How to Harvest Big Bucks by Targeting Thickets

This place can be in the heart of the deep forest, and those thick, dense, vegetation-filled woods are calling your name.

We know the idea of finding a big buck far from any trail and deep into the brushy land of the woods can be unappealing. Getting back to your spot can be challenging, your vision can be much different, and there are often many obstacles in your way of a perfect, clear shot.

However, putting in the work to find those bucks deep in the woods is worth it. The most distant and secluded areas through the woods are where your chances of landing a whitetail are often best.

Armed with the following knowledge and tips we are about to provide you, you may not want to hunt anywhere but the thickets these big bucks call home. First, let's go over what a thicket actually is.

Characteristics of Thickets

Understanding what a thicket is and the reasoning behind why deer love thickets will help you enhance your hunt to the best of your ability.

If you can comprehend why deer like to bed in these deep woods areas, you will understand why hunting there will optimize your chances of success.

A thicket is a dense growth of shrubbery and small trees.  Usually, this vegetation grows very closely together, making it more challenging to navigate and difficult to see far distances.  

Thickets are often dominated by only a few species, and in some cases, only one. Usually made up of large pine trees and a lot of brush, these areas are evergreen, giving you a lot of protection and coverage to blend in easily.

Deer love these spots in the woods because they are abundant in the vegetation they generally eat (berries, pine needles, leaves, etc.)

How to Plot Your Stand in Thickets

Now that you understand why finding a thicket can help you locate big bucks, it is crucial that you properly plot your tree stands or blinds.

Again, it is essential to think like a deer and take visibility into consideration.

Generally speaking, plotting your stand along the borders, gaps, and ridges of thickets will give you the best chances of landing the big buck on your trail cam. This will ensure that your visibility and shooting lanes are as clear as they possibly can be and that there is still a lot of surrounding vegetation because that is what big bucks like.

Look for thickets with many scrapes, rubs, and bedding areas, and mark them on your HuntWise map for later.

Now that you understand the ins and outs of thickets and how to properly plot your stands, it is important that you master the approach during the hunt.

How to Approach Thickets During a Hunt

It's no secret that approaching a hunt is one of the most exhilarating feelings – besides landing that big buck you've been chasing. It is the moment that we have been waiting for as hunters and preparing for all season long.

That is why, sometimes, it is hard to approach our stands at the crack of dawn in a quiet manner. The excitement has been in our minds for some time now, but we must contain it – especially when hunting in the thickets.

Because thickets provide so much coverage with the thick growth of brush, pine trees, etc., they also provide a lot of opportunity for noise and scent disbursement. Additionally, that thick growth within the thickets causes sight to become obstructed, both for the hunter and deer.

Get There Early

So, approach your stand before day breaks and give yourself time to get settled. This way, you can carefully walk to your stand, making sure you are as quiet as possible.

There is no worse feeling than being rushed during a morning hunt, so time is crucial to properly hunt in a thicket.

Cover Your Scent

You will also want to make sure you get rid of any scent. Deer use smelling and hearing to detect the physical presence of any hunter, even more so when they cannot see in thick scrub.

Some hunters use pine-based cover scents to mask their human smells. To deceive deer, when you enter any thicket, crush some young pine needles in your palms and rub the same on your boots, clothes, and hands. You can even keep your hunting clothes inside a sealed plastic bag with some green pine needles – anything to keep your scent off of your hunting clothes will optimize your chances of luring a deer close enough for that clean kill shot.

Use These Tips and HuntWise to Find Big Bucks in the Thickets

We want you to be successful and land the deer you have been eyeing all season. Sometimes, the best way to do that is to get out of your comfort zone and adventure into the depths of the woods.

We promise you won't be upset when you score a nice buck and can log it onto your HuntWise app!

How can you spot a thicket? Use map layers in HuntWise to view land at different angles and overlays. As you use the app, you'll learn how to identify land at different elevations and spot areas that are likely thick trees and scrubs. Then, take time to walk those areas in person to confirm what you've marked in the app.

Don't have the app yet? It's always a good time to give it a try! With your free trial, you have access to every app feature for your first week. You can explore maps, markers, WindCast, RutCast, HuntCast, and more!