one-way, 500 mile scouting trips

[kodiak06]

9 hr trips aren't that fun and making a game plan take hours on the screen e-scouting. I did an April trip to NE Wa and there was too much snow at elevations I mostly wanted to scout. I did find a few good spots BUT, I also found stands, mock scrapes, bait sites and cams. After I completed one set up, I exited the woods a different route and stumbled across another hunters place, stand still hanging so, this trip I'll be grabbing my cams outta there. It's 285yds from my cam to his stand, I think I'd feel cheesy about hunting there. One thing that sucked last trip was ticks. Deets expensive when shopping in small town stores lol. This trip, the snow will be gone and I have a different game plan, I will heavily scout 3 large areas and hopefully be able to leave cell cams with my SD types this time... My verizon cams were a bust so, I'm rolling in with some AT&T cams this time. Out of curiosity, what's your guys minimum distance to hunt from a known spot hunted by someone else?

[hughjorgan]

Permethrin is far better for ticks than DEET, just order it off Amazon. There are also cell cams that have both Verizon and ATT so you don’t drive all that way to find out one network doesn’t work for you. Spy point flex is one of those cams but I’m sure you can find what ever brand you like with both networks on them.

[huntnnw]

If I know someone is in the area I don’t wanna be anywhere near them. I prefer to hunt spots that I believe nobody is around me. I don’t wanna mess up their sit and vice versa

[baldopepper]

Just curious why scout this time of year?  Getting familiar with the general area, where the various roads and trails go, etc. is fine, but where you find animals now and where you'll find them later is different.  Depending on what type of summer we have (initial forecast is another hot dry summer) animals are likely to be mostly gone from where they are now.  Another factor is fire road closures and , of course, wildfires themselves.  With fuel costs what they are, I'd save my money for later, more meaningful scouting.

[hunter399]

What exactly are you scouting for?

Had a bow hunter last year setup maybe 40 yards from one of my cams. I didn't mind at all, I even stopped checking it during archery.
Left him ,his cam ,and his stuff undisturbed for the season.
Then just pulled the cam when modern rifle hit.
Public land is just that, says something in the regs about bait spots need to be 200 yards apart. Other than that your good to go.

Most standard trail cams ,just regular non cell cams these days
Will take a 32 gigabyte card. One photo burst, that will hold 30,000 photos. Pretty much you can setup now,check it on opening day.
Probably last all Summer.

[kodiak06]

Permethrin is far better for ticks than DEET, just order it off Amazon. There are also cell cams that have both Verizon and ATT so you don’t drive all that way to find out one network doesn’t work for you. Spy point flex is one of those cams but I’m sure you can find what ever brand you like with both networks on them.

Grabbed 4 AT&T Brownings on sale. I took a lot of reg cams last trip and will take another 8-12 this next trip. Gotta leave some here for elk...I had permethrin here at the house ran out the first trip there lol. Taking it all with me this trip. thanks.

[kodiak06]

Just curious why scout this time of year?  Getting familiar with the general area, where the various roads and trails go, etc. is fine, but where you find animals now and where you'll find them later is different.  Depending on what type of summer we have (initial forecast is another hot dry summer) animals are likely to be mostly gone from where they are now.  Another factor is fire road closures and , of course, wildfires themselves.  With fuel costs what they are, I'd save my money for later, more meaningful scouting.

All of the scouting I'm doing now will be good during the season and a lil less vegetation than August to punch through. Historical rubs, last years rubs, scrapes etc. All of that remains constant.

[kodiak06]

Permethrin is far better for ticks than DEET, just order it off Amazon. There are also cell cams that have both Verizon and ATT so you don’t drive all that way to find out one network doesn’t work for you. Spy point flex is one of those cams but I’m sure you can find what ever brand you like with both networks on them.

Grabbed 4 AT&T Brownings on sale. I took a lot of reg cams last trip and will take another 8-12 this next trip. Gotta leave some here for elk...I had permethrin here at the house ran out the first trip there lol. Taking it all with me this trip. thanks.

Scouting whitetail. I run about 24-30 cams a year but, now I'm splitting between 2 states so, gotta buy more lol.

[Ridgeratt]

So if you have a dozen cameras scattered all over the NE corner. MY question is if I am hunting someplace near yours am I encroaching on your spot?

Out of curiosity, what's your guys minimum distance to hunt from a known spot hunted by someone else?

