RE: Off season scouting
One other thing that I forgot to mention, learn how to cape a deer out. Yes learn! Every year guys bring me capes frozen telling me that they have caped out "tons of deer". Only to find out that they rung the legs off too short. Replacement capes on big neck deer run upwards of $200, add that onto a mount charge and we're getting up there. Last year 13 of the deer were cut short, form alterations aren't cheap either. When in doubt, find out.