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How to Make Bedding Areas for a Whitetail Deer

Contributor
By Michael Kozlowski
eHow Contributing Writer
(0 Ratings)

A bedding area is a spot where deer feel protected enough to lie when not out foraging. Creating a bedding area in a particular spot is not difficult, but one must understand that it may not produce immediate results.
Whether it be for hunting or simply wildlife viewing, a deer bedding area will help to ensure that you see deer more often. Once deer have settled into a bedding area, you can expect them to return to it over and over again.

Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Chainsaw
  • Wild grass seed
  • Rake

    Making Bedding Areas for Whitetail Deer

  1. Step 1

    Scout the property and look for well-worn deer trails. These should be fairly obvious paths through grasses and woods. It is important to know where the deer are moving.

  2. Step 2

    Select an area that is reasonably close to water and food sources. It is ideal to have multiple food sources in the area. Deer need to forage a variety of vegetation in order for their digestive systems to operate properly.

  3. Step 3

    Select an area on or near an existing deer trail and clear trees only enough to allow sunlight to penetrate well to the undergrowth. Leave the trees as they lie as natural shelters for the deer.

  4. Step 4

    Rake some of the area and plant wild grass seed. Grasses that grow tall will be most attractive to deer looking to bed down out of the wind and weather and with sufficient cover from predators.

  5. Step 5

    Leave or plant thickets and thorny bushes in the area. While these would impede your own travel into and out of the area, they are just the sort of cover that deer find attractive.

Tips & Warnings
  • Bucks and does generally prefer different bedding areas. Does will bed together and prefer to have a lot of cover. Bucks will usually bed alone and, while seeking cover, also like to have sight lines for approaching danger. While utilizing existing trails, also create one or two trails from nearby food sources to the intended bedding area. When not scared, deer will take the path of least resistance to a bedding area or food source. If you can locate a natural bedding area, use the knowledge gained there to recreate similar areas where you want them.
  • The process of creating the bedding area may scare off the deer currently using the trail. It will take time for them to regain a measure of comfort in visiting that area. Rest assured that a good food source, nearby water and good bedding areas will bring the deer back.

References

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