Coming across new property to hunt is getting tougher to do every year. If you lucked into a new piece of property, hopefully had time to scout before the season opener. Unfortunately, time is not always not always on our side, and we might not have the time to scout.
If you did not have the time to scout new property that you recently gained permission to hunt, and your hunting days are limited, you can still have a successful hunt. Or maybe you are planning a do-it-yourself hunt out of state, and did not have the time to travel out during the pre-season and look around. Many hunters are discouraged by the idea of not having time to properly scout. There are still ways to quickly scout the area without disturbing the deer.
Do not get in a hurry. Too many hunters make the mistake of going in the area full-bore, and start looking for sign. They want to get a stand in a tree, or a blind erected as soon as possible. All this will end up accomplishing is alerting the whitetails to an intruder. This seldom works out.
One of the best ways to scout, and still be able to hunt is to use an observation stand.
Even if you only have a few days to hunt, use an observation stand. Your odds of success will improve using this method, compared to going in blind, and hanging a stand at the first place that has the tiniest bit of whitetail sign.
To begin hunting a new area, it is best to start off hunting from the outside looking in. This will only have to be done for a couple of outings, and then you should have a plan on where you should be hunting. By starting on the outside edges of the property, you will be able to get a good understanding of where deer move, and eventually get in for an up-close encounter with an unsuspecting buck.
To begin the process, study aerial photos and compare them to available food, and the topography.
Using the wind to control the spread of human odors, locate entry and exit routes so you can get to and from your stand without being noticed. The last thing you want to do is disturb the deer.
Next, find at least one, preferably a couple locations for an observation stand. A perfect location will offer an unobstructed view of where you think the deer will be, and at least 200 yards downwind.
Every time you hang an observation stand, treat it like you are putting a stand up for a hunt. Look for trails and land features that could give you an opportunity to fill your tag, but remember your goal is to pattern deer. Harvesting a deer from an observation stand should be looked at as being in the right place at the right time. It does not happen very often. Always take the same precautions such as scent control, entry and exit strategies, and good camouflage when in an observation stand.
It will take good optics to observe deer. You want to be close enough to see where they are moving, but still far enough away that they will not see you.
Deer have patterns, and they seldom detour from them. If a buck is doing something one day, he will probably do it again the next day as long as the weather cooperates, or he is not feeling pressured.
Early in the season the trick is to locate the food deer are eating, and buck bachelor groups. Look for trails leaving cover to feeding areas in the evening.
When I know what food deer are eating, I put a stand up close to watch what the deer are doing, but still far enough away they do not know what I am doing.
On grain fields and food plots, I try to figure out what trails the deer use to enter and exit the field. It is important to note which trails the bucks use, and which one the does use. You do not want to be set up on a doe trail hoping to shoot a buck that might never walk past.
I have mentioned the importance for a hunter to plan his exit and entry routes. This is always important, but far too man hunters overlook this valuable strategy.
Deer are use to landowners driving trucks and ATVs at all times of the day. A friend driving to my stand to pick me up is my favorite way to exit. The deer will scatter from an open field as the vehicle approaches. This gives me plenty of time to descend the tree, and leave unnoticed. Within a few minutes, the deer will be back out, and their routine is no worse for wear.
Other options is to use a call and hoot like an owl, or howl like a coyote. If it comes down to it, wait at least an hour after dark before getting down if there is any possibility of deer being in the area.
You can use a decoy during the rut for a better chance at seeing a buck. Bucks also like to look an area over from the outside looking in by walking just inside the woods along fields as they look for does, and scent-check the area. A decoy might be just what is needed to bring a buck out in the open. If he does not offer a shot, at the very least you will be able to see what he does, and where he goes.
It is alright to spend a few days in an observation stand before moving in to your “hunting” stand. It is better to have a stand in a good location, and to harvest a buck soon after, than to have stand in a bad area and never see a deer. Take the time to observe the deer when you are short on time, and you will have a better opportunity to fill your tag.
