Deer Scouting Resources & Tips
Deer Scouting
We absolutely love the challenge that comes with hunting big mature bucks on public land. It's not easy, but it's addictive. We think about it all year round, but as the summer months roll in and fall is around the corner, we really start dreaming about finding that monster public land buck. In fact, now is a critical time for many hunters.
But, as most experienced deer hunters will tell you, a successful hunt isn't just about showing up on opening day in the early fall and hoping for the best, especially when it comes to deer hunting on public land.
The best e-scouting strategy for hunting deer doesn't have to be hard or confusing. We aren't using magic, hunting private or high fence areas. Its a basic strategy that we've used to be successful scouting whitetail deer using escouting maps like Huntwise
We’ve covered a lot of information pertaining to scouting during the summer months. From trail cams to entry and exit strategies, we’ve touched on a lot of topics. However, I’m often asked what specific types of tactics I use to help us zero in on a buck and to learn his tendencies in any particular area during the summer. Here are a few things I find to be particularly helpful:
The art of camouflage and the debate on which camo pattern is the best, is highly discussed topic. While some believe their way of blending to be the dominant way, others always have an alternative approach. Mine of course being the later.
A few years ago, Jared was out on a solo backcountry whitetail hunt where we had scouted a few areas that he liked on an aeriel map on his phone. He plotted where he wanted to camp and a few promising spots within a mile walking distance of camp and headed out. When he arrived at his camp destination and started speed scouting through the areas he plotted, almost half of the locations were bone cold of any deer sign. And that's the key here!⠀ ⠀
Too often hunters find themselves in a situation saying, “ Man, I wish I would have brought that!” or “Why didn’t I think of that?”. And all too often, it’s because of not utilizing a key practice method called visualization.
For serious mobile bowhunters, there is little room for error when selecting a hunting location. Wind direction, shot options, tree size, and cover all effect where you are able to setup your ambush.
Most of these variables can be eliminated through proper scouting during offseason months. But what if time is running out before season or your in a new location you've never been to? Then a Mobile Setup might be your new passion. Mobile setups are any “tree fixtures” that are carried into the woods with you for the hunt and then carried back out with you. They can be hang on platform stands, climber stands, or (our new favorite) tree saddles. Along with nonpermanent tree steps and mobile climbing sticks.
Most of us can remember the old rickety wood stand built in the crotch of a tree with leftover nails and lumber that they've hunted out of as a kid or have periodically seen while out in the woods slowly rotting away. These stands were likely installed in a spot meant to be hunted regularly.⠀ ⠀
When the summer heat rolls around, hunters know there aren’t many things better than looking at pictures from your trail camera and seeing a few stud bucks on it. Motion-activated camera technology has been around for a while now and are a great scouting tool for hunters to utilize during the offseason. But what if you have never used one before, where do you start? With so many options to choose from, it's hard to narrow it down to just one camera. Should you have more than one? What should be your strategy? Here are our 7 Commandments of Trail Camera Tactics to stop you from eating your tag at the end of the season.