For many years, i liked going scouting each night before the season almost as much as i did the hunting. I went EVERY evening and not only had them patterned, i had the bucks named.
Nowadays, i go scouting by going fishing at one of several high mountain lakes that i can drive to in a hr or less from my house. There is one nice little lake that only has one campsite, it's literally full of pan sized to 18" trout, and always has a resident herd of deer nearby that use the lake to water.
I can back my pop-up camper very near to the shore, set up a camp chair, cast out a line, and glass for watering bucks with my rifle there with me or not depending on the season.
Now that i'm older and not in such good a shape, it's the going that counts to me, not so much the effort involved or getting a good one like it was years ago.
Joey
"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"