RJDUMAS, START SCOUTTING NOW. I HAVE BEEN HUNTING FOR OVER 15 YEARS AND I HAVE FOUND THAT YOU SHOULD NEVER STOP SCOUTTING. GO TO YOUR LOCAL USDA OFFICEOR AG EXT. AGENT AND GET A PHOTO OF YOUR HUNTING PROPERTY ALONG WITH A TOPO MAP. MAKE SEVERAL COPIES OF THESE MAPS FOR A NUMBER OF REASON. TAKE ONE PHOTO MAP MARK NORTH ON IT, NOW WITH A MARKER PUT A R WHERE THERE ARE RUBBS, AN S IN AREAS OF SCRAPS AND A B FOR BEDS. MARK TRAILS WITH LINES. FOOD SOURCES AND WATER OR DITCH CAN BE MARKED ALSO. I LIKE TO USE BLUE MARKERS FOR WATER, GREEN MARKERS FOR FOOD SOURCES, BLACK MARKERS ARE FOR TRAILS WHILE BLUE IS USED TO MARK TREE STAND LOCATIONS. BY THE END OF HUNTING SEASON YOU WILL SEE SOMEWHAT OF A PATTERN TO FORM. IN FEBURARY AFTER THE SEASON SCOUT EVERY INCH OF YOUR PROPERTY AND MARK THE SIGN YOU SEE. ALSO IF YOU HAVE FEEDER PUT A CAMERA ON IT TO SEE WHAT BUCKS MADE IT THROUGH THE SEASON. AFTER YOU HAVE SCOUTTING THE WHOLE AREA YOU WILL SEE WHAT AREAS OF YOUR PROPERTY HOLD THE MOST DEER SIGN AND WILL MOST LIKELY DO THE SAME NEXT YEAR.
COME JULY AND AUGUST I PUT CAMERAS ON TRAILS TO FOOD SOURCES OR ON FEEDERS TO SEE WHAT BUCKS I HAVE. I GLASS CROP FIELDS FROM AFAR AND MARK ON MY MAP WHERE MOST OF THE DEER ENTER AND EXIT THE FIELDS. HOPE THIS HELPS YOU OUT, IF EVERTHING GOES RIGHT ME AND SOME OTHER GUYS I HUNT WITH ARE GOING TO MAKE A VIDEO ON HOW TO SCOUT FOR DEER EFFECTIVLY. IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS JUST SEND ME A LINE TO
[email protected], GOOD HUNTING.