Scouting

[Brnsvllyjohn]

When you go out scouting what do you expect to find? What makes it a successful scouting trip? I just spent 1.5 days in A 12 and saw 2 decent bucks in my zone and 2 on the edge of the bordering zone A 11. Only saw 6 total deer and 4 were shooter bucks for me. Very HOT right now so not a great time to be out but I wanted to get out so I went. Way more people just camping right now than I expected. I never put up any trail cameras or even walked more than 100 yards from the roads. It was even too hot for me to fish. I had not been there for 3 years so I just went to look things over and I think I learned a little bit but I doubt those bucks will be under the same trees in archery season but maybe somewhere on the same ridge.

 

[OPAH]

Deer, Bear, is great! fresh sign is Good, No sign is No Bueno
and the other good stuff water, food but without fresh sign is still no Bueno

 

[sportyg]

I'd say you have a great trip, since your saw deer close to you camp.. Chances are they will still be around come season since they maybe local deer and not transits deer passing through based on the time of year you saw them.

 

[KTKT70]

Way hot in d10 plus fires have been bad. Got to get out there soon. Just waiting for temp to drop.

 

[Frank X. Morris]

Howdy All,
I thought I would give a little different perspective on the scouting I do for jacks. Since it is the dogs that are doing the running you have to look at things with their point of view/safety. Find a field that is at least a mile from roads that have traffic on them. See if the vegetation is low enough or sparse enough for them to stay sighted. Check for fences, especially barbed wire ( don't like them hitting that at 35 mph). Then check in the field for ditches and holes and all such non flat areas. Check for debris/junk that has been dumped. And of course look for jack

 

[easymoney]

Some of us "scout" year round, even taking photos of bucks in the areas we hunt.
Most folks would do well to scout online using googleearth or other sites to at least get an idea of the terrain, roads, campgrounds and trails in the area they choose.And to see what they will face when the step out of their rigs on opening morning.

 

[OPAH]

Google earth and My free Topo are great Time saving tools

 

[AO323]

Easymoney is right..some scout year round...all depends on how much hunting pressure your area gets ...I usually look for : rubs, scat (buck vs doe), food..if your area gets hot look for vegetation that holds more water..bedding sites, active trails...the more time you spend out there scouting the better understanding you're gonna get on how the deer use the terrain come hunting season..

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[AO323]

Deer want to travel the path of least resistance ...topo map the area..look for the water source, and old burns if any... some saddles and gaps...print out your map , scout and take note of where your new findings are...

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[dthome]

Deer want to travel the path of least resistance ...topo map the area..look for the water source, and old burns if any... some saddles and gaps...print out your map , scout and take note of where your new findings are...

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Does seem to use the paths of least resistance, but I'm
not sure bucks are predictable in the same way. Especially big bucks.

 

[AO323]

Does seem to use the paths of least resistance, but I'm
not sure bucks are predictable in the same way. Especially big bucks.

They all obviously take wind into account..some become more nocturnal...want to stay from bigger groups, finding buck scat and setting up a trail camera or two in the area...I pay close attention to the temperature when and moon phase when hunting "nocturnal bucks" ..longer daylight and heat will get them moving at some point...

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