Scouting

[JeepKuntry]

I generally scout in January/February. Haven't been out this year. I generally try to find trails, rubs, poo. I don't read topos, but willing to learn. This past year we didn't have any mast and sightings were way down. Do you think that could throw off what I see why scouting. Maybe like that's not the typical pattern or routine?

 

[BSK]

This past year we didn't have any mast and sightings were way down. Do you think that could throw off what I see why scouting. Maybe like that's not the typical pattern or routine?

Absolutely.

Back when I was still conducting my post-season rub density studies, I would find two very distinct patterns of rubs, depending on he quality of the previous fall's acorn production. The rub distribution patterns were drastically different between the two types of years. Although they proved--over time--to be fairly predicable, in that all poor acorn years would display a similar pattern of rubs, while all good acorn years would display a similar pattern. But the two patterns were so different that they were almost the inverse of each other.

 

[bowriter]

In some areas, depending on the habitat, it can change every year. However, post season scouting will tell you what happened last season. If you have a food source change, it won't tell you what will happen next year.

In late August-early Sept, your most valuable scouting tool is a quality pair of binoculars. They will help you look at trees and gauge mast production.