I was wondering if anyone has started scouting yet. I was hunting a new area last year and didn't get a chance to scout but saw a fair amount of deer. I will probably start scouting again in a few weeks.

I try to scout on a year round basis. I hunt hogs year round and while I am out there I keep an eye out for deer sign. I will hang stands and get more serious about scouting in Aug.

I go out every chance I get, on the weekend's if I don't have any ( honey do's ), I'm in the wood's.
I like walking around looking for all kinds of sign but I try not to spook the game.
I'm always looking in diffrent area's that I haven't been before & diffrent places to put tree stands & ground blinds.

I have been out a little. I have finished scouting one location, just have to set up stands there. I know where they will be and have all the stand locations in my head. (GA)

Got another 1200 acres brand new that I've been scouting, but I haven't found anything special there yet. Still looking. (GA)

Got to scout IL in September for a November hunt. At least it will be an educated guess when I show up there.

That's it!!

scout year round as much as possible but keep in mind that closer to season things change a bit so make every time you scout count and watch for the changing patterns closer to september and october

I do most of my scouting these days from above with satellite imagery , it saves a lot of shoe leather by narrowing down the most promising locales without stinking them up , and also saves me a fortune in gas . I don't do much ground scouting until a month or so before the season opener , usually while squirrel or rabbit hunting .

hey, i was jus wandering, while tallking about scouting, how would iscout a small lot, like 20 acres. i mean theres not that much too walk thru you know? i dont understand how people say they scout these small areas. u can walk only so far on a 20 acre plot and then u r back to square 1. i dont know it jus seems to make much more sense to scout a large plot(if available of course), but scouting a small 1 seems to be almost trivial. i just sort of put my stand up and see what i see. how do u guys go about doing it? thanks alot

Going this Saturday to do some scouting at my club. I'll also freshen my mineral licks and hang a trailcam.

geterdun--
IMO, scouting is like still hunting...you need to do it very, very slowly...then slow down some. For me, scouting 20 acres could take several hours. I'm not looking for the deer, but for deer sign like old rubs or new bedding areas. I'm looking at what kind of trees are in the area that may/may not provide good brouse, looking for entry/exit points...for both me and the deer, how the wind tends to blow, what trees will work well in morning or evening depending on the sun. Lots to consider so take it slow and enjoy yourself.
Happy hunting.
Craig

Too many bugs and TOO hot
[/align]