Lots of snow and scouting

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Czabs
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Lots of snow and scouting

Unread postby Czabs » Mon Dec 23, 2013 4:19 am

Not too happy about the snow we are getting. I had my best scouting a couple years ago when there wasn't snow until late December/January. A lot harder to figure out, but you can see see rubs and what not. Beds in the snow just don't give me that good feeling they will be bedding there come next bow hunting season. I like old beds.

Anyone have any tips on how to determine if the will be using the area again the next season and not just for late season?


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Re: Lots of snow and scouting

Unread postby Zap » Mon Dec 23, 2013 4:24 am

I like snow for scouting if I have a valid tag in my pocket....... :lol:
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Re: Lots of snow and scouting

Unread postby djw195 » Thu Dec 26, 2013 7:19 am

Czabs wrote:Not too happy about the snow we are getting. I had my best scouting a couple years ago when there wasn't snow until late December/January. A lot harder to figure out, but you can see see rubs and what not. Beds in the snow just don't give me that good feeling they will be bedding there come next bow hunting season. I like old beds.

Anyone have any tips on how to determine if the will be using the area again the next season and not just for late season?



I'm also wondering if anyone has any tips for scouting in the snow. As soon as it warms up I'm going to be heading to the woods, but there is more snow than I'm used to for scouting. I like scouting in the snow because its so easy to see tracks to follow around to learn patterns, but I don't know how transferable it is to hunting season.

I'm still not good at identifying beds, so I like to scout for them in the snow and then return to those spots in the spring to see if it is an active one. Not sure if this is a good tactic or not, just needed a way to find more beds to identify/learn bedding.
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Re: Lots of snow and scouting

Unread postby dan » Thu Dec 26, 2013 8:01 am

Snow is tough... In some areas you can see the bed depressions regardless if they are used now, or full of snow. In some cases the beds you find are used all year. Snow is a good time to track bucks back to primary bedding areas you did not know about... And, if they are in seasonal beds, you can scout now to know where they will be when snow comes next hunting season.
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Re: Lots of snow and scouting

Unread postby Dewey » Thu Dec 26, 2013 5:43 pm

Anybody that doesn't scout in the snow is missing out big time if you ask me. Over the years I have found many of my most productive beds now until March. Like Dan said you can track bucks back to their primary beds many that are used year round. It doesn't get much easier than now with snow tracking. It's all about location so find a bed sit right in it and ask yourself if a buck will feel safe there during the early season.

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Re: Lots of snow and scouting

Unread postby Zap » Fri Dec 27, 2013 2:18 am

I finally cut a decent buck track on public, he is bedding in a cedar thicket.

He made two scrapes on one trail...need a west/nnw wind to hunt it.
Looks to be a three year old, maybe.

walking in the snow wears me out.... :lol:
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Re: Lots of snow and scouting

Unread postby Dewey » Fri Dec 27, 2013 3:10 am

Zap wrote:I finally cut a decent buck track on public, he is bedding in a cedar thicket.

He made two scrapes on one trail...need a west/nnw wind to hunt it.
Looks to be a three year old, maybe.

walking in the snow wears me out.... :lol:

Did you pick up some snowshoes yet Zap?

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Zap
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Re: Lots of snow and scouting

Unread postby Zap » Fri Dec 27, 2013 3:11 am

Nope.

They are on the wish list.
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