Post-Season Scouting ... ???

Founder · Jan 10, 2014

Or should I say ... really early scouting.....

Curious, how many of you have done some scouting after the hunts are over, for a hunt coming a year later? Maybe winter scouting for a late-season hunt the next year.

Using Colorado as a example, for a guy holding a 3rd or 4th season tag, in many units scouting is tough early because so many of the deer will, or may, move to the winter range before the hunt.

Just curious. I've done a bit of December scouting in the past, and it has helped. Not for turning up a particular deer the next season, but more to identify areas that hold more game than others.

I know many of the late-season Colorado hunts are opportunities that most are only going to get once or twice every 10 years or so. If you thought you could draw 4th season tag for a good unit this year, would you scout it now? Or just take your chances next November?

Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com

appleman · Jan 10, 2014

scout now

elkassassin · Jan 10, 2014

Right now is a PISS POOR time to Scout!

If it was easy this Late in the Year don't Ya think there woulda been some Record Book Bucks taken on the Governors Tags?

Like the Bucks are gonna be anywhere near come Hunting Season as where they are right now?

Might help a bit I guess to know which Units are still Producing Big Bucks & where a few are left,I won't Argue that!

But to see Him now & Find him later might be quite a Trick!

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elks96 · Jan 10, 2014

>Or should I say ... really
>early scouting.....
>
>Curious, how many of you have
>done some scouting after the
>hunts are over, for a
>hunt coming a year later?
>Maybe winter scouting for a
>late-season hunt the next year.
>
>
>Using Colorado as a example, for
>a guy holding a 3rd
>or 4th season tag, in
>many units scouting is tough
>early because so many of
>the deer will, or may,
>move to the winter range
>before the hunt.
>
>Just curious. I've done a bit
>of December scouting in the
>past, and it has helped.
>Not for turning up a
>particular deer the next season,
>but more to identify areas
>that hold more game than
>others.
>
>I know many of the late-season
>Colorado hunts are opportunities that
>most are only going to
>get once or twice every
>10 years or so. If
>you thought you could draw
>4th season tag for a
>good unit this year, would
>you scout it now? Or
>just take your chances next
>November?
>
>Brian Latturner
>MonsterMuleys.com

Yep every winter I scout for the next year. I fully agree, it is hard to find a specific buck but it sure can tell a person alot about what to expect for the next fall. My largest buck was kill in october only 3/4 a mile from where I had seen 2 huge bucks the winter before. The bucks were spotted in January and killed 1st of October. Finding watching and scouting deer right now lets you know what survived etc. It will tell you what to expect for quality next fall. Also until the really deep snow hits, I am still seeing the same bucks holed up in the same places they were rutting this fall. Some move many hole up up but you can sure get a good feel for quality and what has lived and will be there next fall...

Of course anyone asks and I am predator hunting, but I really do like being out and seeing deer.

YELUM · Jan 10, 2014

Now, I'm scouting for when I draw the island tag. lol

Yelum

Theres logic, and theres women. They don't go together.

NVPete · Jan 10, 2014

I don't know if you'd call it "scouting" and of a different sort, but I just went out driving around in some of my favorite areas since there is little or no snow and most roads are even fairly dry...made mental notes of where I might look for sheds come March or April. This paid off last year when I as able to encounter several nice bucks. I ended up with two matched sets and several singles. Plus it was fun to see all the deer...over a hundred head with one group of 40 and another of 24 in just a 5 mile radius. All deer appeared very healthy; hope they stay that way with really tough conditions yet to come!

BCBOY · Jan 10, 2014

I post season scout every year. Allows me to see what quality is in the area and if I do find a whopper, put him on my target list. Also good to see the up and comer bucks and watch them as they grow and become the next 'target buck'. Shed hunting is also another form of post season scouting for me. Not only can I learn what bucks have slipped under my radar that I may not have seen, but I can learn the ground in which they live on. I can make mental note of funnels and ridges and deer trails and rubs. Where sign isn't is just as important as where sign is. Everything is just another piece of the puzzle that leads me to hunting season. It has worked for me. I have killed several monsters that I have located in the winter, found their sheds and then harvested them.