Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: Scouting - Where to start? What to look for?

  1. #1
    Just starting out

    User Info Menu

    Default Scouting - Where to start? What to look for?

    Good morning all!

    New to the forum, and this is my first season hunting.

    Though, I'm generally an experienced outdoorsman, I am still very green when it comes to hunting and tracking. I've had a successful goose hunt (though it was mostly setting up decoys and sitting in a corn field for a couple of hours). However, I'm much more interested in walking in the bush and tracking small and/or big game.

    At this point, I've gone out in the bush a few times looking for rabbits, hare and grouse, but no luck. I have general knowledge of finding game trails, but that's about it. I'll find myself in the middle of the bush, not knowing the best course of action. With that said, I'm curious to know if anyone has particular scouting techniques. Some of my questions include: What do you look for? What would be a good place to mark? What times to you go out? Is it best to be on the move or stay still? Etc etc.

    Thanks for taking the time to answer.

  2. # ADS
    Advertisement
    ADVERTISEMENT
     

  3. #2
    Leads by example

    User Info Menu

    Default

    For deer, the best place to start would be to read 'Bowhunting Pressured Whitetails' by Eberhart, the second place to start is Google Earth Pro to get an idea of the terrain and local agriculture. Generally speaking scouting is done post season but if you have not got a spot in mind currently then you could 'scout hunt' by starting out in the morning on foot to find active sign, when you find some get set up in ground blind or tree stand and hunt it that evening by staying downwind and staying still. Deer have an amazing ability to pick out movement.
    Last edited by Marker; December 3rd, 2021 at 02:57 PM.
    National Association for Search and Rescue

  4. #3
    Mod Squad

    User Info Menu

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by tangdre View Post
    Good morning all!

    New to the forum, and this is my first season hunting.

    Though, I'm generally an experienced outdoorsman, I am still very green when it comes to hunting and tracking. I've had a successful goose hunt (though it was mostly setting up decoys and sitting in a corn field for a couple of hours). However, I'm much more interested in walking in the bush and tracking small and/or big game.

    At this point, I've gone out in the bush a few times looking for rabbits, hare and grouse, but no luck. I have general knowledge of finding game trails, but that's about it. I'll find myself in the middle of the bush, not knowing the best course of action. With that said, I'm curious to know if anyone has particular scouting techniques. Some of my questions include: What do you look for? What would be a good place to mark? What times to you go out? Is it best to be on the move or stay still? Etc etc.

    Thanks for taking the time to answer.
    Hunting small game without a dog well you got to be the dog. That means usually kicking around the nastiest stuff you can find. Don't be discouraged not being able to shoot if you see game but do make a mental note where you made contact. Eventually you can make stealthier approaches on those spots as creatures tend to be where you find them.
    Time in the outdoors is never wasted

  5. #4
    Has all the answers

    User Info Menu

    Default

    To add to what FFF said, I'll also concentrate on places you wouldn't find your average hunter. Put on your waterproof boots and go a bit deeper and the odds improve. Learning when to slow down and pay attention takes time in the field. The pattern will show itself once you've flushed a few animals from hiding.

  6. #5
    Member for Life

    User Info Menu

    Default

    Sent you a PM
    "This is about unenforceable registration of weapons that violates the rights of people to own firearms."—Premier Ralph Klein (Alberta)Calgary Herald, 1998 October 9 (November 1, 1942 – March 29, 2013) OFAH Member

  7. #6
    Post-a-holic

    User Info Menu

    Default

    Lot depends on what game can be found in the area you want to track. Know the difference between tracks ( dog, fox, yote, wolf ) each track has different features to look for. Follow a track it will teach you more than any book. Start with a yote track lots around to easy find and follow it. Once a yote knows you are tracking him it will try to lose you. It may jump off to a one side, back track, follow tracks of other animals or trails that are hard packed and leave no tracks for you to follow. If you lose the track then you missed something he did. You will find lots of tracks doing this and you will find what a thick dirty swamp is.
    Best is to track in a fresh snow fall with little to no wind and when the snow stopped falling about couple of hours before daylight. Then the tracks with be fresh and fewer tracks. If you try tracking with no new snow there will be too many tracks to follow the yote you started with. Have fun it's a game to see who is smarter.
    Last edited by tracker; December 3rd, 2021 at 10:42 PM.
    Experience is what you gain when you didn't get what you wanted.

    Many are called but only a few are chosen.

  8. #7
    Apprentice

    User Info Menu

    Default

    https://youtu.be/qQsivFgvBAY

    https://youtu.be/OguefTZ_S_k(only good if you have topography in area )


    https://youtu.be/S2QfAiBdwMI


    Sent from my moto g(8) power using Tapatalk

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •