IF YOU’RE GOING TO BE A SUCCESSFUL HUNTER YOU NEED TO SCOUT LONG BEFORE SEASON OPENER.
IN ORDER TO PUT TOGETHER A PLAN, YOU’LL NEED TO UNDERSTAND THINGS ABOUT THE ANIMAL YOU’RE AFTER, INCLUDING WHERE THEY TRAVEL, WATER, BEDDING AREAS, AND ROOSTS, SO YOU CAN PREDICT THEIR MOVEMENT! 
THIS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED BY USING YOUR BINOCULARS OR SPOTTING SCOPE FROM YOUR VEHICLE WHILE PARKED ALONG A ROAD OR TRAIL.
TOPOGRAPHICAL MAPS ALSO MAKE YOUR JOB EASIER, AS THEY’LL HELP YOU TO LOCATE FUNNELS AND CORRIDORS,THE ANIMALS ARE USING.
ONCE YOU’VE FIGURED THESE THINGS OUT, AS TO WHERE THESE LOCATIONS ARE, YOU CAN SEARCH FOR RUBS, TRACKS, AS WELL AS DROPPINGS IN AREAS WHERE THOSE ANIMALS YOU’RE AFTER ARE LOCATED.
IT’S NOT A BAD IDEA TO PLACE AN EARLY TREE STAND, ALONG WELL USED TRAILS THAT GIVES YOU A VIEW OF LOT OF OPEN GROUND, ALLOWING YOU TO SEE WHERE ANIMALS ARE TRAVELING.
IF YOU HAVE GAME CAMERAS OUT, THEY’LL HELP TO MINIMIZE YOUR SEARCH TIME, YOU DON’T WANT TO SPEND TOO MUCH TIME IN THE AREA AND GO IN WITH THE WIND IN YOUR FACE TO KEEP FROM SPOOKING YOUR PREY.
MOVE YOUR GAME CAMERAS FROM FIELD EDGES IN THE SPRING WHERE CROPS ARE LOCATED INTO THE WOODS AND BEDDING AREAS.
AFTER BEDDING, BUCKS LIKE TO MOVE TO STRETCH AND THEN MAKE THEIR MOVE, MAY IT BE TO FOOD SOURCES OR DURING THE RUT TO LOCATE A RECEPTIVE DOE.
DURING THE RUT, BUCKS WILL BE ON THE MOVE ALL DAY, SO STAYING YOUR STAND FOR LONG PERIODS, CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SUCCESS AND FAILURE!
GOOD LUCK THIS SEASON, NO MATTER WHAT YOU’RE PURSUING!
THE OUTDOORS IS NOT A COMPETITION FOR US, IT’S OUR WAY OF LIFE!