Why Hunting the Edge of Mountain Laurel Is Basically Field-Edge Hunting (And What to Do Instead)

Most hunters sit the edge of a mountain laurel thicket and wonder why they only see bucks at last light. Pat Burns has been killing giants inside those thickets for years — and his answer is simple: you're hunting the field edge, not the deer. In this clip, Pat breaks down how he uses leaf-off imagery to find the openings and funnels inside a sea of laurel, why going 100 yards deeper changes everything about daylight deer movement, and how he preps access trails a quarter mile into the laurel without blowing out the area. He also gets into his community scrape strategy — how he finds historical scrapes, reactivates them with nothing but fresh dirt, and lets the deer do the rest. Full episode — Ep. 497 of East Meets West Hunt - [LINK] Listen to the East Meets West Hunt podcast! Apple podcast - https://bit.ly/3G3tJ9x Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3IB4jg1 Instagram: @eastmeetswesthunt -   / eastmeetswesthunt   @beau.martonik -   / beau.martonik   Facebook: East Meets West Outdoors -   / eastmeetswesthunt   Shop new apparel and gear! https://www.eastmeetswesthunt.com/shop Amazon Influencer Page https://amzn.to/2SeXd8z Partners and Exclusive Deals: Spartan Forge - Check out the Spartan Forge app for deer movement predictions based on millions of data points for your area, as well as incredible GPS mapping! Save 20% with coupon code eastmeetswest - https://bit.ly/3tKRc68 Timber Ninja Outdoors - Timber Ninja Outdoors builds the most innovative, lightweight, and safe saddle and mobile hunting gear products. Use code eastmeetswest for free shipping on all orders! - http://bit.ly/3XUMlLw Maven Optics - Top-quality binoculars, spotting scopes and r*fle scopes for your hunts from east to west. Use the code eastmeetswest-gift to get a free gift with your next order! - https://alnk.to/6IGy3Mp Diamondback Truck Covers - Diamondback makes the most rigid truck bed covers on the market for hunters, outdoorsmen, contractors, etc. https://bit.ly/3RpEkMC CVA - CVA has been America's #1 selling muzzleloader brand for over a decade. Check out their muzzleloaders, rifles, and accessories for every season and every range. You can use code eastmeetswest10 for 10% off CVA products and accessories. Case Knives - American heritage in your pocket and hunting packs. Case has been around for over a hundred years making knives built to be handed down for generations in Bradford, PA. - https://bit.ly/49MgPX3 MTN OPS - is the leader in providing science-based supplements to help you train inside and conquer more outside. Use the code BEAU to save 20% on all MTN OPS orders. - https://rstr.co/mtnops/10619 SITKA GEAR - Use this link to help support the podcast and build your own performance hunting apparel system. - https://bit.ly/3ehJfND Sawyer - From the backcountry to the backyard, Sawyer products are there to keep you protected from ticks and all other insects. Check out Sawyer's permethrin, and picaridin, as well as their line of water filtration products - https://bit.ly/3JCIpur Hoyt Archery - Building archery equipment for nearly nine decades, Hoyt makes some of the most innovative and technically advanced equipment for the most serious archers and bowhunters across the globe. - https://bit.ly/3UyjvRo Elk Crossing Getaway in the PA Wilds - You can rent out my personal AirBNB property in the heart of the PA Wilds as a hunting camp, watch the elk with your family, go hiking, fishing, and anything else outdoor-related. Send us a message on AirBNB and say you heard about it on the podcast to save 10%. - https://bit.ly/3orbyho Tactacam - Reveal cell cams are reliable, quick to setup, and have an extended battery life to level up your scouting. The Reveal app helps you analyze your camera data to create a game plan to have your best season ever! - https://bit.ly/40DWEbz Dialed Archery - Dialed designs and builds American-made archery products that are purpose built for those who refuse compromise. Note - I receive a small commission from some of the products purchased at no extra cost to you.