Opps I stumbled into their bedroom

[Tom222]

After living here for almost 7 years, you would think that I have covered every inch of my property, but I haven't.
My driveway is 800 feet long, and there is swamp/marsh on both sides. I assumed that the north side of the drive was completely covered with a couple inches of water. I never got all the way through it because it's thick with tag alders. I was wrong.
I saw some surveyors tape, and decided to check out the front corner of my land. I stumbled into an area approx. 15 feet by 15 feet that was all matted down. There were 2 clear trails to it, and one faint. I saw no droppings, scrapes or rubs, but I have seen bedding areas before. This was smaller than most, but the deer do bed there.
I figured that I was already in, so I decided to make the most of my mistake and get familiar with it. I was in there for about 15 min.
My question is, have I spooked the deer out for the season?

[PrtyMolusk]

Howdy, Tom-
I'm guessing from your story that you just went out without any attempt at being scent-free, right? If so, you may well have put the kibosh on that area. If you were in there for a quarter-hour the chances are good you left your calling card behind. I guess if they were so close on a regular basis, they might be a little more tolerant of 'things human', but I'd consider yourself fortunate if they don't beat a hasty retreat from that spot.
Please let us know how it turns out.
Les

[Canadian Hunter]

No its not shot for the year. Just have to leave it be for a week or so. You spooked them out, but it sounds like they have found a pretty safe/secure spot. It will take alot more than that to make them abandon it. Just think how much racket we make putting up stands in the late summer, couple weeks later you can pull a deer out of the same spot.

[gunrod]

Plus, if the area is that close to your house they are somewhat used to some human scent. They will return but it may take some time. If you are getting all the rain that is taking place at my house that may help keep your scent down and possibly assist in washing it away.

[marty]

Tom this happen to me while tracking a buck I walked up on a nice bed and spook a real nice one out. We stayed out and my buddy got him in black powder. Don't think you'll have any problem as long as you stay clear.........marty;)

[Randy Kidd]

Hey Tom I have stumbled into bedding areas while hunting new areas before. I spent a few minutes checking them out for trails in and out, found them then split, I nailed a nice 8 point the very next morning as he was trying to sneak into his bed around 8:30 am. This was on state land where human scent is everywhere. I believe that if I had stumbled into it somewhere where people rarely go and human scent is totally foreign it probably would have sent them packing, I know I still hunt that same bedding area, and have been all around it, Deer are still using it today. So I think your private bedroom is safe, Try putting a trail timer on a trail leading into or out of it just to check. You can even use some black sewing thread across the trail about 18 inches up. I use that trick all the time, Works like a charm. just make sure it is real thin thread and tie it off to a leaf stem and not a branch. if there arn't any leafs around and you need to tie it to a branch pre- break it so it only takes a small amount of tension to break.

[shooter921]

Thats a pretty big area, and you said that you have seen bigger? Man, the biggest I have seen was about the size of 2 or 3 deer. They should be back before to long. Just stay away from now on.

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