 
SCOUTING
FOR SUCCESS
by Donnie Key
It's that time of year
again. The kids have returned I to school and the days are getting
shorter. To the avid hunter, that can only mean one thing; hunting
season is just around the corner! A little time in the field now
will prove invaluable come opening day or later in the season when
the rut kicks in. Remember that old bumper sticker- "It's midnight,
do you know where your kids are?" Well, it's late summer. Do you
know where your deer are? I usually start out preseason scouting by
spending some time watching the fields around the farms and public
lands I like to hunt. The most comfortable way to accomplish this is
to ride in my truck with a good spotting scope. Like us, deer are
fonder of moving around during the cooler times of day; such as
early mornings or late evenings. Also, the trail cams I've placed on
known trails leading to feeders help me get a good idea of herd
volume and movement. (Note: All feeders are placed in accordance
with state regulations and guidelines.) Another important part of my
preseason scouting trips is locating natural mass crops such as
acorns and persimmons. After I've located heavily traveled main
trails, I like the challenge of looking deeper for those more
elusive trails. You know the ones. They're usually hidden off the
beaten path; about 10 to 15 yards away from those main trails.
(Trails like this really get my blood pumping!) I follow these
trails to see what other valuable signs I can find. I look for last
year's scrapes and rubs, deer droppings, and bedding areas. Next to
natural feeding spots, the bedding areas are some of the most
important places to find. It's important to avoid bedding areas as
much as possible during scouting to prevent bumping that
already-elusive mature buck. When I first started hunting years ago,
I only focused on the well-beaten paths with tracks everywhere. Now,
most of the time, I am looking for that mature buck which requires a
little more effort and homework. Once I've scouted and found out
where the deer are, I start looking for those perfect trees for my
climber or a lock-on stand. Personally, I like to hang several
stands throughout an area. Doing this allows me to be more versatile
later in the season. While I'm there, I take the time to check any
pre-existing stands for hazards and freshen up any shooting lanes
that may have grown over. Remember to use some form of scent
control. For obvious reasons, snake boots or chaps are always a good
idea when walking and with heat indexes in the upper nineties, don’t
forget to hydrate. You may want to carry a GPS for help if you lose
your direction or to mark locations for later reference. As always,
remember to be safe and have fun when going out to prepare for the
up-coming season. Most importantly, use good common sense. Without
it, nothing on the market will help save you.
God Bless and Happy
Hunting!
Donnie Key is an active outdoor writer and Pro Staff member for
Traditional Sportsman Magazine and Southern Backwoods Adventures
Television. |
