I recently read about a hunter who commonly used his machete to clear a path through the densest thicket he could find. When he did this, the bucks continued to live and move in the area due to the security they felt, but they were much easier to hunt because they now had a travel path that guided their movements in and out of the thicket. If you know of a spot like this, simply pick your stand site and then clear a narrow walkway through the cover that passes within shooting range.

FUNNEL FACTOR NO. 4
IDENTIFY THE SUPER FUNNELS AND HUBS
You've found a promising hunting location when you find a spot where the topography alone creates a deer funnel. You've also found an area of good potential when the vegetative cover guides deer movement. But the most promising areas, of course, are spots where both the topography and vegetation work together to funnel deer movement. I call these areas "super funnels."

Before you even enter the field in the pre-season to scout, place both your topo map and your aerial photo image side by side and see if you can locate one or more areas where the terrain and the cover work together to form a funnel. If you can find a spot like that, you should enjoy a lot of action come hunting season!

There is also one other way to use your map research to identify one of the greatest hotspots of all: the "hub." A hub is an area where multiple funnels converge. It might be in a creek bottom where several valleys come together, each with its own deer trail. Or it could be at the end of a ridge where multiple fingers branch out in different directions. The bottom line is that it's a spot where deer coming from several directions will all pass through. If you find a location like that, make sure your bow or gun is sighted in and ready to go, because you should have some great shot opportunities when the season opens!

FUNNEL FACTOR NO. 5
IT'S UP TO YOU
So you've found a spot or two where the topography and vegetation work together to create a super funnel, or you have identified a hub area where multiple funnels converge. The next step, of course, is to get out of your house and into the field to check them out. As you begin your scouting efforts for the coming season, focus your initial attention on those potential hotspots. More than likely, your map homework will have paid off and you will have found some great areas to hang your stands in. But if for some reason the actual deer sign in those areas is not that impressive, simply move on to the next funnel area you've noted on your maps.

Of course, keep the seasonal tendencies of the bucks you're hunting in mind as you pick stand locations. In the early and late portions of the season, bucks will most often be found using travel corridors that move from bedding thickets to food sources. Throughout the rut, these food-related funnels will lose some of their appeal, and the animals will focus their travels through funnels that put them in the best positions to scent and see does. Regardless of the seasonal timing, though, funnels draw lots of deer.

Dr. Larry Marchinton, one of the country's prominent deer researchers, says, "Regardless of the time of year, the best place to take a buck from a tree stand is in a funnel area. Even if you're hunting during the rut, you'll see the most deer and have the best chance to bag a buck if you can find a funnel that has scrapes on both ends of it."

Once you've found a promising area with lots of good deer sign, the final funnel factor to remember involves something that you can control. It goes without saying that you cannot harvest a trophy -- or any deer -- if you're not in the field to see it, so make sure you're in your stand as much as possible once the season opens. When the wind is in your favor, sit in that funnel as long as you can. You've done your homework, and you understand why bucks use these travel corridors like they do. Once you're in your stand, remind yourself that it'll only be a matter of time before the topography and the security of the cover in that funnel will bring Mr. Big right to you!

FOR YOUR INFORMATION
For two fast and easy ways to get maps via the Internet, visit www.terraserver.com or www.topozone.com. You can also obtain maps of hunting areas from your local conservation office or your local department of natural resources. The U.S. Geological Survey is another excellent organization to contact if you have problems getting your hands on the right map.

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