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Author Topic: whitetail scouting  (Read 7809 times)

Offline kodiak06

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whitetail scouting
« on: March 04, 2026, 09:18:04 PM »
Anyone already started or starting soon? With the lack of snow I'm making the 475m one way trip before the green takes off this year. It's usually early to mid-may before I even think about heading up.

Offline buglebuster

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Re: whitetail scouting
« Reply #1 on: March 04, 2026, 09:45:01 PM »
Even with the mild winter the deer are still doing winter things. I’d hold out  :twocents:

Offline Kingofthemountain83

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Re: whitetail scouting
« Reply #2 on: March 04, 2026, 10:03:32 PM »
Even with the mild winter the deer are still doing winter things. I’d hold out  :twocents:

 :yeah:

Should be early green up though... But they're still going to be in the same areas for fawning season too...
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Offline hunter399

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Re: whitetail scouting
« Reply #3 on: March 05, 2026, 05:18:45 AM »
Me thinks that's up to you.
If the snow is gone,access is good ,then totally up to you.
We still get hard freeze at night ,some nights freeze some don't.
Which can be pretty hard on battery.
That's one reason to hold off
Other than that......
It's your game.

A lot of spots I had ,blue tongue killed everything.
So I have no desire to setup at all these days.
In Stevens county,might as well call it predator scouting.
Low snow pack ,can lead to even more drought/blue tongue.
All we can hope for is some rain through out summer, otherwise we are screwed.

With all that said .
If your planning some new spots ......maybe go shed hunt.
If your turkey scouting.....seen a lot of toms strutting in the past week.
Never a bad time to get out and play
Seen about 30 toms yesterday, strutting on state land yesterday.
So you never know ,what you might eye spy.
Elk here,turkey there,wolf or coyote tracks there,shed here.
You just never know,I would use it as an extra trip,still do your normal spring trip.
That's just me.
« Last Edit: March 05, 2026, 05:48:48 AM by hunter399 »

Offline Jimmy33

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Re: whitetail scouting
« Reply #4 on: March 05, 2026, 06:56:51 AM »
Anyone already started or starting soon? With the lack of snow I'm making the 475m one way trip before the green takes off this year. It's usually early to mid-may before I even think about heading up.
Thats a long way to travel for a March scouting trip…now, having said that, Im always looking for an excuse to get into the mountains so I say if you have the time, do it.


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Offline tracksoup

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Re: whitetail scouting
« Reply #5 on: March 05, 2026, 07:39:05 AM »
Even with the mild winter the deer are still doing winter things. I’d hold out  :twocents:

 :yeah:

Should be early green up though... But they're still going to be in the same areas for fawning season too...
I’d go for it. Take advantage of this mild winter.
It’s a great time to scout for last falls whitetail activity.


Offline TeacherMan

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Re: whitetail scouting
« Reply #6 on: March 05, 2026, 08:00:50 AM »
I know in unit 5 and 6 in Idaho the deer and elk are holding in their winter range right now. They are in areas I wouldn't find them in the high numbers they are in come Sept-Nov. Its definitely shed season. Found one sunday taking my trash to the dump. We got out at the dumpsters and my wife pointed down and said "look an antler"  :chuckle: Found a spike in the dirt pullout right along the road.
If you shoot the first one you will never get that true trophy.

Offline kodiak06

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Re: whitetail scouting
« Reply #7 on: March 07, 2026, 09:22:43 PM »
Anyone already started or starting soon? With the lack of snow I'm making the 475m one way trip before the green takes off this year. It's usually early to mid-may before I even think about heading up.
Thats a long way to travel for a March scouting trip…now, having said that, Im always looking for an excuse to get into the mountains so I say if you have the time, do it.
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No better time to look for scrapes and rut sign than right after the snow melts and things green up...
« Last Edit: March 08, 2026, 06:51:51 AM by kodiak06 »

Offline kodiak06

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Re: whitetail scouting
« Reply #8 on: March 07, 2026, 09:24:25 PM »
Even with the mild winter the deer are still doing winter things. I’d hold out  :twocents:

I wasn't scouting for what they're doing right now, I was scouting for what they were doing during the rut - scrapes and rubs...

Offline kodiak06

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Re: whitetail scouting
« Reply #9 on: March 07, 2026, 09:32:26 PM »
A quick 2 day scouting job and just got home. Freshened up 3 scrapes I made 2yrs ago and checked a mock I had made last OCT and it was getting worked in November. Found fresh scrapes from the rut and two BIG rubs in a new area coming out of a hell hole with old rubs as well. Nice getting out before things green up, it makes finding historical sign so much easier and the ticks aren't lively. Ignore the dates
« Last Edit: March 08, 2026, 07:36:16 AM by kodiak06 »

Offline hunter399

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Re: whitetail scouting
« Reply #10 on: March 08, 2026, 08:22:20 PM »
Looks like it should work out,if those jokers are still around.👍👍

Offline kodiak06

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Re: whitetail scouting
« Reply #11 on: March 10, 2026, 08:09:36 AM »
Looks like it should work out,if those jokers are still around.👍👍

I think the new spots gonna be killer...

Offline hunter399

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Re: whitetail scouting
« Reply #12 on: March 10, 2026, 08:19:41 AM »
Looks like it should work out,if those jokers are still around.👍👍

I think the new spots gonna be killer...

I'm always hoping a new spot is killer....
Did you get a secret tip,find a shed,looks really good on onx, awesome game trails.....
Whatcha got going on, something got ya excited.

Offline kodiak06

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Re: whitetail scouting
« Reply #13 on: March 10, 2026, 09:18:30 AM »
Looks like it should work out,if those jokers are still around.👍👍

I think the new spots gonna be killer...

I'm always hoping a new spot is killer....
Did you get a secret tip,find a shed,looks really good on onx, awesome game trails.....
Whatcha got going on, something got ya excited.

Had one about 800yds away last year in JULY with a 20" plus spread in velvet and he moved out. I'm thinking it's possible he's in there. Thick and nasty trail, nice rubs, coming onto a big flat from some steep stuff. Hoping the mock scrape takes off.

 


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