Oak ridge

[Blaster]

I'm looking at hunting a oak ridge. Is it best to hunt the top of the ridge, or the downhill side.
It looks like they travel the top, but there is some nice scapes on the downhill side of the ridge.

 

[muddy]

similar situation for me. i found this ridge and couldn't decide where to hunt it. based upon wind i hunted the north side of it and shot my buck last friday. i think the deer use the whole thing but finding that main travel area and playing the wind with a climber or several portable stands will be your best bet. good luck.

 

[Fletch]

I took my buck this year on a steep oak ridge. Right at the crest is a rutted trail. However, in the past 4 years I have had a stand on this ridge I have observed that only the does and young bucks actually travel on that trail - the mature bucks, 3 1/2 or older, travel about 40 yards down from the crest on the downwind side. It took me a couple years to figure this out. This year I had my stand 50 yards downwind of the crest - 11 deer came through that morning, 9 were does/forky's and basket racks and they all traveled along the crest. The two mature bucks, a decent 8 and the 11 point I took traveled right past my stand. Of course, each area may be different.

 

[Blaster]

Thanks guys! I think i will put up a couple of stands, and see how the deer are moving the next couple of days.

 

[Liv4Rut]

you cant beat a good oak ridge. like previously posted ive noticed usually the bigger mature deer do travel down from the crest of the ridge, theres usually a spot inbetween where the bigger bucks usually travel and where the does and younger bucks travel, i usually get a little below the crest where i can still shoot the top but can still shoot the trails below, usually you can get 25 feet or so up in a tree and not get winded below the crest where the big ones travel, because if there is a hot doe they will be on any trail!!! that also means when you look behind yah its about a 75 foot drop

goodluck!!!!!

 

[Old Buck]

You've described one of my favorite locations. I like to find a tree just at the downwind edge of the ridge so any scent tends to be carried out over the valley. In some situations there is even a back current going up hill and up wind so you may be 'down wind' of both travel patterns. I see a lot of random movement of the big guys so a key is to just be in a good area where you can remain undetected by all until the right moment occurs. Have fun. I'll be out there again starting next Monday!

Old Buck

 

[NWBuck]

I haven't got many extremely reliable patterns, but here's one my best regarding the oak ridge I hunt frequently: "Low in the AM...High in the PM". This is just for general deer movement...not specifically bucks. It only took me about 20 years to figure that one out

NWBuck