Pre -Season Scouting

[Ruddy]

Usually August rolls around and start my pre-season scouting hikeing the ridges and wood,but 90+ degrees and humidity has put my scouting on hold until we get a break.
I still watch the fields early and late ,but has any one else put off their excursions into the hills because of the oppressive heat ?

I live in northern wisconsin, still we have had some of the 90+ degree days here too.
I still did some scouting in late July - early August. The ground was so dry my truck didn't even leave a track.
I put out a homemade trail camera and got a couple pics of does and a lot of pics of bear.
Though I know there are deer in the area, there doesn't appear to be much activity (no farmland nearby).
I plan to get out much more in the two weeks since the temps have declined and opening weekend is but a month away.
Though I haven't seen much sign of deer activity, the wood ticks are out in full force.

[Robert the41MagFan]

You have got to scout and now. We have been flirting with 100 degree temperatures here in Oregon and I've been hunting (it's bear season) and scouting at the same time. You have to get an idea of where the concentration of deer are now so that you can extensively scout those areas in the next weeks.

I did two morning tree stand sittings this past weekend. Saturday over a dozen doe past by my stand in less than four hours. Buck either is not there or didn't wish to be seen. Sunday, in another area, had eight elk swing by (one monster!) and later three nice bucks, still in velvet, bedded right next to me. Had to wait two hour before they scooted off. After spotting bears for weeks, they eluded me this weekend.

Been almost a year since I had a kill fix. Want it so bad, I can taste it already. About had a heart attack this weekend with all the action.

Robert



[Edited by Robert the41MagFan on 08-13-2001 at 11:34 PM]

[EXTREME]

Up here in Northern Minnesota it has cooled somewhat and it is time to start scouting. That 90+ degree stuff sucks. Today it was 81 degrees. That is the hottest it has been in a week. Just like Feathermax it is somewhat dry here and tough to see tracks. When tracks are hard to see you can still tell where they have been by bent over ferns and stuff like that. Hunting season is 32 days away for us!! Wish I could go into a coma and wake up the day before opener. Good Luck!!

[TheMaineRack]

Weather has been fierce, even up in Maine. Hard to scout, but lots of fly-fishing will keep the mind off it. Not really. During the heat I tend to keep my distance and glass several areas watching deer size, quantity, and travel areas, like funnels, that are not season specific.
In real dry areas, I bring 5 gallon pals of water and dump on ground, and check in the morning, track size and frequency of travel.

I simply drive around glassing fields in the early morning and evening hours just to ensure the areas have a buck or 2 in them still. I never scout after Aug so I do not disturb any areas and alert the deer, tree stands are hung, shooting lanes re-trimmed and I'm good to go come bow season.

[headshot]

Clyde knows what time it is

[bushhunter]

Bushhunter here, Scouting should be done 2-3months ahead of season, but donot forget about the weather. dry low lands can be flooded. In the summertime deer are usually in their summer areas. So where are you scounting for the fall hunt? Just watch your scent. Leave sum candy for the deer. Corn or apple blocks. deer get off the salt when the hot days quit, and go to the sweet stuff. Donot let mother nature fool you. Be good to the deer and they will be good to you.

[TheMaineRack]

Chocolate Chips. I've seen deer pass over piles of apple for them.

[Bald Eagle]

All:

My pre-season scouting so far has only amounted to sitting on my deck and watching these two boys (bucks) gorge themselves on Plums and Apples. I've named them 'Tall Guy' and 'Wide Guy'. I've seen the wide one several times and can honestly say he's in the 130 class. His rack is ~2" wider than his ears and G2's are in the 10 to 12" range. I have watched him for several years. He's now 2-1/2 years old and eight points. I'm surprised he's not been taken yet. The two of them seem to have it worked out. They pal around when not when not trying to compete. They learn from each other but tend to rely on each other also. I don't know whether to try for him or not this year. If he makes it to next years season, he could be a record book buck.

Baldy