[kodiak06]

If I know someone is in the area I don’t wanna be anywhere near them. I prefer to hunt spots that I believe nobody is around me. I don’t wanna mess up their sit and vice versa

That's my thoughts also, not the same as elk hunting for sure. WT hunters for the most part usually show a lil respect, especially archers IMO. That hunters set I found is why I'm grabbing my cams as soon I roll in. I may hit the other side of the drainage though. I've seen some of your bucks on FB, I'm after the same type animals, maybe a lil smaller this year lol. I grew up hunting in the south and have the WT itch bad once again after last years Idaho hunt. Looking fwd to early opener in Sept and then the late archery if needed.

[kodiak06]

So if you have a dozen cameras scattered all over the NE corner. MY question is if I am hunting someplace near yours am I encroaching on your spot?

Out of curiosity, what's your guys minimum distance to hunt from a known spot hunted by someone else?

I don't care to be near anyone whitetail hunting but, it's public land so really not my spot. I personally think people sitting in the same spot as someone else's stand is disrespectful but nearby is to be expected at times. Last trip I found one area with a rope licking branch and old alfalfa and within 150yds another place with old alfalfa. I would think the guys knew each other were there but to each his own I guess.

[kodiak06]

What exactly are you scouting for?

Had a bow hunter last year setup maybe 40 yards from one of my cams. I didn't mind at all, I even stopped checking it during archery.
Left him ,his cam ,and his stuff undisturbed for the season.

 

Most standard trail cams ,just regular non cell cams these days
Will take a 32 gigabyte card. One photo burst, that will hold 30,000 photos. Pretty much you can setup now,check it on opening day.
Probably last all Summer.

I have several traditional cams that'll be out.  I have this trip to do and then a return trip the week of 15 August to decide if I'll hunt the Sept opener. Depends on if I get any mature bucks on cam.

[addicted1]

Guessing bow hunting gets a lot less pressure.
Do whatever you’re comfortable with in the moment. I prefer solitude, but when someone beats me to one access point to 50000 of public, I’ll follow them right in and go my route. Just really depends on the situation, that’s the thing with public. If it’s not another hunter, it’s a quad, mt biker, hiker, random off leash dog, or someone with key to gate driving in after you just hiked.

[huntnnw]

Just curious why scout this time of year?  Getting familiar with the general area, where the various roads and trails go, etc. is fine, but where you find animals now and where you'll find them later is different.  Depending on what type of summer we have (initial forecast is another hot dry summer) animals are likely to be mostly gone from where they are now.  Another factor is fire road closures and , of course, wildfires themselves.  With fuel costs what they are, I'd save my money for later, more meaningful scouting.

If you are a serious whitetail guy there is no better time to scout then February and March. Looking for scrapes, rubs and trails. Almost will always be used again the following year. Better yet is finding a big bucks sheds pretty much in most cases tells you that you find his core area.

[baldopepper]

Around our area February and March is still winter. Most back roads still impassable and trails and other sign pretty well snowed under.  Guess if I hunted a new area every year I might try looking around a bit that early, but I know the areas I hunt well enough a little later scouting for actual animals seems to work better

[hunter399]

Just curious why scout this time of year?  Getting familiar with the general area, where the various roads and trails go, etc. is fine, but where you find animals now and where you'll find them later is different.  Depending on what type of summer we have (initial forecast is another hot dry summer) animals are likely to be mostly gone from where they are now.  Another factor is fire road closures and , of course, wildfires themselves.  With fuel costs what they are, I'd save my money for later, more meaningful scouting.

If you are a serious whitetail guy there is no better time to scout then February and March. Looking for scrapes, rubs and trails. Almost will always be used again the following year. Better yet is finding a big bucks sheds pretty much in most cases tells you that you find his core area.

Yup,was gonna say the same.
The fresh brown gold of mature WT shed is what your looking for.
I know this won't help the OP ,But usually toward the end of all hunting seasons,cause I'm in so many spots .
I'll come across a few giant buck track from time to time.
Gives me clues to setup for the next year.
I actually just set a cam the other day ,based on deer tracks seen through winter cougar hunting.
Yet I've never laid eyes on him, don't know if it's still alive since the snow left.
I'll roll the dice on spots like that,slap a cam in just to take a peek.

[kodiak06]

Just curious why scout this time of year?  Getting familiar with the general area, where the various roads and trails go, etc. is fine, but where you find animals now and where you'll find them later is different.  Depending on what type of summer we have (initial forecast is another hot dry summer) animals are likely to be mostly gone from where they are now.  Another factor is fire road closures and , of course, wildfires themselves.  With fuel costs what they are, I'd save my money for later, more meaningful scouting.

