#1991999 - 07/13/10 07:51 AM
Scouting in July - Need opinions
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msubullyhunter
Spike
Registered: 09/15/07
Posts: 23
Loc: West Tennessee
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Ok, just got a new lease and wanted some people's opinions on scouting in July. Since we are new to the lease, is it okay to walk the property every weekend to get familiar with it or should we just hunt the fields the first year and observe the deer travel patterns so that we get a better understanding of where to put stands in the woods the second year? If it is okay, what time of the year would you do your last scouting?
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#1992010 - 07/13/10 07:55 AM
Re: Scouting in July - Need opinions
[Re: msubullyhunter]
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tickweed
10 Point
Registered: 11/25/09
Posts: 3536
Loc: medon,Tn.
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Myself, as early as it is, I'd at least learn the lay of the land, look for funnels, pinch points, feeding and bedding areas.
_________________________
The hardest thing about Bowhunting Turkeys is leaving the gun at home!
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#1992028 - 07/13/10 07:59 AM
Re: Scouting in July - Need opinions
[Re: msubullyhunter]
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MUP
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Registered: 08/01/07
Posts: 36082
Loc: Just North of Chatt-town
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I would probably observe, find some deer, then check out your topo maps or get on the ground and start locating geographical features, like funnels, and travel routes where the deer are traveling to and from bedding/feeding areas. I would try and get these things done asap, and get a stand or two set before the season. Then, after season, scout even more to find lesser traveled routes and feeding/bedding areas to set up on for next season. This is just my opinion for sure, but just how I'd approach it. Good luck!
_________________________
MUP
Amateurs: Built the Ark
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#1992067 - 07/13/10 08:13 AM
Re: Scouting in July - Need opinions
[Re: MUP]
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tndrbstr
16 Point
Registered: 10/06/05
Posts: 12157
Loc: knox co tn
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I would probably observe, find some deer, then check out your topo maps or get on the ground and start locating geographical features, like funnels, and travel routes where the deer are traveling to and from bedding/feeding areas. I would try and get these things done asap, and get a stand or two set before the season. Then, after season, scout even more to find lesser traveled routes and feeding/bedding areas to set up on for next season. This is just my opinion for sure, but just how I'd approach it. Good luck!
thats about the way I would probably approach it too...I would want to get as far into the learning curve as I could the first year...
I don't have any problem hitting the ground during the season either...but I'm not scouting then, I'm still hunting
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#1992246 - 07/13/10 09:30 AM
Re: Scouting in July - Need opinions
[Re: tndrbstr]
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lungpuncher1
4 Point
Registered: 12/23/09
Posts: 219
Loc: in a tree in TN or IL
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Aerial maps!!! find those funnels, saddles, thickets, and also check out what your neighbors places have to offer to give you a better understanding of where they are coming from or going to and why.
_________________________
God only gives us so many sunrises I don't plan on missing many.
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#1992456 - 07/13/10 11:40 AM
Re: Scouting in July - Need opinions
[Re: lungpuncher1]
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BSK
Jerkasourous of the non-typical kind
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Registered: 03/11/99
Posts: 59548
Loc: Nashville, TN
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Considering this is unknown property, I would scout. But I would do as much "paper" scouting from topo maps and aerial photos as possible first, to limit the amount of time/scent on the ground.
Heavy scouting is best done just after the season ends. However, considering deer are usually on different movement patterns in mid-summer than they will be during the fall, I don't think summer scouting is anywhere near as damaging to success as scouting just weeks before and during the season.
_________________________
"Know where you stand, and stand there" --Jesuit Father Daniel Berrigan
"There is no reasoning someone out of a position he has not reasoned himself into." --Clive James
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#1992497 - 07/13/10 12:01 PM
Re: Scouting in July - Need opinions
[Re: BSK]
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Bone Collector
12 Point
Registered: 09/09/09
Posts: 6110
Loc: Murfreesboro, TN
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I would do like MUP says and BSK said. DO your home work with a topo map and actaully go in and get a feel for the layout of the land.
I start scouting at the end of July or early August. I am hunting a heavily hunted WMA and I have not had an issue seeing deer where I scouted. Usually by the time I get back in there it has been a couple of months and they forgot about me. Of course you don't see many mature bucks, but that is public land hunting and being you're not on Public you may want to consider that.
