Scouting in the dark

[Hillclimber]

Anyone ever scout their way in looking for scrapes and rubs in the dark? I do this quite a bit as I want my first sit to be unknown. I know John E presets a lot of his locations but it just seems like sign is signs always changing due to acorn crop. And it’s changing week to week this year it seems like. Lot of white oak this year.

 

[bigjoe]

I will do this sometimes. All depends on where I am hunting

 

[thwack16]

I do this a good bit. A lot of times I know what area I want to be in from prior scouting or map study, but don’t know the exact tree. I take it slow to make sure I don’t cross areas where I intend to shoot deer, use a good light for looking for possible kill trees and sign, and am constantly using a mapping app to “see what I can’t see”.

Quite frankly, killed my buck Saturday morning doing this. Had only been in this area once following a blood trail for dad last year. Noticed there was a ton of beds and trails in that area and knew the bucks route when wounded would be a “normal” deer route. Been looking at the spot for 52 weeks on aerials since it’s 500 miles from home.

 

[Heydeerman]

I have moved and set stands in the dark. On private property I would drive my truck back and roll the windows down and radio up.