Greg Kazmierski
The first few weeks of November hunting whitetails in hill country can be filled with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows (both mentally and literally). As bucks cruise through the rugged terrain, it’s easy to find yourself right in the middle of activity one minute and completely out of the game the next. Over the years, I’ve found that certain areas consistently see more movement than others. These key spots funnel deer into tighter spaces, condensing activity and greatly improving your odds of not just seeing more deer, but filling your tag when it counts most.
Hillside Benches
A hillside bench is a flat section along an otherwise steep slope, much like a park bench viewed straight on—vertical where you’d rest your back and legs, with a horizontal seat in between. This flat, gentle stretch on the hillside offers a natural cruising path for bucks as they navigate the rugged terrain, making it a prime area for setting up a stand.
When targeting hillside benches, I generally like to access and hunt from the higher elevation in the morning and access and hunt from the lower elevation in the evening. Although this approach can be tricky, it often gives you a thermal advantage, carrying your scent away from the areas of anticipated deer travel.
When selecting the best bench to hunt, I focus on a few key elements. Benches located between doe social areas—like bedding and primary food sources—are ideal, as bucks will naturally pass through while they’re focused on does this time of year. I also like to hunt a shorter bench compared to a longer bench. A shorter bench, running about 50 yards along the ridge, has fewer entry and exit points, making deer movement more predictable. In contrast, a longer bench of 200+ yards offers multiple entry routes, potentially reducing your odds of a close encounter.
Saddles
A saddle is a low point or dip along a ridge, resembling the shape of a saddle on a horse’s back. This natural depression creates an easy travel route for deer, especially in rugged hill country where deer prefer the path of least resistance. Saddles are well-used travel corridors, especially as bucks move from one ridge to another, making them ideal stand locations during the rut.
When hunting saddles, I typically approach from the downwind side, where my scent is less likely to reach the deer’s expected travel route through the saddle. In the mornings, I often prefer to set up slightly above the saddle’s low point to take advantage of rising thermals. In the evening, positioning lower along the downwind side of the saddle can keep your scent from pooling in the saddle itself, where deer movement is most likely.
When selecting a saddle to hunt, look for ones positioned between major bedding areas or other doe hangouts, as these are likely to attract bucks on the lookout for does. Saddles with a clear connection to food sources are also key spots during peak feeding times. Just like benches, I prefer saddles with a tighter low area that will funnel deer movement through a specific zone.
Wider saddles allow deer to travel in various paths, which can make deer movement less predictable and reduce your odds of an encounter. By targeting narrower saddles with defined edges, you can capitalize on more consistent buck movement during the high-action weeks of the rut.
Drainage Tops
A drainage top is a flat area at the uppermost point of a drainage or a ravine in a ridge system. These drainages act like highways for deer, providing both cover and an easier route as they navigate the steep terrain. Bucks, especially during the rut, often use these areas to travel discreetly between bedding and feeding areas or to scent-check for does.
When hunting drainage tops, my preferred access is to come directly up the drainage, setting up in a tree right on the edge of the steep drop-off. I find these steep drainages to have a consistent thermal pull downward, carrying my scent back along my access point away from where I expect the bucks to be cruising.
In choosing the best drainage top to hunt, I look for those that connect core bedding areas and lead to primary food sources, as these attract the most consistent deer activity. Drainages that are narrow at the top, with a defined path down the ridge, tend to funnel deer movement more effectively, improving your odds of a close-range encounter. Additionally, I find that drainages running parallel to known doe travel routes can see more buck activity as they move along, checking for receptive does.
Conclusion
Hunting whitetails in hill country during the rut is no easy task. Access routes can be physically demanding and your time between deer sightings can be long. Shifting your focus to areas that will condense deer traffic like the three covered here should help improve your odds this year during the rut.
