Creek/Ditch Crossings

[Mike Belt]

One of my favorite places to start scouting unfamiliar territory is following a creek or ditch looking for crossings. I then attempt to follow and back track those trails. In the process I've found and hunted some dynamite crossings. I've yet to kill or even see many deer at those crossing points. I've see more deer crossing rivers at certain points than small ditches or creeks. You guys have any luck hunting them?

 

[Lost Lake]

Yep. One of my favorite place to ambush deer, especially crossings over deep steep side creeks. I also have had great luck on bigger creeks and small rivers hunting riffle crossings.

 

[timberjack86]

Yep. One of my favorite place to ambush deer, especially crossings over deep steep side creeks. I also have had great luck on bigger creeks and small rivers hunting riffle crossings.

x2!

 

[30-06 type of guy]

Just moved a ground blind across from a creek where they cross to feed in the bean field which also comes over to a rub line. Hopefully we set it up in the right spot and I'll have some pics on Saturday

 

[X-Tennessean]

My property joins a river on one side and has huge ditch on the opposite side separating the woods from the fields. I have walked the ditch with the same tactics as mentioned above but found they cross it in SO MANY places ! Picking one would be like picking a lottery ticket !!
Same goes with the river, I have walked the bank and seen where they seem to be really using certain spots but I can also see deer houses across the river on the neighbor ! I have seen them swim the river going one way or the other.

 

[Boll Weevil]

Interesting question, sir.

I've never actually measured it but bet I have close to 3 miles of river, creek, and deep ditch on the farm that always have water. I bet there aren't 8 to 10 crossings that I would actually call super reliable as far as hanging a stand, and many of these are man made for tractor/combine access.

As I think about it, I could pretty much walk any of these waterways and cut a track crossing every 30-50yards...hardly anything I'd bet on really. They'll cross it about anywhere.

 

[UTGrad]

Low spots on a creek or river crossing are some of the best funnels.

 

[Crosshairy]

For me, it just depends on how steep the banks are, or if the water is so deep as to force swimming. If either of those factors is there, you can up the odds of using a particular crossing. A lot of them with shallow banks are not anything special in my experience.

 

[catman529]

I love creek crossings, seen and killed a few on them. Works best when the creek has steep banks, but one or two areas where the bank slopes down to a shallow riffle. Those are the hot spots.

 

[Boll Weevil]

Poser,
Your 2nd paragraph is absolutely positively spot-on and to a great degree, typify the areas I hunt. Deer in my neck of the woods practically have webbed feet.