2020 Scouting Reports

[greenhorndave]

That’s some serious splay

The pics do not do it justice. Definitely in the top 5 tracks iv ever found and top 2 for the property. Considering the area is hills and timber I am very impressed

And that ground is soft but not slop. Impressive.

[greenhorndave]

When good deer aren’t seen this time of year, go later at night... or go where the deer are.

Total Captain Obvious stuff, but it worked last night.

Late night produced in areas I checked at dusk with no luck. Nothing huge, but nice 2.5 year old bucks.

Relocating was better. Shooter on public! Not long after dark, near the road in a secluded spot.

I feel like I’m in the game.

Today and tomorrow will feature more travel.

[redz]

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Had this guy show up on my cam on public land recently..

[greenhorndave]

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Had this guy show up on my cam on public land recently..

[PaPublicLandHunter]

On Sunday I went to put up a trail cam in a funnel that leads to a private cornfield. On my walk back to the truck I bumped a deer. Unfortunately I couldn’t see it and just heard it running off. I went check the area where it took off from and found a bed in a fallen over tree 30 yards from the road. If the deer was in the bed when I walked in then it watched me the whole time. The bed is much bigger than the picture looks but still not sure what was using it.

[austin1990]

Went and scouted a piece of public, jumped a 115"-120" 8 point out of this bed. Bed was right at 100 yards from the access road, and with our normal wind direction he'd be able to see and smell anything and anyone that accesses this piece. Think I have an idea on how to loop around him. Also found a couple big tracks and some well worn trails leaving the thick going out into a private corn field I covered right at 3.5 miles and hung 4 cameras.

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[Wihunter95]

Been shining a few times and have only seen a couple does. Have done a couple observation sits and saw a spike that's it, so my summer scouting isn't going as well as ive hoped.

[greenhorndave]

Been shining a few times and have only seen a couple does. Have done a couple observation sits and saw a spike that's it, so my summer scouting isn't going as well as ive hoped.

Have you varied your shining times? What times of day have you typically shined?

[Burningbootleather]

4 beds found in an area I have a 160” buck and one pushing 170 on camera!

[greenhorndave]

4 beds found in an area I have a 160” buck and one pushing 170 on camera!

[Wihunter95]

Been shining a few times and have only seen a couple does. Have done a couple observation sits and saw a spike that's it, so my summer scouting isn't going as well as ive hoped.

Have you varied your shining times? What times of day have you typically shined?

I tried after dusk, 9ish, and 1030-11

[greenhorndave]

Been shining a few times and have only seen a couple does. Have done a couple observation sits and saw a spike that's it, so my summer scouting isn't going as well as ive hoped.

Have you varied your shining times? What times of day have you typically shined?

I tried after dusk, 9ish, and 1030-11

Sometimes 1 AM works, sometimes about an hour or two before gray light in the morning. It’s a grind on a workday, but I saw more stuff then.

[Wihunter95]

Been shining a few times and have only seen a couple does. Have done a couple observation sits and saw a spike that's it, so my summer scouting isn't going as well as ive hoped.

Have you varied your shining times? What times of day have you typically shined?

I tried after dusk, 9ish, and 1030-11

Sometimes 1 AM works, sometimes about an hour or two before gray light in the morning. It’s a grind on a workday, but I saw more stuff then.

I'll give it a shot.

[MEKeithD]

I've seen Dan talk about bucks watching access points and to make sure you don't over look areas close to the parking lot. So...keeping that in mind...last week I went to take a look at a spot (SE WI) which I would usually walk by, and sure enough I found a single bed up against a tree in a hedge row. I could still see my car from the bed. My question is this...while it was clearly a bed, I didn't see much for droppings or hair in the bed? Is that a sign that it isn't regularly used? Another 100yds down the hedge row (almost at the end of the hedge row) I found a group of 7 beds, which I'm assuming was doe bedding. Interested in your thoughts on guessing how often these beds are used?

[Thesouthpaw]

Well... Iv'e located 6-7 shooters via cell cameras in Pennsylvania. Hopefully they stick close to the areas they are in right now. Iv'e never had a year with this many nice bucks in velvet.
The crazy thing is, Iv'e got 10 regular non cell cams that have been soaking for a moth or so that I haven't even checked yet. It should be an interesting season to say the least. Iv'e put a ton of scouting time in so far, so hopefully things work out.