If you are a serious whitetail guy there is no better time to scout then February and March. Looking for scrapes, rubs and trails. Almost will always be used again the following year. Better yet is finding a big bucks sheds pretty much in most cases tells you that you find his core area.

That was my plan and I kept up with snow depths before driving up. Even in April the areas I wanted to finish my trip scouting were covered in too much snow and I didn't have snow shoes to hump in. got some lower stuff covered, now gonna hit a lot of various elevations (mainly upper half of mountain). Be cool if I lived closer but hard to time travel time and weather that early. I'll have a better idea of what's up after this year.

[hunter399]

Your other option is to grow a mature buck.

I'm gonna catch some stuff here for saying this.
There is some research coming out that your looking for the best dirt.
Surprised it hasn't been said already.
A lot of guys are gonna say ,"the genetics aren't there".
I do admit genetics is definitely a factor at some kind of a percent.

Remember your looking for food deer nutrition,with good genetics.
Then on top of that you might find everything needed.
Someone smoked that big boy last year,nothing but dinks,and baby bucks now for a few years. Definitely a rotation to some areas.
Really your looking for a needle in a haystack.
But still that's what's nice about hunting,sometimes your lucky, sometimes not.


Anyway thought this video was interesting
It's in the dirt!

[kodiak06]

Your other option is to grow a mature buck.

I'm gonna catch some stuff here for saying this.
There is some research coming out that your looking for the best dirt.
Surprised it hasn't been said already.
A lot of guys are gonna say ,"the genetics aren't there".
I do admit genetics is definitely a factor at some kind of a percent.

Remember your looking for food deer nutrition,with good genetics.
Then on top of that you might find everything needed.
Someone smoked that big boy last year,nothing but dinks,and baby bucks now for a few years. Definitely a rotation to some areas.
Really your looking for a needle in a haystack.
But still that's what's nice about hunting,sometimes your lucky, sometimes not.


Anyway thought this video was interesting
It's in the dirt!

True... I have two spots in Idaho I hunted last year, two really good bucks showed on cam early but, the area was new to me. I also had a few nice up and comers. Staying away this year plus, as a non-res, Washington's a bit nicer to disabled vets on the pocket book, so I get to make up costs and do APR, MAY, and AUG scouting/cam checks. No WT dinks or does will be harmed since I kill an elk/BT every year here.

[kodiak06]

Well that was fun. Averaged 6-8 miles a day snooping around. My two new knees held up well courtesy of Uncle Sam, much better than the early April trip. Found a few good spots and had a few does hitting a licking branch I doctored up Apr04. I was able to leave 2 cell cams out this trip, so at least I'll get a few photos waiting on mid-Aug when I head back up.
Saw where a tree took out a guys solar panel/tactacam cell cam over a bait station basically on the walk in road. Not sure why anyone would bait that spot on public land. Oh, saw a wolf late y'day putting out my last camera

[kodiak06]

Licking branch I made in APR

[hunter399]

Sounds like your all setup good 👍.

[kodiak06]

Sounds like your all setup good 👍.

I'll find out. The hard part is knowing where others typically hunt being new to the areas. Hopefully a few spots are free of people...

[hunter399]

Sounds like your all setup good 👍.

I'll find out. The hard part is knowing where others typically hunt being new to the areas. Hopefully a few spots are free of people...

I hear ya there.
Campsites, ATV trails,on and on.
Then when you think you have a spot,there will be someone there.
It really is hard to find remote locations for camera setups.
I have a few spots that I still throw salt down,but have pulled the camera. Just to many people on the camera.
I don't mind them hunting there,just figured it's a matter of time before the cam gets messed with.

[kodiak06]

Sounds like your all setup good 👍.

I'll find out. The hard part is knowing where others typically hunt being new to the areas. Hopefully a few spots are free of people...

I hear ya there.
Campsites, ATV trails,on and on.
Then when you think you have a spot,there will be someone there.
It really is hard to find remote locations for camera setups.
I have a few spots that I still throw salt down,but have pulled the camera. Just to many people on the camera.
I don't mind them hunting there,just figured it's a matter of time before the cam gets messed with.

For sure. The browning cam has gps and theft protection setting so, if they walk they can be shut down or located.  I have a trip planned in AUG to check cams and feed but, I may head over again sooner just to look at a couple more spots, undecided.

