Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: vandeman17 on March 22, 2011, 09:37:21 AM

Title: pre season scouting
Post by: vandeman17 on March 22, 2011, 09:37:21 AM: About 6 of us will be deer hunting Idaho this year. We are planning to go to a spot that we used to hunt but haven't hunted in over 10 years. I am hoping to make at least 2 scouting trips over there before the general season in October. My plan is to make them a 3 day weekend since it is such a long drive over there. When do you guys think will be the best and most useful times to go. I was thinking about going once in late May or early June and then once towards the end of August or early September. Thoughts?
Title: Re: pre season scouting
Post by: UBA on March 22, 2011, 09:48:21 AM: I would say sounds pretty good besides the deer you see in may might not even be around come hunting season
Title: Re: pre season scouting
Post by: vandeman17 on March 22, 2011, 10:09:45 AM: Quote from: UBA on March 22, 2011, 09:48:21 AM
I would say sounds pretty good besides the deer you see in may might not even be around come hunting season

I am not REAL worried about seeing animals, though it would be nice. I more want to see the terrain again, make sure we can still access our old spots and see if there are any new spots we will want to check out.
Title: Re: pre season scouting
Post by: UBA on March 22, 2011, 01:17:59 PM: Snow pack might be a concern depending on elevation. I ran into that problem last year. Huge snow drifts stick around a long time.
Title: Re: pre season scouting
Post by: vandeman17 on March 22, 2011, 01:23:31 PM: Agreed. I am hoping to be able to do some hiking as well so that I can mark areas on my gps and get a feel for different areas. You can only learn so much looking at an area through your binos or spotting scope. :twocents:
Title: Re: pre season scouting
Post by: 6x6in6 on March 22, 2011, 01:41:32 PM: Since it's a long drive, is it possible to double up your 3 day weekends in a back to back fashion? Take 2 extra days off also?
Then package it all up over say Labor Day weekend, assuming that your Monday is a holiday?
This is of course if the area you plan to go is not a major holiday weekend camping fiasco.
2 travel days and 7 days of scouting maximizes the time and cuts down on the fuel expenses and wasted windshield time.

We did this quite a few years back for Wyoming and it worked out very well for us.
Title: Re: pre season scouting
Post by: vandeman17 on March 22, 2011, 02:10:36 PM: Quote from: 6x6in6 on March 22, 2011, 01:41:32 PM
Since it's a long drive, is it possible to double up your 3 day weekends in a back to back fashion? Take 2 extra days off also?
Then package it all up over say Labor Day weekend, assuming that your Monday is a holiday?
This is of course if the area you plan to go is not a major holiday weekend camping fiasco.
2 travel days and 7 days of scouting maximizes the time and cuts down on the fuel expenses and wasted windshield time.

We did this quite a few years back for Wyoming and it worked out very well for us.

I was thinking the same thing at least taking one more day off around labor day so we could have 3-4 full days of scouting but then I remembered that my buddy is getting married that weekend. :bash: I am hoping that I can get few of the guys to go with so we can split gas and I also plan to camp out if I can to cut down on expenses.