Guys, if you have not noticed I like to generate conversations. It is not always because I don't know an answer, but because I like to see differing views. I want you guys to imagine you have looked at the topos, aerials, pretty much you are putting boots to ground. What are your first steps to scouting? What are you looking for on the property? Anything else you want to discuss?

Bedding areas, food sources and well used trails. Game cameras, topo maps and aerial maps help alot but nothing is as good as putting boots on the ground, especially after hunting season.

I want to see if the structure, pinch points and edges look on the ground like they do on the map.

Just ask your new neighbors, I'm sure they been piddling on the property.

Squadron, I had a new neighbor ask me what days I will mostly be there because he "was going to help keep an eye out on the property."

Yeah he might be helping ya with your deer management. Or he is cooking crank. Growing dope. Running a sweet little steel. Or being a good neighbor. Maybe

Oh and lookin for food sources, ridges, saddles, funnels and the thickest browse I can find. All that in a close area. Especially along private property lines that have low hunting pressure of course

I understand finding bedding and food sources and all that, but do you ever worry that walking around is going to scare deer from that area? Maybe I'm putting too much thought into that. I think one of my biggest problems right now is scouting.

Jake, he was piddlin when I wasnt there. I found out later the landowner had given them the right to hunt when we weren't there and also to ride atvs.
jono, I stop really scouting when we put in food plots. Then I keep a notebook and app on my phone with early season spots, winds, morning stands, evening stands, routes to stands, which routes to take when the wind is blowing a certain way. I also make note of funnels, bedding, paths to bedding, look for faint trails near the larger trails. Then I try to never hunt a stand when the wind isn't right and I stay out of the beds. I don't shoot deer out of food plots unless its a doe with my bow.

It's probably just my lack of experience but it always amazes me the difference perspective makes. An area or a specific location looks one way on the map, another way entirely when you're there on the ground, and even more different when you're 30' up a tree. I've found a lot of times that it's not until I'm up a tree that I can really see where I need to be. Sometimes it's in the tree I climbed and sometimes it's 50 yds away in a completely different tree. Again, maybe it's just my lack of experience, but for me it seems to take all three but especially the last two.

I like to takle new ground by hitting the edges immediately this is something i have established as a bases to begin scouting. I like to hit edges because thats usually where most of the food is in early season. An thats where i do alot of my killin. Later in season i still hunt edges but on account of alabama deer and the fact that some have decided not to move in the daylight im pretty much scouting every single time i step in the woods an i can on account of my style of hunting.but if its got some food it will kill deer an ive learned that in early season findin a hot food source isnt to terribly difficult an may or may not be a high percentage kill spott, but findin a hot tree in december or january might be harder but its gonna kill alot. I hunt deer travelin different places to. I always keep my eyes on hot trails walkin an scoutin an ive been known to carry a rake an rake trail so they are easy to see tracks if im gonna come back an checkem soon. Also i try to do alot of my scouting right before a big rain so my scent is washed away. It pays to listen when an old bowhunter speaks or take notes if your forgetful hehe. Im 23.. Thats what i do.