Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: Billy74 on June 02, 2019, 05:57:36 PM

Title: Summer scouting
Post by: Billy74 on June 02, 2019, 05:57:36 PM: Im trying to spend as much time walking the woods this summer as my schedule allows. I know a lot changes between now and oct but what are some general tips for a new hunter and what he should focus on looking for in summer that will help come fall. Ill be in the NE after whitetail. Now I’m just hanging cameras and leaning new areas and the general topography.

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Title: Re: Summer scouting
Post by: JakeLand on June 02, 2019, 06:34:21 PM: Rubs = where they were last October
Title: Re: Summer scouting
Post by: Billy74 on June 02, 2019, 06:54:52 PM: I have a hard time finding rubs. I have a very limited history looking for them specifically but now that i am i cant ID anything that i can say “that’s 100% a rub”. I know I’ve been in areas with bucks but never see what i know to be a rub.

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Title: Re: Summer scouting
Post by: JakeLand on June 02, 2019, 07:35:39 PM: Walk down old decommissioned roads or the timber edge of clear cuts , points of cuts or alder clumps and if you’re feeling froggy get into some 7-10 year cuts on some south facing slopes you’ll know them when you see em
Title: Re: Summer scouting
Post by: Iveexcaped3 on June 02, 2019, 08:34:40 PM: Here’s a fresh rub maybe a week old at time of photo in March. Typically under a rub you’ll see scrape marks.
Title: Re: Summer scouting
Post by: huntnnw on June 03, 2019, 06:13:40 AM: as summer approaches is when I try to stay out of areas I am targeting whitetails other than to check a cam and plan my routes in and out. Summer is when I try to observe and watch fields,openings or clear cuts from a distance. I use Jan-April to look for last years rubs and scrapes
Title: Re: Summer scouting
Post by: OutHouse on June 07, 2019, 07:54:56 AM: Quote from: huntnnw on June 03, 2019, 06:13:40 AM
as summer approaches is when I try to stay out of areas I am targeting whitetails other than to check a cam and plan my routes in and out. Summer is when I try to observe and watch fields,openings or clear cuts from a distance. I use Jan-April to look for last years rubs and scrapes

Interesting. I found a whitetail nest so to speak with several bucks that look to be decent come September. Should this area be basically hands off? It can be a little difficult to get in there for cams and not get noticed. They don't seem to care right now but I don't want to push them away.
Title: Re: Summer scouting
Post by: OutHouse on June 07, 2019, 09:21:32 AM: Quote from: Billy74 on June 02, 2019, 05:57:36 PM
Im trying to spend as much time walking the woods this summer as my schedule allows. I know a lot changes between now and oct but what are some general tips for a new hunter and what he should focus on looking for in summer that will help come fall. Ill be in the NE after whitetail. Now I’m just hanging cameras and leaning new areas and the general topography.

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I don't rifle hunt anymore but my experience has been where you find them in summer is generally where you find them in September and into muzzy. I have noticed that once the velvet comes off they do go into much thicker areas but still in the same general zone.