FUNNEL FACTOR NO. 2
TOPOGRAPHY
One of the most useful things you can do in the off-season to locate deer funnels is to get your hands on a good topo map of the area you'll be hunting. Even if you've hunted the same area for years, get yourself a map if you don't already have one. This will save you some actual scouting time later on because you won't be stumbling around your entire hunting property in areas that probably won't produce big bucks. Another big advantage is that when you're sitting at home scouting with your map, you're not spending too much time in the woods spooking the buck you hope to tag when the season opens. A map is also a great place to make observation notes and record areas where rubs, scrapes and other signposts are prominent.

Several different things can create a deer funnel, but the most obvious factor is the topography of the landscape. Ridges, gullies, rivers, flats, benches, swamps, depressions and other topographical features all dictate where deer will and will not move. I've already mentioned that deer will travel on the easiest route possible, if it does not compromise their safety. The three bucks I mentioned at the beginning of this article were all moving through a low spot that separated two ridges. It was a relatively easy route for them to take, and it was also relatively secure. After you have your topo map in hand, sit down with it at your desk and begin looking for features in the terrain that might guide or funnel deer movement. Here are some features to look for on your map: 1) saddles between ridge peaks; 2) long, narrow fingers that gradually descend to a valley; 3) a steep cliff that lies parallel to a stream or lake; 4) a bench on the side of a ridge; and 5) a simple low spot that cuts across an otherwise flat area. Pay special attention to the low spots and depressions that you notice. It seems that when given the choice, deer -- especially big bucks -- instinctively opt to move through a low spot or depression, instead of traveling on higher ground.

Study your topo map carefully and use a highlighter or pen to mark promising features. Then concentrate your scouting efforts on these areas when you enter the field. Before you begin to make too many conclusions about where to hunt based on your topo map, though, you need to spend some time thinking about vegetation.

FUNNEL FACTOR NO. 3
VEGETATIVE COVER
Although topography plays a huge role in dictating deer movement, so does the vegetation that is present wherever you are going to hunt. We all know that mature whitetails survive by hiding in and moving through thick cover, so paying attention to the vegetative cover is extremely important. Remember: the thicker the cover in a funnel, the more likely it is that a mature buck will roam there.

Two seasons ago while hunting a funnel that wasn't created by topography, but instead by vegetation, I harvested a 12-point buck that grossed 150 inches. My stand sat in a wooded corridor that was only 50 yards wide. To the east of my stand were two harvested crop fields, and to the west were a large pond and a huge open field. But running to the north and south was a section of timber and brush that would provide cover for any animal that wanted to stay out of sight.

Hunting season had been open for a week, and there was very little chance that the buck I harvested was going to leave the security of cover to enter one of those open fields during shooting hours. Sure enough, that mature animal carefully remained within the cover of the forest as he cruised for does that morning.

By obtaining and studying an aerial photo of your hunting ground, you will be able to notice the funnels that are created by trees, brush, tall grass or other cover. If you are hunting an area that is primarily open, whether it's open prairie or open forest, finding a section of heavier cover usually means you've found a funnel for buck traffic. Spend some time looking over the aerial photo of your hunting land and highlight or circle the funnel areas that are caused by thin strips of cover that deer might utilize as they travel.

Another interesting thing about funnels created by vegetation is that you can often manipulate the habitat to create your own deer highways. If you simply cannot find any funnels of cover on the aerial photo of your hunting ground, you might want to consider constructing some of your own. You can do this in a number of ways, but it usually boils down to either planting security cover or cutting down some existing cover.

If your hunting area lacks any real protective cover, think about strategically planting some thick stuff that can funnel buck movement in the years to come. The most important thing to consider before you start planting is this: Where are the deer moving from, and where do they want to go? Once you answer this question, you'll know where the best place to create a funnel of vegetation will be. Then, simply select whatever type of cover best suits the situation, and plant it. The best vegetation might be a selection of warm-season grasses, pine seedlings, blackberries or whatever else you feel is most appropriate.

The second option, clearing out some cover, is best suited for areas that have an overabundance of cover. If you are hunting a large, overgrown field that is full of thick growth, consider cutting the majority of it while leaving one or two strips of funnel cover. Sometimes, though, it is even better to leave almost all of the cover so that the deer continue to feel secure, but clear a small path through the heart of the vegetation so that the animals can walk through the midst of it while passing directly by your stand.

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