[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/mapping-whitetails-06-3-prime-rut-runways\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/mapping-whitetails-06-3-prime-rut-runways\/","headline":"Mapping Whitetails #06: 3 Prime Rut Runways","name":"Mapping Whitetails #06: 3 Prime Rut Runways","description":"In Mapping Whitetails #6 we are going to build off the 3 Must Hunt Funnels featured previously and cover 3...","datePublished":"2015-10-28","dateModified":"2018-06-12","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/author\/hagosto\/#Person","name":"Hector Agosto","url":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/author\/hagosto\/","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d7bfedbdc5ef3ed8f8df91eb37e1ffbe?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d7bfedbdc5ef3ed8f8df91eb37e1ffbe?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Legendary Whitetails","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/logo-legendary-whitetails.png","url":"http:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/logo-legendary-whitetails.png","width":522,"height":226}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/mappingwhitetails-061.jpg","url":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/mappingwhitetails-061.jpg","height":664,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/mapping-whitetails-06-3-prime-rut-runways\/","about":["Hunting"],"wordCount":896,"keywords":["Hunting","Hunting Strategy","Tips"],"articleBody":"In Mapping Whitetails #6 we are going to build off the 3 Must Hunt Funnels featured previously and cover 3 additional stand sites that you should target during the rut to catch a booner off guard.The ThicketThe red areas indicate thickets. \u00a0The one on the left is a 13 year old tree plantation with altering rows of oak, white pines, and spruce trees. \u00a0The large area to the right is basically just a nasty tangled mess of old overgrown pasture that leads into a swamp to the north. \u00a0Notice the ugliness in terms of sporadic trees and brush mixed between pockets of open floor. \u00a0This is what you want to look for when trying to identify a thicket. \u00a0The yellow shows a uniform stand of open hardwoods. \u00a0Notice no pockets in the canopy to allow sunlight to the forest floor.No need for an explanation of what that is, but here\u2019s how to look for and find a super thick and brushy area to hunt using an aerial photograph.\u00a0 The main thing I key in on when searching for these thick nasty zones is to find areas that look like trees are sporadically placed across the landscape with pockets of open grass in between.\u00a0 Perhaps it is easier to explain with the aid of a photograph.\u00a0 Notice in the picture below how the outlined area just kind of looks ugly in nature \u2013 there\u2019s no uniform canopy like you see in the hardwood stands and clumps of brushy trees are scattered throughout.\u00a0Another prime thicket area to key in on are tree plantations.\u00a0 Often these trees are planted neatly in rows.\u00a0 The best tree lots to hunt in my opinion are the ones that include spruce trees and other evergreens with hardwoods planted every other row.\u00a0 The evergreens provide much more concealment at a deer\u2019s level (0 \u2013 6 ft.). Tree plantations that are 5-20 years old typically produce the best cover.\u00a0 Expect plenty of bucks to be cruising these thickets during the all stages of the rut, as this is where the does like to hide from those sex crazed bucks.\u00a0Ridgeline RunwaysDrawing lines along ridgelines helps paint a clear picture of where you should place a stand. \u00a0If you have the right wind, the intersection of these two ridgelines \u00a0would be prime. \u00a0If not, anywhere along one of these ridgelines would be a good spot, especially if you can locate a saddle.Although aerial imagery is getting better in terms of displaying a 3D landscape, a topo map will be the best tool to identify ridgeline runways.\u00a0 Bucks prefer the easiest travel routes when they are out cruising for does, thus, they prefer to run the flat tops rather than traversing up and down hilly country.\u00a0 Also, the end of ridges or ridge point is where most deer will travel up and down since it is likely the most gradual slope connecting the brushy ravines to the ridgetops.\u00a0 Another main advantage of hunting ridgetops is the wind is much more constant.\u00a0 Once you start dropping into gullies and ravines the winds often swirl, therefore giving the advantage to a mature buck.\u00a0 Hardwood ridgelines spanning between two bedding areas are my absolute favorite stand sites during the rut!Bottomland BoonersRiver or creek bottoms are excellent rut stands because they are natural travel corridors and also typically have a thin buffer of cover running along them.If you\u2019re lucky enough have a piece of hunting property that borders a river, creek, or stream, you already know how productive these riparian corridors can be during the rut.\u00a0 The buffer strip along flowing water systems are absolute must hunt areas during the rut!\u00a0 In flat country like what you find in the prairie states, these bottoms are jam packed with whitetails.\u00a0 Often it\u2019s the only band of cover for miles and it\u2019s easy cruising for the bucks.\u00a0 These little honey holes are a lot easier to find on a map than they are to gain hunting permission.If you can find a spot to hunt in one of the above areas I can almost guarantee you\u2019ll experience some crazy whitetail action during this year\u2019s rut."},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/#breadcrumbitem","name":"Legendary Whitetail's Blog"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/mapping-whitetails-06-3-prime-rut-runways\/#breadcrumbitem","name":"Mapping Whitetails #06: 3 Prime Rut Runways"}}]}]