Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Bowhunting Deer in thicket on hillside

I hunt with crossbow and bumped what looked like a big deer today. Actually, two deer. They looked to be bedded in a 1/2 football field thicket on an otherwise open tall timber hillside. Questions:

Any thoughts if these deer will return, and how long it takes?

Given that they seem to have a great sentry post watching the open woods from this thicket, how the heck do I get close ?

Roll the dice & glass from a long distance is all I have to see if the return. Next is where do the feed. can you get yourself in a ambush position between bedding and feeding area is my only hope with this little info.

Busting them once shouldn’t be a issue. Multiple times different story. Question is are they in rut mode and bedding there because they are just in the area, or is this home range?? Either way should be able to follow above advice and hunt does/feeding areas, thats where their going during the rut anyways. Cut em off