Lots of ways to answer your question... For me, it depends on lots of variables, maybe even mostly how I want to hunt said property.

Sometimes I'm scouting for actual deer sign--mostly POOP, or I'll use binos to look for acorns on certain trees (bow season). I seldom scout for "buck sign",it's just a bonus if it's present. Poop is A-1 evidence in my book. I may walk a firebreak on a cutover sometimes to see how much activity is crossing it, and where I could climb to watch that stretch.
Sometimes on a WMA I am scouting for a "place"...meaning I want a likely looking spot where I can shoot as much turf as possible.