Within 100 to 150 yards. Try locating a food source, and then look for bedding areas in the surrounding vicinity. However, don't just focus on the food source. A lot of times, deer will bed downwind of a food source so they can smell any potential danger. When it comes to water, bucks (particularly mature bucks) will often bed down within 100 yards of a water source. But, during the rut, things may be different. Water will become more critical to bucks.