my first year i did not scout much if any second i did some. Last year i scout once on the private land i hunted with the owner. He gave me a small area and told me where a good spot was. I setup there. What realy made me mad was when i told him i had saw alot of deer there. He started hunting 100 yards away from me when he had 40 acres of his own and 50 of his neighboor and i was on about 6 acres. This year i did alot though a few spots end up bad due to dogs and other factors i found out later after season started. This year i will scout some after season is over. Unless i am in florida for the rest of the winter.