lemond33, do you hunt any public land in DE,if so where would you suggest a person go, I really need to figure this scouting stuff out, i know its a big part of being succesful.

Heading out tomorrow for a quick afternoon hunt. Clearing skys and a cool afternoon. Maybe those big boys will be chasing some does. Lets hope.

Any day spent huntin, is better than any day spent workin,,

Duckmastor2

i hunt both private and public..to be honest i like the public areas better...esp where u r at. augustine has a TON of deer i have hunted there for years. i am an archery hunter only. i was out this evening, but i didnt hang in there. didnt see the point. i will be able to hunt for a week straight in 2 weeks. the persimmons arent as plentiful as last year. the deer are really moving and hitting the food sources..i will tell u that. i will be hunting a field on public land next week. last year i saw bucks chasing does there in the evening...big bodied animals..see ya soon.

Went last night in the rain and was rewarded with a good 7 point! Thought the hit was perfect but waited 'til this morning to find him. He only went about 75 yards! Saw six bucks and at least that many does. The bucks were really chasing the does around! I rattled the one I got in. Shot at 4:30.

Cleaning up my gear and heading back out tomorrow am! Things are really gearing up! Hope the cool weather holds!!! Good luck everyone

Congrats DEBob.
I'm stuck in work unitl Sat, but I think I'm already getting sick for next week, at least two days sick, probably Thursday and Friday.
Damn flu gets me every year this time. <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>
thruthevitals, all you can do is download some of the maps here and put in some legwork.
http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/fw/wildlifemaps.htm
Don't discount the smaller tracts, and there are a ton of tracts not listed, so try to speak with a CO for your area, some new ones open every year. Try to do the walking on Sunday or after the season, so as not to mess anybody up.




&quot;In heaven, even the fish have antlers&quot;

Thanks for the reply's, I did get the maps off the dnrec website, havent talked to a CO for this area though, but a good idea.I hunted augustine yesterday in the rain,sat as long as i could,from 1 to 4:45, got cold (not enough layers)so i decided to walk slowly back to my truck through the trails cut by the state. Well as luck would have it, six point must have been watching me round the bend, when i got to about 10yrds of him he jumped from the brush and headed in to the standing corn. Got to the last field before my truck, well after legal shooting time, and there were quite a few white flags up and heading the other way.Do you guys scout all year or just a couple weeks before the season starts ,plus in season scouting (sundays).Do you know of any books i could get that explain how to read sign in detail.

Some fairely informative books on scouting are published by Krause Publications. My favorites are written by Greg Miller, particularily Rub Line Secrets. I got mine at Borders.

Scouting is like any other pursuit...the more often you do it, the better you will get. I would strongly echo Sikas comments about limiting scouting to Sundays. If no trucks are around, a midday strole through an area can reveal alot! Just try not to screw someone else's day blundering around aimlessly. Don't discount desktop scouting either...check out Terra Server and read over some aerial photos...you can learn alot just reading the maps! Good Luck! Can't hardly go wrong just being out there for the next few weeks!!

I hear ya about scouting on sundays, I dont want people wandering around when Im out there hunting either. Ill check terra server out.Ill be out as much i can till the end of the season,the more you go, the more you learn right? Ill check that book also.

Had a big old buck take me to school today. Its a long story so i'm going to post a seperate thread. Check it out.

Congrats DEBob on another deer! Things are kicking up. I saw alot of trucks out tonight. No one dragging deer though, including me <img src=icon_smile_sad.gif border=0 align=middle>

Any day spent huntin, is better than any day spent workin,,

Duckmastor2

Thanks for the Congrats guys.

Went this morning and saw only three little fawns. Thought I heard one grunting in the distance but it could have been wishful thinking. First time I haven't hunted the oaks in about a month....I'm going straight back to 'em!!!<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> Not near as much sign elsewhere!

Scouted midday and jumped a doe bedded with a good buck. He was clueless and followed her off grunting with every step! If this weather will just hold, we're in for a grand couple of weeks!!!!

My cousins getting married tomorrow so hunting's gonna have to wait 'til Monday. Good luck to those that get out!!!