Nighttime Blacktail bedding areas. What do I learn from them?

[ElevenBravo]

I have beem reading and learning alot from this site over the last year, first time poster. I am hunting blacktail in typical western Washington terrain. I have found several fresh (less than 12 hours old) bedding areas. The grass is smashed and there are fresh deer droppings. The bedding area is on a spur and the tracks drop off into the draw. It is located approx two thirds up towards the high ground. I know they are not using it during the day as it is right next to a logging road. I have found the same sign during elk season. I also found the same type of bedding in a grassy, slightly open area. Again they are not using it during the day, that would make my life too easy.
I do not know how to use these areas, if at all, to plan my strategy. There are no rubs of course, could it indicate that the deer may be bedding down lower during the day? The high ground is easier for humans to get to than the lower areas. Can I assume the deer are feeding at the creeks? Any ideas would be appreciated. These areas are, at this point, a plan C if I can figure out what they are doing.

[TikkaT3-270Shortmag]

You know where the bedding area is now find the FEEDING AREA.  done deal!

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[fishnfur]

1. Night bedding areas are typically exposed or in wide-open spaces.  My understanding of this is that they bed between feedings to chew their cud, then return to feeding again.  In the dark, they seem to prefer areas where they can see predators from a ways away, thus the beds in open spaces vs. hiding in the brush. 

2. I've read and seen video discussions that state blacktail will almost always bed uphill of a feeding area if at all possible.  The only place that is not possible is on a flat plane or plateau/hill top feeding area, at least to my knowledge.  The uphill area in your spot is the most likely area they are going to bed, but you've got to figure that out by examining the tracks leaving the feeding area to determine which way the deer are going.  If it is up, attempting to intercept the deer in the evening as they come down to feed, or alternatively, in the morning, positioning yourself well up above the feeding area to catch them as they go to their day beds may be your best course of action.  If there is a draw or drainage uphill of that location, that might be a good starting point to search for does.  Good luck. 

[ElevenBravo]

I appreciate y'alls feedback. Fishnfur, thank you for your time, excellent information. I am checking my CalTopo maps and I think I will spend this afternoon looking a little closer at the areas above the bedding. I may also drop down and see if they're feeding up the creek in the drainage. I think there is deffinantly something to be learned here.

[Special T]

Blacktail use the wind a lot to warn them if something is following thier trail.  I would bet they are sitting uphill of the open area during the morning thermals going up the hill.

Boyd Iverson Blackville trophy tactics talks about how wind is the predominate driver for BT. Feed is everywhere so it's impossible to isolate and except during the early fall or a drought year water is everywhere.

[JDHasty]

1. Night bedding areas are typically exposed or in wide-open spaces.  My understanding of this is that they bed between feedings to chew their cud, then return to feeding again.  In the dark, they seem to prefer areas where they can see predators from a ways away, thus the beds in open spaces vs. hiding in the brush. 

2. I've read and seen video discussions that state blacktail will almost always bed uphill of a feeding area if at all possible.  The only place that is not possible is on a flat plane or plateau/hill top feeding area, at least to my knowledge.  The uphill area in your spot is the most likely area they are going to bed, but you've got to figure that out by examining the tracks leaving the feeding area to determine which way the deer are going.  If it is up, attempting to intercept the deer in the evening as they come down to feed, or alternatively, in the morning, positioning yourself well up above the feeding area to catch them as they go to their day beds may be your best course of action.  If there is a draw or drainage uphill of that location, that might be a good starting point to search for does. Good luck.

Yep, in my experience that's pretty much how it works. 

[fishnfur]

Blacktail use the wind a lot to warn them if something is following thier trail.  I would bet they are sitting uphill of the open area during the morning thermals going up the hill.

Boyd Iverson Blackville trophy tactics talks about how wind is the predominate driver for BT. Feed is everywhere so it's impossible to isolate and except during the early fall or a drought year water is everywhere.

I completely agree. 

If you're going to try to still hunt the hill, coming from above or across hill once the thermals are going up is the supposed to be the most productive way, though I'v had no luck with this.   They'll see you easier if your coming from below.