Anyone do their scouting this time of year?

[andr3wxmma]

Was thinking about it and i feel like right now would be the perfect time to be looking for your spot next year. Sadly I wont be in this state for next years season but if i was id be out looking for where the deer go to rut.

[fishnfur]

Good thought, but if you're hunting the late season, anytime after next weekend would probably be better.  You'll move deer around a bit and increase their anxiety by scouting.  More pressure = less daylight movement in many cases (harder hunting).  Off the top of my head, here's a few other reasons to wait to scout:

- if you're hunting blacktail, where they rut is where they winter (in general).  Since you don't need to see the deer to know that they are there, late-Feb is just as good as late-Nov. for finding deer sign.  You could possibly find shed antlers too, which some people consider to be a pretty good clue that there are bucks close by  .

- Deer trails are much more visible in in winter.  Less foliage = better understanding of how the deer move.  Deer rubs and beds are also much easier to find in winter.

Good luck!

[JakeLand]

This is when I do my scouting!!! They are active during the day and you can see what's in each area you hunt
My opinion this is the BEST time to scout

[Turner89]

This is when I do my scouting!!! They are active during the day and you can see what's in each area you hunt
My opinion this is the BEST time to scout

Same here.
I'm scouting all year, but this is my favorite time. Now through February.


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[fishnfur]

Ya can't argue with Jakeland's logic.  He kills a monster every year.

[bobcat]

If I remember correctly, Boyd Iverson's book talks quite a bit about the advantages of scouting for blacktail deer in the late fall/winter. I used to do it, and it really is amazing how much easier it is to see deer trails, rubs, beds, etc.

I'm not sure if the same logic applies to mule deer. I would think not, since they're mostly migratory and where they winter is not where they will be in October during hunting season.

[7mmfan]

This is when I do my scouting!!! They are active during the day and you can see what's in each area you hunt
My opinion this is the BEST time to scout

Same here.
I'm scouting all year, but this is my favorite time. Now through February.


Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

 

[Skyvalhunter]

There pretty much is not a time in the year when I am not scouting. Got a few more cams placed out this weekend for Blacktail breeding areas. The bucks are finally starting to rub in my area.

[Skyvalhunter]

This is when I do my scouting!!! They are active during the day and you can see what's in each area you hunt
My opinion this is the BEST time to scout

Your suppose to be out trapping and catching predators!!

[fishnfur]

There pretty much is not a time in the year when I am not scouting. Got a few more cams placed out this weekend for Blacktail breeding areas. The bucks are finally starting to rub in my area.

What types of areas do you consider to be used most often as breeding areas - terrain/vegetation? 

[Skyvalhunter]

The deer in my area like the alder tree stands, mostly where the does hang out at. They also like old logging roads that are decommissioned or over grown.

[fishnfur]

Thanks.  Good luck with those cam sets.

[JakeLand]

The deer in my area like the alder tree stands, mostly where the does hang out at. They also like old logging roads that are decommissioned or over grown.

BINGO !!!!

[fishnfur]

You've got me curious Jakeland.  Do you hunt alder stands at all?  I've been busted so many times trying to get well inside an alder stand that I changed tactics and pretty much only hunt the peripheral fir and glass into the alder.  I see fewer deer this way for sure.  Is there a better way?

[JakeLand]

with a lot of pre scouting I find spots that I can glass into or onto a old decommissioned  rds or alder groves from a distance and when I get close and into the area I go slug slow so slow and quiet that your legs actually get sore . I look for ears tines backlines a lot of the time if you play the wind and with rain you can get so close on them that if they do stand they still don't know exactly where you are . Areas like this I prefer the open sight 30x30 for quick shots .