Deer & Turkey Hunting Tips

Deer Hunting Tips: Deer Hunting Staging Areas

A staging area is used by bucks to hold up in while waiting for darkness. They are generally found on the edges of travel zones, near bedding areas, and near food sources. A staging area is generally a small somewhat open area that is surrounded by cover. Within these small staging areas there normally will be an abundance of buck rubs.

Rubs

The rubs within a staging area are not the same as those found in a rub line. What I mean by this is a rub line may have a rub every 5-25 yards or more in a directional pattern. Whereas a staging area may have 15-25 rubs within a 10-15 yard radius. However, staging area rubs are often found along rub lines.

Bedding And Feeding Areas

Bucks will exit their bedding areas often before dark. They will move to a nearby staging area and wait until after dark before continuing on to a food source. While waiting, they will freshen up the rubs or make new ones. This is often a daily ritual since most bucks, especially mature bucks, rarely will feed in open food source areas until after dark. Some staging areas will be close to the bedding areas and some will be close to the food source.

How To Hunt

There are several challenges when it comes to deer hunting staging areas. The first of course is finding them. This can be done by walking around the edges of food sources, travel zones, and bedding areas. Look for an abundance of rubs together in a small area.

Then you must be able to enter and exit these areas without disturbing or alarming the deer. Placing stands before the season is a best practice. However, if done properly, midday stand placement can also be effective. Just remember not to over hunt a given area. If you are able to locate several staging areas, it is better to hunt each sparingly as to not alert bucks of your presence.

As with any deer hunting situation, always pay close attention to wind directions. Never hunt these areas if the wind is wrong. The use of scent control products is also important. Never enter the woods without making an adequate effort to control human odors.

Next to the rutting period, hunting staging areas offer one of the best opportunities for harvesting a buck.

These tips for deer hunting staging areas are provided as helpful information. Good luck, be safe, and enjoy your next hunting experience.

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