Understanding Deer Funnels

[shotgun]

Been reading a lot on locating natural deer funnels. I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed but i dont really get it. can anyone explain what theyre looking for when hunting funnels

 

[StalkingWolf]

Terrain features that tend to force deer to move through an area to get from point A to B.

 

[plinker22]

A low spot in a fence. Two downed trees. A tree line between two wood lots. A low spot between two ridges. A broken fence.

 

[scn]

Been reading a lot on locating natural deer funnels. I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed but i dont really get it. can anyone explain what theyre looking for when hunting funnels

Funnels are terrain or man-made features that constrict (funnels) a deer's movements into a more concise area. Rather than meandering around, they force or influence a deer to go through a certain place the majority of the time. Recognizing them is pretty essential for a bow setup due to the short range nature of the weapon.

A book that REALLY helped me in identifying funnels and other terrain features much better was Mapping Trophy Bucks by Brad Herndon. It took me reading through it a couple of times, but knowing where I should find a funnel or understanding inside corners, etc. has really saved me some walking during scouting. Understanding a map doesn't take the place of on the ground scouting, but it sure can shorten the process.

 

[Football Hunter]

Terrain features that tend to force deer to move through an area to get from point A to B.

Thats it

 

[TN Whitetail Freak]

Drainage ditches or the corners of crop fields....lets say there is a 10 ft gullet to the south 40 yards from a corn field ...the bed is to the west well deer arent gonna cross the ditch and they are not gonna want to show themselves in the field so ya setup in the woods between the two

 

[kdxdude]

you might not know what a deer funnel is but I am certain you know what a beer funnel is!!! LOL!!

 

[Vermin93]

A book that REALLY helped me in identifying funnels and other terrain features much better was Mapping Trophy Bucks by Brad Herndon.

X2...great book!

 

[kdxdude]

I remember a place I hunted where a deep ravine started on the side of a slight sloping ridge. Those deer had a a deep trail worn right above the top of that ravine. There was just a small strip of hardwoods above ravine & then was a big block of cedars. The deer would travelthrough the open hardwoods feeding & go just above ravine. Saw 22 deer & killed a buck from 1 weekend sit, then saw 0 the next weekend. That's huntin.

 

[BSK]

Been reading a lot on locating natural deer funnels. I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed but i dont really get it. can anyone explain what theyre looking for when hunting funnels

Funnels are terrain or man-made features that constrict (funnels) a deer's movements into a more concise area. Rather than meandering around, they force or influence a deer to go through a certain place the majority of the time. Recognizing them is pretty essential for a bow setup due to the short range nature of the weapon.

A book that REALLY helped me in identifying funnels and other terrain features much better was Mapping Trophy Bucks by Brad Herndon. It took me reading through it a couple of times, but knowing where I should find a funnel or understanding inside corners, etc. has really saved me some walking during scouting. Understanding a map doesn't take the place of on the ground scouting, but it sure can shorten the process.

Words of wisdom right there.

 

[Winchester]

Been reading a lot on locating natural deer funnels. I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed but i dont really get it. can anyone explain what theyre looking for when hunting funnels

Funnels are terrain or man-made features that constrict (funnels) a deer's movements into a more concise area. Rather than meandering around, they force or influence a deer to go through a certain place the majority of the time. Recognizing them is pretty essential for a bow setup due to the short range nature of the weapon.

A book that REALLY helped me in identifying funnels and other terrain features much better was Mapping Trophy Bucks by Brad Herndon. It took me reading through it a couple of times, but knowing where I should find a funnel or understanding inside corners, etc. has really saved me some walking during scouting. Understanding a map doesn't take the place of on the ground scouting, but it sure can shorten the process.

Words of wisdom right there.

I couldnt agree more, take it to heart! I will also add that all funnels arent always blatantly obvious and can be very subtle. Take the time to learn the obvious ones first and you will also start to find the subtle ones that the average joe will walk on by!

 

[Food Plot 101]

Funnels can also be on the edges of very heavy cover deer don't necessarialy have to traverse through. I have some rows of briars that I've manicured over the years to make deer travel in a certain area. The certainly "could" go through it, but just by letting it grow, it's made the deer more comfortable traveling along side it, thus keeping them closer to the core of the property and almost making them go around these features. It doesn't hurt that by letting these areas grow up I've added food sources with the honeysuckle, etc.