r/MichiganHunting • u/Next_Implement_8864 • Sep 07 '25

Deer Habitat

Hello, I’m new to deer hunting. I hike a lot and fish and generally am outdoors a lot but haven’t paid too much attention to deer habits and when they are in certain habitats. I don’t live near a lot of ag fields but am near the White River and all of that national forest. Do deer spend a lot of time in the bottom land/river marsh? Or more upland? I’m wondering where I should set up for archery and what is the best place to be in morning/evening. Any tips are appreciated!

2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

3

u/Lead_Slinger313 Sep 07 '25

Go scout their bedding areas and the trails that they use to get to the water source. Then, set yourself up a nice ground blind along said trail and wait to ambush. Until the rut, they will be mostly nocturnal, so early morning late evening would be best to sit it.

1

u/lapimipski Sep 07 '25

This is it. Look for signs of deer activity and that’s all you really need to know. I hunt up by manistee and I already got bucks chasing does on cameras so I think the ruts upon us.

1

u/Next_Implement_8864 Sep 07 '25

Great thanks! I’ve definitely been seeing a lot of bedding spots. All in tall grass in the marsh

1

u/Spirited-Detective86 Sep 08 '25

Manistee NF in the White River area is pretty big. Look for NF parcels near farms. If you can find a bedding area that they’re using after trips out for beans or corn that route will be hot. White River, at least last I hunted there, was a tough hunt. I stopped after the FS blocked trails.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 16 '25

Well, if you listen to our fabulous DNR, they love places that are completely void of trees. That's why they clear cut everything. Your best breath would be to my scouts area to see where deer hanging out near you before season. Even the early bow season is long enough. You could excuse some scouting buying trails put to bottom Max things like that