Scouting for Deer

Here are scounting tips to find that buck.

Even as you are hunting, it is never too late to scout for deer, especially if they are not frequenting the area close to your tree stand.  However, if you are in unfamiliar territory, you will want to make sure you have a compass or a two way radio, if not both. 

In some ways, fall is one of the best times to scout for deer since most of the undergrowth of the woods should be frozen out, making deer trails easy to see.  Not only that, but most of the sign you see is fresh, so scrapes and rubs are solid confirmations of recent deer activity.  Another advantage to scouting during deer season is that there’s no telling what you might bump into out in the woods. 

In addition to deer sign, there are several different geographical features you that are prime territory for deer.  Of course if you are using a rifle with a good scope, a big open field with crops is prime territory, but the majority of your opportunities are likely to be right at dawn or dusk, and deer are naturally more leery in the open, unless the rut has a strong hold on them.  However, in most cases, deer are much more comfortable when they are surrounded by some type of cover. 

One of the most favorable places to bump into deer is around what are commonly called natural funnels.  A funnel could be something as plain as a drainage ditch or a low spot in a fence.  Essentially, any terrain feature that makes it easier for a deer to go a certain way can be considered a funnel.  Like humans, deer are creatures of habit, and they will not do things the hard way unless it is for a reason. 

Finding bedding areas can also be a big piece of the puzzle when trying to pinpoint deer.  Although it is impossible to immediately know when the deer are bedding in this area, putting in some time in on a trail leading to or from a bedding area will make an encounter with deer very likely. 

Likewise, if you find that deer are appearing in a field or other feeding area just a little to late for your taste, setting up 20-50 yards inside the treeline may provide you with an opportunity and enough light to take a deer. 

The onset of the rut can make patterning deer difficult, but they are likely to use the same trails, although the times that they use them may vary greatly.