Boots On the Ground
By Marina Childress
The importance of scouting and knowing the land you hunt
Summer finally came to an end, and our favorite time of the year has arrived. It’s officially time to put your phone on DND (do not disturb) and climb into a treestand. It’s deer season!
Even with all the hard work you did in the summer to prepare, you still have to get a good feel for what deer are doing. One of my favorite deer chores is scouting. Scouting plays a crucial part in the success of your hunt and gives you a better understanding of deer behavior and population trends in your area.
What exactly is scouting?
To me, scouting is the process of observing and investigating an area to gather information about deer behavior, movement patterns and habitat. It is not a one-time activity, but more of a collection of data over days, weeks, months and even years.
This involves identifying key locations such as feeding areas, bedding sites and travel routes, as well as looking for sign like tracks, rubs and scrapes. The goal is to understand where and when deer are likely to be present, which helps you make informed decisions for your hunting plans.
Break Out the Binos
One of the most important scouting tools is a good set of binoculars. They allow you to observe deer from a distance and even differentiate bucks from does and even shooter bucks from younger bucks. The better your binoculars, the more detail you’ll be able to see and the later in the evening you’ll be able to see it.
The saying “good stuff ain’t cheap and cheap stuff ain’t good” certainly applies to binoculars, and it never hurts to invest in good quality binos. Higher end models tend to be more lightweight, easy to handle, durable and have a great magnification for viewing long distances without disturbing any game.
Location, Location, Location
We all know when that cool weather hits and the oaks start dropping high prized acorns that whitetails will be close by, but acorns aren’t the only deer food source.
It’s important to look for areas that have a great food and water nearby. Rich agricultural areas or woodlines containing fruit or nut producing trees are deer magnets. Even if you live in an area where you can bait and put out feeders, I’ve seen deer leave corn for acorns and persimmons.
When scouting these areas, pay attention to the obvious. Imagine a scrape as a billboard made by bucks. They are highly visible and can give insight to travel corridors. Rubs indicate bucks are in the area, and if you find them around a thicket or timber blocks, that may be a good indication a bedding is nearby.
The Right Time
Early mornings and late afternoons are prime time for deer activity, so those are the best times for observing them as part of your scouting regimen.
If you plan to go out in the morning, do so just before sunrise or an hour or two after as deer are up and moving looking to feed.
If you prefer afternoons, the best time is right before sunset when deer return to feed.
Another key point about scouting is it doesn’t end when deer seasons open. Always be on the lookout for new information, even while hunting. Scouting during pre- or post-rut gives you an opportunity to see where most of the rut activity takes place. That information can help you decide if you need to move a stand for the current season, or give you an idea of where you need to place one next fall.
X Marks the Spot
Mapping tools can enhance your understanding of deer habits and help you strategize your hunt. Hunting apps provide features like weather conditions, wind direction, moon phases and even hunting regulations, which can help plan scouting trips. GPS is another tool for marking important locations like trailheads, feeding areas, deer sightings. You also can use GPS to plot your path and scout thoroughly without retracing your steps. It can even help you get back to your truck if you get turned around in new territory. Technology is great, so use it to your advantage.
Time To Climb
I prefer elevated positions to gain a broader view of the landscape and spot deer from a distance. If the terrain where you hunt allows you to get off the ground and see long distances, take advantage of it.
Topography doesn’t always allow you to see key areas, and deer often use that to their advantage. They tend to move along ridges and wooded bottoms, avoiding open areas. Elevated positions allow you to spot more of these natural pathways and can significantly increase your chances for success.
Cheat the Wind
If you’re looking to find where the big bucks hanging out, you need to know the basics. A whitetail’s greatest defense mechanism is its incredible sense of smell. And they use it all day, every day, to stay alive.
It’s difficult to beat a deer’s nose, so always be mindful of wind direction. In a perfect world, you want the wind to be blowing toward a deer-free zone, but few setups allow complete control of where deer travel in relation to the stand. Play it smart. Know the direction the wind is blowing for the day, hour and minute. Use scent eliminators when scouting to cover your scent and keep your activity from being noticed. This is especially important when scouting during the season and in the few weeks just prior.
Last But Not Least
It sounds simple, but the more sign you find, the better. Whatever factors concentrate deer in a given area will draw other deer there as well. Look for spots that literally scream “HUNT RIGHT HERE!”
And remember to be patient and be willing to adjust your strategy based on new information and changing conditions.