[hunter399]

I have a lot of respect for ya.
Putting in the work, scouting isn't easy.
With that said ,I'm in the same exact boat.

I'm always searching for the holy grail.(Big Buck)
It may be a mature buck. Or I may hunt some areas that just have a high ratio of smaller dink bucks.
It just falls in line also with plan b,c,d,e,f,g.
I just like having options another spot to go to if that spot is occupied for the day.

[kodiak06]

I have a lot of respect for ya.
Putting in the work, scouting isn't easy.
With that said ,I'm in the same exact boat.

I'm always searching for the holy grail.(Big Buck)
It may be a mature buck. Or I may hunt some areas that just have a high ratio of smaller dink bucks.
It just falls in line also with plan b,c,d,e,f,g.
I just like having options another spot to go to if that spot is occupied for the day.

Thanks, I can't go in hunting blind and I can allot time to scout. I know where the elk are here yet I still scout and hang cams, addicted I guess. Like your last sentence, I want to have back-up plans in place to stay in the woods.

[huntnnw]

Sounds like your all setup good 👍.

I'll find out. The hard part is knowing where others typically hunt being new to the areas. Hopefully a few spots are free of people...

I hear ya there.
Campsites, ATV trails,on and on.
Then when you think you have a spot,there will be someone there.
It really is hard to find remote locations for camera setups.
I have a few spots that I still throw salt down,but have pulled the camera. Just to many people on the camera.
I don't mind them hunting there,just figured it's a matter of time before the cam gets messed with.

It’s more rare for me to setup cams where people already are. I rarely see anyone

[kodiak06]

Sounds like your all setup good 👍.

I'll find out. The hard part is knowing where others typically hunt being new to the areas. Hopefully a few spots are free of people...

I hear ya there.
Campsites, ATV trails,on and on.
Then when you think you have a spot,there will be someone there.
It really is hard to find remote locations for camera setups.
I have a few spots that I still throw salt down,but have pulled the camera. Just to many people on the camera.
I don't mind them hunting there,just figured it's a matter of time before the cam gets messed with.

It’s more rare for me to setup cams where people already are. I rarely see anyone

Without knowing the areas and having observed the hunters in the area I hope to get lucky. I know a couple spots for sure should be ok, depending on what kind of bucks show. I have a few more spots to hit but, I need to see the snow levels this year to know how high is too high for late season.

[huntnnw]

Definitely a huge consideration is snow and if you have rigs to get in. Been there and done that. We started hunting only a few miles off maintained roads as the snow would pile up making it impossible to drive in very far

[kodiak06]

Definitely a huge consideration is snow and if you have rigs to get in. Been there and done that. We started hunting only a few miles off maintained roads as the snow would pile up making it impossible to drive in very far

I currently have cams from 3300' - 4158'

[kodiak06]

yee-ha, headed back for the 3rd time. Taking some 6v batteries and another 10 cams. Hopefully I can deploy the 3 cell cams I'm taking.
I have a licking branch I'm gonna cut in half and transplant as well.

[hunter399]

yee-ha, headed back for the 3rd time. Taking some 6v batteries and another 10 cams. Hopefully I can deploy the 3 cell cams I'm taking.
I have a licking branch I'm gonna cut in half and transplant as well.

Batterys go dead or what on your current cams.

[kodiak06]

yee-ha, headed back for the 3rd time. Taking some 6v batteries and another 10 cams. Hopefully I can deploy the 3 cell cams I'm taking.
I have a licking branch I'm gonna cut in half and transplant as well.

Batterys go dead or what on your current cams.

One cell cam getting low but, I need to scout a few more areas I had marked. I'll also check some cams and clear some shooting lanes where I think things are promising. Since it's a new area for me I need more than 5-6 places to go just in case people beat me to a spot or winter weather gets me. Hoping to get a mature deer on cam and get lucky in September. Either way, I'm going back in the winter and sitting

[hunter399]

yee-ha, headed back for the 3rd time. Taking some 6v batteries and another 10 cams. Hopefully I can deploy the 3 cell cams I'm taking.
I have a licking branch I'm gonna cut in half and transplant as well.

Batterys go dead or what on your current cams.

One cell cam getting low but, I need to scout a few more areas I had marked. I'll also check some cams and clear some shooting lanes where I think things are promising. Since it's a new area for me I need more than 5-6 places to go just in case people beat me to a spot or winter weather gets me. Hoping to get a mature deer on cam and get lucky in September. Either way, I'm going back in the winter and sitting

Heck ya man , happy hunting there out there.