Get Your Boots on the Ground: The Importance of Scouting and Knowing the Land you Hunt

Author: Marina Childress

Summer finally came to an end, and our favorite time of the year has happened. It’s officially time to put the phone on DND (Do not disturb), and time to climb in a tree stand. It’s deer season! 

With all the hard work being done in the summer months to prepare for the season, one of my favorite things that goes along with doing “deer chores” is scouting. Scouting plays a crucial part for preparing for your hunt and understanding the deer behavior and population in your area.

So scouting? What is it exactly?

Scouting for deer refers to the process of observing and investigating an area to gather information about deer behavior, movement patterns, and habitat. 

Which involves identifying key locations, such as feeding areas, bedding sites, and travel routes, as well as looking for signs like tracks, rubs, and scrapes. The goal is to understand where and when deer are likely to be present, which helps hunters make informed decisions for their hunting plans.

Break out the Binos:

Having a good set of binoculars always comes in handy and are a key tool when scouting for deer because they allow you to spot game from a distance and identify whether you are looking at a buck or a doe from hundreds of yards away. 

You know the saying “good stuff ain’t cheap, and cheap stuff ain’t good” so it never hurts to invest in some good quality binos that are lightweight, easy to handle, durable and have a great magnification for viewing long distances without disturbing any game. 

Location, Location, Location:

We all know when that cool weather hits and the Oak trees start dropping high prized acorns. You can bet on deer being close by. 

 It’s important to look for areas that have a great food and water source. Such as your rich agricultural areas, or your wood lines that have fruit or nut producing trees that deer just can’t resist. Even if you live in an area where you can bait and put out feeders, I’ve seen deer leave that precious gold corn for acorns and persimmons.

When scouting these areas, pay attention to the obvious. Imagine a scrape as a billboard sign made by bucks. They are highly visible and can give insight to travel corridors for deer.

 Rubs are also a sign that bucks are in the area, and if it’s around a thicket or timber blocks, that may be a good indication for a bedding area nearby.

Choosing the right time:

Early mornings and late afternoons are the prime times for deer activity. 

If you plan for the morning, do so just before sunrise or an hour or two after as deer are up and moving looking to feed.

 If you would rather choose the late afternoon, the best time is right before sunset when the deer return to feed.

Another option is using the rut to your advantage. Scouting during pre or post rut gives you as a hunter an opportunity to see deer you maybe haven’t seen before since that time is major for increased deer movement and activity.

X marks the Spot:

Using mapping tools effectively while scouting deer can greatly enhance your understanding of their habits and help you strategize your hunt. Using hunting apps is a great way to start, since they provide features like weather conditions, moon phases, and hunting regulations, which can help plan your scouting trips. GPS is another great tool to mark key locations such as trailheads, feeding areas, deer sightings and record your path and scout areas thoroughly without retracing steps. Technology was a great invention, so use it to your advantage. 

Time to Climb:

 Use elevated positions to gain a broader view of the landscape and spot deer from a distance if that’s the case for the terrain you hunt.

 Deer often use topography to their advantage. They may move along ridges, and wooded bottoms, avoiding open areas. 

Elevated positions allow you to spot these natural pathways and may significantly increase your chances for success during the hunting season.

Cheat the Wind:

If you’re looking to find where the big bucks are hanging around, then you need to know the basics. 

A whitetail deer’s greatest defense mechanism is their incredible sense of smell. And they will use it all day, every day, to stay alive. 

So, be mindful of the wind direction. In a perfect world you want the wind to be blowing back towards a “deer free zone” but we can’t all be that lucky sometimes. Play it smart. Know the direction that the wind is blowing for the day, hour, minute, whatever that may be and use scent eliminators when scouting to cover up your scent to prevent from getting busted and blowing deer out of the area you plan to hunt in the future.

Last but not least:

Keep in mind, the more sign you find of deer in the area, the better. 

Look for spots that literally scream “HUNT RIGHT HERE!” 

And remember to be patient and be willing to adjust your strategy based on new information and changing conditions. 

Have a happy hunting season!