Scouting tips and tricks

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jwetzel52
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Scouting tips and tricks

Unread postby jwetzel52 » Thu Mar 12, 2020 12:12 pm

Hey guys I’m new to the beast style of hunting and I bought the farm bedding dvd and it opened my eyes to how deer bed. I’ve never really hunted public and wanted to hear from the best how you guys dissect a piece of public via ariels and topo maps then what you do when you get boots on the ground. What do you do to make the most out of your time to scout effectively? What do you take with you? What are the key things you look for?


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PK_
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Re: Scouting tips and tricks

Unread postby PK_ » Thu Mar 12, 2020 12:29 pm

Hard transitions and Steep terrain. Stay away from homogenous terrain, blended edges and rolling topography...

Take that with a grain of salt, everything is situational. But if you stick to that advice it will get you in the game pretty quick.
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Marshbuster89
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Re: Scouting tips and tricks

Unread postby Marshbuster89 » Thu Mar 12, 2020 12:39 pm

PK_ wrote:Hard transitions and Steep terrain. Stay away from homogenous terrain, blended edges and rolling topography...

Take that with a grain of salt, everything is situational. But if you stick to that advice it will get you in the game pretty quick.


This.

And along with that, try to find areas that look like they’re either hard to get to, or very easy to get to. Either right up next to the road/parking or with some barriers/going to have to sweat a little to get to.
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jwetzel52
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Re: Scouting tips and tricks

Unread postby jwetzel52 » Thu Mar 12, 2020 12:43 pm

What are your thoughts on soft transitions? In some aerials I see a change in tree type especially around creeks. Is that something that should be walked? Or should it not be considered?
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Re: Scouting tips and tricks

Unread postby Marshbuster89 » Thu Mar 12, 2020 12:49 pm

jwetzel52 wrote:What are your thoughts on soft transitions? In some aerials I see a change in tree type especially around creeks. Is that something that should be walked? Or should it not be considered?


The more you walk the properties you aerial scout, the more you will learn/and know about it. I would check it out. You have a change in vegetation, which may reveal a change in ground elevation and how wet that ground usually is and you also have the creek. So you have 2 terrain features. Another thing to check would be oxbows and and bend in the creek or anywhere the trees/creek deviate a little more than the rest of it does.
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jwetzel52
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Re: Scouting tips and tricks

Unread postby jwetzel52 » Thu Mar 12, 2020 12:53 pm

What are somethings you guys are thinking about when you find a spot you like? What’s your process of breaking it down to how you think the buck is using the spot?
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DaveT1963
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Re: Scouting tips and tricks

Unread postby DaveT1963 » Thu Mar 12, 2020 1:35 pm

Slow down, and figure out the why.
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Re: Scouting tips and tricks

Unread postby jwetzel52 » Thu Mar 12, 2020 1:40 pm

What do you take with you when you scout?
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PK_
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Re: Scouting tips and tricks

Unread postby PK_ » Thu Mar 12, 2020 2:01 pm

jwetzel52 wrote:What are your thoughts on soft transitions? In some aerials I see a change in tree type especially around creeks. Is that something that should be walked? Or should it not be considered?


Yes. Wet edges (swamps,creeks, marsh, ponds Etc...) are extremely productive.

When I say ‘hard edges’ maybe I should say ‘defined’ edges. Meaning the transition itself is abrupt. Like you can step through the transition itself quickly.
No Shortcuts. No Excuses. No Regrets.
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Rich M wrote:Typically, hunting FL has been like getting a root canal
jwetzel52
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Re: Scouting tips and tricks

Unread postby jwetzel52 » Thu Mar 12, 2020 2:08 pm

So something like an edge of a clear cut to open timber? That would be the defined edge correct?
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justdirtyfun
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Re: Scouting tips and tricks

Unread postby justdirtyfun » Thu Mar 12, 2020 3:03 pm

Yes, that's a defined edge.
Another one to watch for is an old logging area on high ground that stops at the steep drop down the hill. It had two overlapping edges. Elevation change and vegetation change. Bedding usually occurs with thick above and open below at a military crest. Map scout for those with common wind for hunting season in mind to find the spot within a spot.
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Swedishbowhunter
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Re: Scouting tips and tricks

Unread postby Swedishbowhunter » Thu Mar 12, 2020 3:47 pm

jwetzel52 wrote:What do you take with you when you scout?


I only have a couple years hunting this way under my belt, but I will tell you what I take:
1. Phone (onx)
2. Portable power/cord
3. Compass
4. 3 screw in steps,
5. Brush snips
6. trail camera or 2 depending on the time of year and size of property
7. Baby wipes
8. Milkweed
9. min 2 water bottles
UofLbowhunter
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Re: Scouting tips and tricks

Unread postby UofLbowhunter » Thu Mar 12, 2020 6:32 pm

You cant go wrong following the edges!
Bucks,ducks, turkeys,and bass!
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Re: Scouting tips and tricks

Unread postby matt1336 » Thu Mar 12, 2020 7:10 pm

They want to see, smell or hear you first. I like to walk through the woods with those three things in mind. If you can combine any two of those attributes with an area that nobody visits for one reason or another, you'll likely have something worth looking into.
Experience is very key here. The more you scout the better woodsman you’ll become. Good woodsmen are typically very good at killing animals.
jwetzel52
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Re: Scouting tips and tricks

Unread postby jwetzel52 » Thu Mar 12, 2020 10:05 pm

Are there other terrain features to looks for on aerials besides edges and steep terrain that you have found success with? I found an oxbow so far this off season that I’m trying to find a way to set up on. That post has already gotten a lot of great info from you guys already!


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