scouting and hanging a stand
 

was out scouting today. i found a few signs that deer are in my woods. one area i came across what was like a deer highway. i fallowed this trail and found that there were like three trails that came into this highway trail. it was in a thick brush area. there were no beds to be found. other area i came aross was about the same but there were a few rubs made last fall. what else should i be looking for? i didnt have any luck last year i feel it is because i didnt scout that much. would these areas sound like good areas to hang a stand. give me some help on what are good areas to hang a stand?

RE: scouting and hanging a stand
 

Where you find trails, you' ll find deer. I would hunt 20 yards or so off the trails. Near the thick stuff!!

RE: scouting and hanging a stand
 

Like W. Dale said. Remember, just because you hang a stand in a specific tree near a trail does not mean you have to hunt that spot only. Be prepared to move your stand during hunting season, deer can and will change their patterns and use different trails. Be prepared to move accordingly.

RE: scouting and hanging a stand
 

Where those trails come together in the thick stuff is good as long as you keep your scent out! Also look for where they are eating... very good for just before dark!;)

RE: scouting and hanging a stand
 

Remember summer deer patterns are likely to
change come fall. What looks great now, may
not have the same traffic come Oct./Nov. We
use to do our scouting during summer months,
but some of the locations and trees we prepared
and setup looked completely different
come fall/early winter. Now we do 95% of our
scouting and stand work in Jan, Feb, & Mar.

Good advice on setting back off the trail. Make
sure when picking out a stand that you have
adequate background cover around and behind
your stand. With all the leaves now, it doesn' t
seem like that would be a concern, but you don' t
want to get skylined by a deer this fall.

I' d also checked out some natural funnels, like
creek crossings, fence crossings, and inside/outside
corners. Deer will use these year around.

Good luck
TB

RE: scouting and hanging a stand
 

If the brush is too young to hang a stand in, you' ll have to set up a blind. I would go as far down the trail as I can and still have a good spot to put up a blind or stand because there will be more deer met up with the others on the trail. I also don' t like to be where two trails meat if I' m on the ground because deer may get up behind you and catch you off gaurd and alert other deer. A heavy trail may be all the sign you need for a good spot. by the sound of it the deer use that trail as a safe travel route and it will be a good spot to go later in the season when they have been spooked into the heavy cover.