Schemeecho
Well-Known Member
Good morning fellow hunters. I have been hunting for the past 4 years and have not had a successful hunt yet. This past season was the closest I have gotten to even seeing Deer. i have jumped several Doe on my way In and could not find them after that. I am hunting public land close to my house but I will lose that this year. the property is due to be clear cut in a few months. So, i will have to relocate my hunting spot. I know the preseason scouting is a must now more than ever. I have chosen some forest WMA land and the section I'm looking at is around 2800 acres I have that narrowed down to 3 100 acre plots that i plan on scouting. The issue is this, I really dont know what to look for. I was never taught how to hunt so I'm learning as I go. Making plenty of mistakes along the way. The 3 areas that I have chosen have major things in common. They have what looks like good transition lines changing from Pine to Hardwoods. They have small creeks running through them. 2 of them border fields on private land that is either planted with corn or soy bean and the third is in swampy land. The swamp land is more toward the center of the tract I have chosen and the other two have some easy access. The good news is i dont think I have to worry about too many other hunter in that spot because the total forest is about 300,000 acres. My plan is to scout those areas and look for as much sign as I can hope to find. If i come across any game trails
I plan on following them to see if the lead to food and water or any bedding. I know to also look for rubs and scraps and even licking branches. However this is all I know. Is there anything else I can do or look for? My hunting strategy is to find spots for morning and evening hunts. Hoping to set up where the Deer are either coming from food to bedding or bedding to food. Im hoping to find multiple spots to allow me to play the wind in my favor but also have some back up locations based on the wind. Am I even on the right track with all this? Like i said I have been trying to get as much info as I can and learn as i go. If you can help me with this it would be appreciated. Thanks in advance
I plan on following them to see if the lead to food and water or any bedding. I know to also look for rubs and scraps and even licking branches. However this is all I know. Is there anything else I can do or look for? My hunting strategy is to find spots for morning and evening hunts. Hoping to set up where the Deer are either coming from food to bedding or bedding to food. Im hoping to find multiple spots to allow me to play the wind in my favor but also have some back up locations based on the wind. Am I even on the right track with all this? Like i said I have been trying to get as much info as I can and learn as i go. If you can help me with this it would be appreciated. Thanks in advance