Love2WhitetailHunt

Okay, I know this is propbably a stupid question but here goes anyway. What is a deer' s staging area? Do you hunt the staging area or what are the benefits / cons etc...? I know NOTHING about a staging area. I' m dumb as a rock on staging areas!! Thanks guys!![]

PABowhntr

The way I have always interpreted " staging area" is to mean the specific area where deer gather, or herd up, before going out to feed. In most cases that might be just inside the treeline next a crop field....or inside a hemlock grove next to an apple orchard.

I could be mistaken though.

Jimmy S

First of all, Welcome aboard! I agree with PA...to me, it' s always been that area where deer tend to gather before beginning their late afternoon/evening feeding. I think most of these times it' s the family members lead by the adult doe. They tend to stay in groups and take the lead from her. She may stay back until sure the setting is safe before deciding to move to the actual feeding areas....

brucelit

I think you' ve gotten excellant advice already! Generally speaking most folks think the staging area is anyplace from just off the feeding area to fairly long distances. Some think that while the does and yearlings are feeding some of the bucks congregate in a " staging area" waiting for the cover of darkness.

Wolf killer

Welcome to the board. I hunt a area that has a staging area in plain view of my stand. A staging area is like " homebase" for deer if you will. This is the last place deer gather before they hit the fields to feed at night. They feel safe in this area. I often see deer in this staging area 30 to 60-minutes before they will step out into the open fields to feed.

BuckSecrets

Hi,

Staging areas are places where bucks, especially mature smart bucks, wait in cover until darkness so that they can feed in safety. They will usually be near food plots in heavy cover, 50-100 yards from the food source. To find them you will need to know where the bedding sites are in your area, and where the feeding sites are. If you don’t know these then the best way to find staging areas in the early season is by following a rub line. These are generally made by bucks traveling between bedding and feeding areas. You will most likely be able to find a staging area by following this route. If you find three or for rubs in different directions, indicting that the buck is milling around while waiting, chances are that you’ve found a staging area. There may be a slight clearing. There will usually be brush and other woodsy browse. Look for droppings that are more clumped together, almost like a human’s. Because bucks eat more of this woody type food their droppings will be more clumped than a does which will resemble rabbit droppings or pellets. Just remember that there will most likely be very little sign in a staging area.

Mark
http://www.buckhuntersecrets.com/