Scouting

[Jcalder]

I've hunted the same tract for most of my hunting career. I've learned the bulk of what I know by trial and error. Climbed down a little earlier than I had planned but figured I would do a little scouting. I went down a long ridge that ice hunted in the past but none in the last 3-4 years. I found a rub next to the logging road and proceeded to go farther. There is another logging road that runs parrallel to the one I was in. The biggest difference is accessible still by vehicle and the other is growing in with saplings. I decided on my way out to take the old road. Seen several old rubs from years gone by in the same area as the first. I finally decided that I needed to hunt this area. Jumped a deer getting out. I've always checked a field close to where I park. Never have seen a deer there. Got about ten feet from the truck and a deer runs off. Decided that would be a good spot. I then realized that I'm only one person and can't hunt everything lol

 

[chubacabra]

good luck!

 

[htnseymour]

It will be painful, but I'll come help you thin the herd :)

 

[bowriter]

For well 0over half my almost six decades of deer hunting, scouting was almost as much fun for me as actually hunting. I'm sure I scouted way more than I hunted.

When you guide for money, you dang sure better do your scuting and do it right. In IA-NE-MO, my partner and I spent two weeks after the season and two weeks in early Sept. just scouting. We then spent five days hanging stands. Each of the 55-stands was hung in a place for a particular reason.

We kept extensive records and how great it was to see if we had guess right. This was long beofre everyone had a camera on every tree so we did it the old fashioned way.

Although I only hunt about 250-300 acres now, I still scout. My main focus now is the changing mast. That changes some travel. I wish I had new country to scout.