned I seen the rack, but it wasnt a typical rack, it was a monster 4 point with only one rack on one side. I found several beds. And one that was used that night and has a super highway of tracks. Were I saw them was probable 4 or 500 yards away. I never shot. Think they will come back?

[@geauxfudgeyourself]

Agreed. Works really well in east Texas.

[@Lopedog394]

Show what to look for on the map what does thick look like on the map some maps are

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

most of the time they are areas that the tree tops are thin.

[@StealthTRD]

Season starts tomorrow..freshning up

[@lucky5th2]

so what does your site offer?

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

Check it out!

[@rickgiordano963]

Maybe in your next video, you call tell us how you get back in that thick stuff at all, and more importantly, how you get back in there without alerting every deer in the area to your presence. The reason that they're there is precisely because the stuff in impenetrable. If it's public land, they're going to be back in there way before light, and they're going to stay there until after dark, so forget about hunting the edges.

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

You are absolutely right they get back in there before daylight and stay there I do talk about how I hunt this stuff in some of my videos and I have some courses that I go into great detail on how I do it

[@msurussell]

What mapping software are you using?

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

Google Earth

[@ChilcoteForestryServices]

How do you get a quarter million views??? My videos get less than a thousand generally. Do you market your site?

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

This video is ranked on the first page most of my videos take a long time to get to 1k views if they ever do

[@SamFreedom]

Pretty simple but good info. I like to use Google Earth to really get into the deers head. For example, this vid was general regarding thickness, however, where within a given area is the real thick n nasty area where the big buck is gonna bed down? That's what I like to consider. Anyways, I like your teaching style and that you use Google Earth. I'll be watching more, thanks.

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

Thanks, I like to locate the general area and then go in on foot.

[@ozzstars_cars]

Good info, thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@conservativemacro80]

just started clearing out an area to make a food/kill plot... The only issue is how i'm going to till the soil cause I don't have a tractor

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

You can plant stuff that don't take any tilling. Like cereal rye, oats, radishes, and clover. It is better if you can till it but I broadcast mix of this into my soybeans in the late summer and it grows just fine as long as you get a good rain to beat it into the ground.

[@AquaLandRelics]

Love the intro Jacob

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

AquaLand Relics thanks

[@nikolaybakalov3197]

Great info bro! Thanks a bunch!

[@219garry]

All the thumbs down are from super intelligent alien deer that came to Earth

[@jackfromboston69]

Thank you sir! Enjoyed this

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

jack Sarcia your very welcome

[@ionevenknowbruhbruh]

Is there anyway to email or message you on a Instagram or anything brother

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

My email is [e-mail]

[@justmike5402]

I know where they bed BUT my goodness hunting them is impossible so thick

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

Creativity! I would try my best to figure something out

[@justmike5402]

@@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool setting it on fire ??

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

Just Mike if you do you’ll know for sure we’re their not at. There’s a few good ways to get in there. I like setting them up the year before most of the time and time it to go in perfect timing to kill one. Cut you a trail with hand pruners to your stand. Is one way I do it.

[@justmike5402]

@@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool yea I was just kidding I do that at least use to before I got hurt bad at work

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

Just Mike I hate to hear that I hope you get better!!!

[@nockandstalkoutdoors3480]

Some great information here!

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

+NockAnd StalkOutdoors Thanks!

[@arthurmedina6175]

Thanks for that great info!

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

Your welcome and thanks for watching and commenting.

[@nickemp5744]

My grandfather has his own bed with his old man feces on the ceiling fan above since my grandfather needs a place to rest and sleep

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

nic kemp why would you take the time to type something so ignorant???

[@nickemp5744]

Jacob Schmitt I was kidding lol

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

nic kemp LOL!!!

[@luckynorm100]

nope

[@Claego]

Millenials: Wow it's like a irl version of The Forest game!

[@bellaangel9425]

Poor Deer...They are just trying to survive and feed and raise their families just like you and me.

[@thehunter3386]

bella angel - yeah, and so am I. It's far more healthful than what's available in the markets...

[@JacobSchmittDeerHuntingSchool]

TRUE!!!

[@alesis8844]

Moron

[@shareemibitsfala5534]

bella angel oh, really? Do you also forage in fields and forests? Take a poop outside? Run out in front of vehicles(maybe you should)

[@keithkibler772]

bella angel all.. what do you think god but them on earth for lady. You can pay my truck insurance.dumbass.

[@HunkOfBurningLove1]

thick trees block the sun lol no shit