I start my scouting with a map. There are obvious terraine features that will funnel deer and these get my first attention. I'll hike out to them and look for sign, if sign is present I'll look the area over further. At this point I'm looking for bedding areas clost to the funnel and rut sign from last fall (most of my scouting is spring or immediately after the season), things such as rubs and scrapes. I, like you never put my cam out on public ground. I'm sketched out enough on my private land. Too many people in this world just don't respect what others have worked hard for.

I probably have it easier then most on public ground because the land I hunt sees few hunters. That's the luxery of "Big Woods" but the down side is there are only on average 7-10 deer per sq mile. This means if your homework isn't done when you get to the woods you may be concentrating your efforts in areas void of much deer activity.