MathewQuigly Report post Posted June 11, 2015 Just curious as to how others do there scouting. I'm mainly talking about deer but this could apply for any game. My dad alwayse said we'll scout as the season gets closer and for the most part that worked fine. In later years I started scouting more often watching the patterns change. Then when all the hunts started everything changed again by the time my rifle hunt started. So with all that said is there a right or wrong way to scout or any suggestions Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azslim Report post Posted June 11, 2015 this time of the year I'll scout roads, water and trails just to familiarize myself with the unit if it's new to me or expand my knowledge of one I've hunted and I never spend the night in the same place twice, hit the high points to glass daybreak and evenings, then drive and walk terrain during the day 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
elkaholic Report post Posted June 11, 2015 here agin - it depends on where you were drawn and where you live . are you working or can you just scout weekends do you have children in school and sports are you independently wealthy and an afford frequent trips to accommodate your scouting/hunting I'd love to be able to take a 5 minute drive or walk and be in my hunting unit - not gonna happen - so like anything scouting is a planned process to get the most bang for the bucks so to speak . Like to be able to plan a long weekend and add a few things to the trip like a little trout fishing for an afternoon -or just a spot like slim mentions go hike a hill and just sit for a few hours and glass - then move on - Can't just pack and go anymore it seems like - thought getting older it would be easier but seems to be just the opposite . - lol just get out as often as possible and enjoy our beautiful state and the opportunities to scout / hunt or just a walk in a new place 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MathewQuigly Report post Posted June 11, 2015 Nope can only scout weekends and when funds allow it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azslim Report post Posted June 11, 2015 I would study maps in my living room to plan making the most out of my gas, you can cover a lot of terrain on a weekend and if you find an area that you like give it two weekends. You will be surprised how much you can learn from 4 to 6 weekends during the summer, pack light and be mobile, put up a cot at the tailgate at night and break it down in the morning, head up on the occasional Fri night so you're ready to go Sat. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PRDATR Report post Posted June 11, 2015 I mainly e-scout and send PM's. LOL But seriously. I try to scout all year and have some favorite places to hunt that typically hold deer. With so many back to back hunts in some units it makes it tougher to scout leading up to a particular hunt. 6 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
idgaf Report post Posted June 11, 2015 I scout as much as i can. It is surprising how little a deer moves, when he finds a spot he likes . If you find a buck scouting, a good place to start is there. No matter what hunt you have. Also, you learn a lot about deer if you just watch what they are doing and how they act. For example, the buck I helped my nephew get I had not been to that spot in nine months and I knew there would be a buck there from past experience with the area. We were in the spot for less than five seconds when he spotted the deer. Only six and a half more months and I can hunt deer again, I should go scout. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MT_Sourdough Report post Posted June 12, 2015 Back in Montana, the critters move around quite a lot and are rarely in the same place during the general hunting season as where they were through the summer. That is why I like to pay close attention to the smart pellets when I am out hiking around, I can guesstimate the age of deer and elk pellets so I look for droppings that are from the early winter time. Seeing 6-7 month old pellets in June tells you where you need to be 5 months into the future. I do not know enough about these AZ critters to say that is very beneficial here. I have resorted to trail cams for a big part of my scouting here in AZ, Not at water holes but finding their most commonly used trails in an area and stick a cam on it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MathewQuigly Report post Posted June 12, 2015 I have an Advantage this year that I can scout from horse back. I haven't been in this area since I was a kid and look forward to seeing it again. I think I'll start by hitting the water holes seeing which ones have water and go from there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mattys281 Report post Posted June 12, 2015 I dont get out near as much as I would like to. Work and family take up most of my time, like many others. Ive found though that if youre satisfied with shooting any legal deer, you can just keep hitting the good spots you already know year after year. If deer liked it last year theyll still like it this year. If you need to shoot a booner to be happy than you should plan on spending millions of hours scouting or hire a guide. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MathewQuigly Report post Posted June 12, 2015 I'm not picky any legal deer will do Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
218buck Report post Posted June 12, 2015 It is always fun to get out and scout gets me away from work and time to clear my mind good luck 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mattys281 Report post Posted June 12, 2015 I'm not picky any legal deer will do Thats me about 90% of the time too. I shot a little forky mule deer two summers ago, by far the tastiest deer I've taken so far. This year I'll shoot the first legal one I see here in Az, as I'm very short on time due to a fall hunt in Nebraska. Im going up there planning to shoot a couple does and hopefully a buck, but I'll be fine if I only tag does. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