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Don't let the screen name fool you spikes are made of bone too  Semper Fidelis! The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. - Thomas Jefferson
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#1992597 - 07/13/10 12:42 PM
Re: Scouting in July - Need opinions
[Re: Bone Collector]
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redblood
16 Point
Registered: 01/22/06
Posts: 10138
Loc: Lewisburg
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I agree with bsk. If mature bucks are what you seek, then you want to limit human intrusion as much possible, till you are holding something that can kill him. I do realize you have to scout some, but not every weekend.
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"I will predator hunt for food "
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#1992606 - 07/13/10 12:46 PM
Re: Scouting in July - Need opinions
[Re: BSK]
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Football Hunter
18 Point
Registered: 10/22/07
Posts: 24550
Loc: Wilson Co/Perry Co
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Considering this is unknown property, I would scout. But I would do as much "paper" scouting from topo maps and aerial photos as possible first, to limit the amount of time/scent on the ground.
Heavy scouting is best done just after the season ends. However, considering deer are usually on different movement patterns in mid-summer than they will be during the fall, I don't think summer scouting is anywhere near as damaging to success as scouting just weeks before and during the season.
_________________________
The best day to plant a tree,IS TODAY!
You wont know,if you dont go!
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#1992627 - 07/13/10 12:57 PM
Re: Scouting in July - Need opinions
[Re: Football Hunter]
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BigSatt
10 Point
Registered: 05/15/09
Posts: 3499
Loc: Northern Middle Tn.
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I would most likely have walked part of it; and would have studied some aerial and topo maps before i leased it. JMO
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Nothing Great is ever achieved without enthusiasm.
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#1992765 - 07/13/10 02:52 PM
Re: Scouting in July - Need opinions
[Re: BigSatt]
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Winchester
Non-Typical
Registered: 12/05/03
Posts: 25229
Loc: TN
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Absolutely, you will be fine walking it now, sooner the better matter of fact, figure it out now and then stay out as season nears. Nothing will help you more than knowing every inch of as much of it as possible, many answers to the secrets you desire are hidden there, waiting for you to unlock them!
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#1992773 - 07/13/10 02:57 PM
Re: Scouting in July - Need opinions
[Re: BigSatt]
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msubullyhunter
Spike
Registered: 09/15/07
Posts: 23
Loc: West Tennessee
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Thanks to all!
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#1992787 - 07/13/10 03:08 PM
Re: Scouting in July - Need opinions
[Re: Winchester]
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BSK
Jerkasourous of the non-typical kind
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Registered: 03/11/99
Posts: 59548
Loc: Nashville, TN
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Nothing will help you more than knowing every inch of as much of it as possible...
I agree, except I would stay out of any potential bedding areas (thick cover).
_________________________
"Know where you stand, and stand there" --Jesuit Father Daniel Berrigan
"There is no reasoning someone out of a position he has not reasoned himself into." --Clive James
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#1993053 - 07/13/10 06:58 PM
Re: Scouting in July - Need opinions
[Re: BSK]
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pjridge
8 Point
Registered: 06/07/04
Posts: 2382
Loc: PC
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If it were me, The first year I would do some still hunting during the rut and cover as much as possible. You can do all the paper work you want but nothing can compare to hands on. That time of year you lean so much about travel, feeding and so on. I wouldn't do it consistently but that first year the objective is to learn the deer and the habitat in that area, and what better time to do that than the time of year you'll be hunting in the future. By next year you be armed with much more knowledge. Post season is also a great time to scout.
Luck to ya
_________________________
"If a man could have half his wishes, he would double his troubles"
B. Franklin
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#1994202 - 07/14/10 02:55 PM
Re: Scouting in July - Need opinions
[Re: BigSatt]
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Tracker
6 Point
Registered: 10/22/01
Posts: 610
Loc: South Fulton,TN. USA
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its july, it aint gonna hurt anything to walk the farm and learn it some. get an aerial photo and find some bottlenecks and then go to them and look for sign. I say walk it and learn it.
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American by birth, Southern by the grace of God
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#1994676 - 07/14/10 09:15 PM
Re: Scouting in July - Need opinions
[Re: msubullyhunter]
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Boone 58
16 Point
Registered: 06/23/04
Posts: 13530
Loc: Food Plot
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Yep, look at terrain and familiarize yourself with the entire area to be ready to re-examine it when season comes for fresh sign. Went to Laurel Hill WMA today to do just that.
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#1994720 - 07/14/10 09:38 PM
Re: Scouting in July - Need opinions
[Re: Boone 58]
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mr.big
Non-Typical
Registered: 01/03/01
Posts: 27930
Loc: Copper Head Road
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wear Knee high rubber boots and you will be fine
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