Scouting during rifle hunts

[Couzer]

Scout whenever life allows you to get into the mountains, just have common sense.

+1 if you have the time get out there and be thoughtful to the other hunters. Just because there's other hunts going on shouldn't stop you from scouting.

[johnnie blaze]

I stay out of the area during others hunts. Wouldn't want someone interfering with my hunt, so I won't risk it with theirs.

I like to hunt quail when there is a mule deer hunt in saddlebrook.

[4Falls]

Go every chance you get.

[Zeke-BE]

I always hunted 36b couse. This was my first year hunting mule deer and I was hunting 36b. I didn't want to show up to a hunt and that is where all the hunters are camping and hunting at. So I went out for the first mule deer hunt drove around just to see where the camps were and where all the hunters were hunting. But I stayed on the road and glassed.

[Str8Shot]

I would agree with with those that say stick to the roads and glass while also paying attention to camps and areas of higher pressure.... With that being said I personally believe ( epsecially with the cost of gas depending on the the drive) that scouting prior to the early hunts and then after the actual rifle hunts has been better for those I have helped comethe late Archery season .... I am just starting to take up archery, have not shot since a teen, but I am a deer finding machine for family and friends ... During the rifle hunts, especially the later hunts the pressure has a lot of bucks pushed deep and much harder to get a real idea where you may see them come Mid to late Dec. It is amazing how much can change in their paterns after a week or two of not being chased .. often finding them in areas seen prior to the firts hunts . I feel it is best to let those with tags hunt without the additional traffic and guessing if the guy in the spot they are looking to hunt actually has a tag or is scouting.... We have always doen better relocating Bucks in the late archery hunts by focusing om scouting the weekends for the month prior to oepning of general rifle and usually a weekday or two prior to the start of the late Archery!

[couesmagnet]

I would go scouting every chance you can get. Heck if your going down south all your presence would equal is 1 extra illegal making a run for phoenix, and what diff would that really make. Your being way to nice in thinking of staying away from the woods at anytime during the year. It's a dog eat dog world out there now with what huntings morphed into. Look for trucks near water and the normal stuff that any polite person would do during any hunt to another, but get out there at will and pound anything and everything that interests you. Over the years when we've been scouting during other people's hunts we always seemed to find the game that they were hunting while we are scouting. You can help others in the field far more than you can hurt their hunts when your scouting if your willing to share what you saw with them. I can't tell you how many times we've handed animals off that we found scouting to others during their own respective hunt. Be just a little careful out there around water and hit the ground running where ever and when ever you want.

[capoeirajosh]

Thanks for all of the replies everyone. I have been out a few times so far and actually haven't seen any other hunters. I also try and go during the week though. Good luck to all of you this season!

[4Falls]

Go when you can you have as much right to be there as anyone else.