Whitetail ScoutingWhitetail scouting; experienced hunters are always scouting. A good hunter understands: "Knowledge is power!" Whitetail scouting enables the hunter to pattern the deer in the area by using their sign. He wants to try and understand their normal daily movement, or routine. Deer tend to follow the same routine. He also understands that the time of year, weather, food supply, and many other things can change that routine. He is always trying to think like a deer.
Whitetail scouting is looking for sign, but also looking at the terrain, the lay of the land. Deer generally try to stay out of sight; especially during the day. They like enough cover to keep them somewhat hidden. Where there is a choice deer seem to take the low road most often. That may be for cover, or it may be for easier travel. They may bed on the side of a hill, but when they move they'll often travel lower. Whitetail really like edges; where an open area is next to cover. Even where the forest changes from hardwoods to evergreens. They probably feel more secure having something to dart into. Whitetail scouting is looking for clues, questioning the apparent deer movement. Why are they going this way? Deer don't just roam around, they move for a reason: food, water, shelter, cover, sex... Deer only go as far as necessary. If they have everything they need, they will live in a small area. Sometimes they are forced to travel greater distances for food, water... They will stay in their established area unless they are pressured, or lured out of it. When jumped they don't usually travel very far. They often circle to stay in their area. A typical routine is for deer to bed in heavy cover during part of the day, then travel slowly, browsing, in late afternoon, eventually to feed on farm crops at night. In the morning a similar trip back to bed. A hunter can find the trails from reading the sign, and occasionally watching deer. When a hunter knows the deer pattern, has some idea of the bedding areas, transition areas, and the feeding areas; he can make hunting plans. The hunter needs several good locations, for different wind directions, weather... He doesn't want to use the same location much. He starts by looking for areas where he can hide and watch heavily used trails. Deer can go through impossible terrain with apparent ease, but they generally take the easiest path. A deer is much shorter than us, and can easily go under things which would be an obstacle to us.
Look at all the tracks Note: On my very next hunting trip after writing this page, I took this picture. I jumped four does in this wheat field while driving down the road. Two of them jumped the fence, the other two ran down the field at least 300 yards so they could go through this opening. A funnel helps a hunter pinpoint where the deer are most likely to walk. This is good for the gun hunter, and great for the bow-hunter with his more limited range. A hunter who has carefully done the whitetail scouting can developed a plan. He has a much better chance of success. We have many more pages of information. Whitetail Scouting to Whitetail Deer
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