I'll second
@kyler1945 on the suggestion of Dr. Shepperds book. I Read it this winter and it really beefed up my strategy for scouting this year. I think I got this from
@kyler1945 on another thread as well, but it's been awesome advice:
scout until you bump a deer.
Simple formula for scouting is: 1) find a field or cutover where it bumps up against woods (this is called a transition). 2) Walk this transition till you see a deer trail. 3) Follow the deer trail until you bump a deer or it leads you to another trail, etc. I like to go scout 2 hours before sunset if my schedule allows. This is when deer will begin moving, and it enhances your chance for bumping a deer.
This is hard at first, but I'd say now I am bumping at least one deer 85% of the time I go out. Once I bump them, I drill down on why they were there- food, bedding cover, trails, etc. THEN I put the camera out. The camera is there just to confirm what you've already seen and also to see how frequently they are using that area and what deer are there. And guess what, sometimes I find what you found and there were not really any pics. And guess what, that's okay cuz you just found out where you are NOT hunting this fall. It's valuable info either way.
Deer hunting really does present a steep learning curve; just be patient and stick with it until it clicks. Trust me, this is why most people do not deer hunt. There is something wrong with this small percentage of us who love this kind of punishment.