As I've mentioned before, I'm trying to be more methodical and plan better for this years bow season.

A friend and I are planning on going and scouting some land (Mostly Wheeler Refuge) in the next couple days. What would you consider to be the most important thing to look for when scouting? Trails, food sources, magical leprechauns? A combination of it all?

I'd love to be able to pinpoint some solid stand locations over the next few weeks, months, whatever.

1 vote for trails

Trails going from beding to acorns

Look for trails along natural pinch points and saddles, transitions in cover or where the end of several ridges meet into a bowl or bottom.. look for last seasons rubs on the trees or old scrapes and dont be afraid to get off the beaten path, an old fire break can lead to some good spots on public land

Scouting for deer right now is a waste of time for me. Going and learning the lay of the land and making mental note of oak trees near thickets to check later is worthwhile. Go back and check those oaks to see if they're dropping acorns about a week before the season comes in. That's when scouting for deer season is worthwhile for me.

Wheeler is tough because it is mostly flat and big hardwoods from what I've seen. I've never hunted it, with that in mind, this is how I would approach it.

-most importantly, locate any and all thick stuff you can. Try to do as much of this as you can from google earth.

-find pinch points. With big flat hardwoods, this means tips of sleughs, creek crossings, drainage ditches, and transitions in cover. A sleugh that sticks way in off the river can create a heck of a funnel.

-now try to locate general areas that have both of those things, and are a pain in The butt to get to.

- circle those areas on the map and go check them out now. While you're in there, get to know the area, pick out potential trees to climb, look for good acorn trees,
etc.

-then go back to all of them right before season comes in and hunt the ones with the most sign.

Thanks for the advice. Ironically, I saw more deer this morning than I have ever seen on Wheeler combined.

Acorns and more acorns I kill deer every year opening week over acorns thay be hiting good open week

Thats good, means your in the right spot

Where were you exactly?

SNAKES!!!!!!

I would think so, but the section is also HEAVILY hunted, so I imagine the second season starts they will get pushed out.

Get on google earth and find that spot.. now look for similar features but WAY out there. My experiences on public land if you have to walk a long way to consistently see deer.

X2
Deer patterns are gonna change late sept-oct. Doesn't matter where the deer were in Jan either, gotta find where they're gonna be when you plan to hunt them.

The trail cam forum will be full of guys that gots pics of a giant buck all summer only to find him gone by oct.

Nah. No pressure right now and summer patterns. Won't be in the same places

I went scouting on wheeler, twice in the past month. Jumped 1 deer each time and saw a coyote. Are you on the north or south side of 67? North or south of the TN river?

I am ready for season to be here... ;-)

I've hunted both North and South of the river. I've never hunted close to 67.

What he said.

I mainly stay south of 67.

I have just been following trails.

Keep a eye out for snakes to they every were right now

Scouting on Wheeler will help you get the lay of the land. Just keep in mind some of it becomes flooded later in the season and you won't find a single place that doesn't get hunted at sometime or another. So have a back up for your backup spot and you should fine. Early season and flintloc aka "orange army" times of year gets pretty crowded.

agreed

I want to get on the area that has a combination of fresh/old poo and groceries nearby

I won't start scouting Wheeler till squirrel season.

Oh yeah. The guy above spoked about flooding is very right. Last year one of the spots I hunted at 5-7' of water over it for at least half the season. That said tho helped me with pitch points but dud cut off some deer from coming over.