Such a Thing as Scouting to Early?
#11
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Harford Co Maryland USA
Posts: 4,966
RE: Such a Thing as Scouting to Early?
Two things to keep in mind:
1.) What you see right now might change to a small degree in a month or so as foods choices change and the velvet sheds. The older and bigger bucks begin to become more secretive. Other factors can come into play here as well--kids who might have played there go back to school, careless scouting might increase, etc.
2.) Especially as the season gets really close, I try to have most (or even all) of my scouting done. You can practice " long-range' scouting with binoculars if you have to go there, but leave as little scent as possible and try to not disturb the area much.
1.) What you see right now might change to a small degree in a month or so as foods choices change and the velvet sheds. The older and bigger bucks begin to become more secretive. Other factors can come into play here as well--kids who might have played there go back to school, careless scouting might increase, etc.
2.) Especially as the season gets really close, I try to have most (or even all) of my scouting done. You can practice " long-range' scouting with binoculars if you have to go there, but leave as little scent as possible and try to not disturb the area much.
#12
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Sweet Valley Pa. USA
Posts: 532
RE: Such a Thing as Scouting to Early?
I think that scouting is a year around deal. I like to do alot of scouting in february, March and April. My area has pretty heavy people traffic all year so it doesn' t bother the deer too much to be out now looking around. The best scouting I think you can do if you hunt the same areas is experience. This is gained through actual hunting in the fall. Every year you should learn more about the deer patterns in the area that you hunt. I know in my area the deer are in the same areas every year. The only exception may be very early due to different crop plantings in different areas.