I often give suggestions and tips that have paid dividends for me over the years. One of the best bits of information I have shared is I love to hunt creek bottoms. I have shown many photos of some of my hunting buddies and myself proudly posing with a Whitetail deer we have taken while hunting these creek bottoms.

What makes these locations so great is most of the creek bottoms around our area are located a long distance from the road. Many hunters do not want to travel that far from the road. They know if they get a deer, it will involve long hours and hard work getting the deer back to the truck. I have spent many hours dragging a deer out of the creek bottom, up and down steep ridges. A few times it was almost 10 p.m. before I got it loaded in the truck.

In just about every scenario, the creek bottoms I hunt are like an interstate highway for deer travel. The deer know they can come and go and be pretty safe from hunter intrusion. Usually, deer activity is pretty constant while hunting other locations is hit and miss.

Some areas are better for morning hunts, and some areas are better for evening hunts. I have found after years of hunting creek bottoms you can actually see deer activity anytime and all the time. I have taken deer during early morning sits as well as at noon and 1 p.m. I have heard deer movement along creek bottom trails while it was still dark. I could hear the deer walking through the brush and grunting and bleating, but it was so dark, you could not see your hand in front of your face.

If you want to take a deer, you have to be where they are! Getting into such locations in the dark is difficult because you have to move slowly and quietly without disturbing them or spooking them out of the area. I know I have spooked many deer while trying to get to my stands.

I use reflective thumb tacks and stick them into tree bark to mark my travel lane into and out of the area. If I do spook deer, I continue to the stand and remain as quiet as possible. Often, other deer will come through and offer me a shot opportunity.

Like anything else, there are some disadvantages. Usually, deer trails will be found in shallow spots where the deer can cross the creek to the opposite side without much effort. There will be travel trails that parallel the creek edges. I have stands along these corridors, and it is extremely rare that I hunt these stands and not see deer activity. Every stand I have placed has produced several deer, including nice, mature bucks.

So, what are the disadvantages?

For one thing, once the deer is hit, you have no control over how the deer reacts. I have dropped them on the spot, and I have had them cross the creek, making it necessary for me to do the same. To make things more difficult, I happen to be vertically challenged, and crossing the creek in November and December make it a unpleasant situation to say the least.

My longtime hunting buddy, "Big Ed" Carver, is about 6’ 4” and crossing the creek is not that bad for him. But for a short-legged guy, it ain’t fun. My hunting boots are the high-top, rubber-style boots; not hip boots or chest-high waders. I think you can figure out what I am saying!

I have made several trips back and forth across that creek, but I have figured out spots that are much easier. By the photos in this article, and the expression on our faces, you can understand. Be that as it may, I still hunt creek bottoms. I’ve even been tempted to tie my bass boat up at the bridge for use getting the deer out.