When doing my preseason scouting, I like to get in the woods early. Around the end of June, is when I will first start my scouting. I like to hit the woods three or four time before the seasons start. When scouting Ill first look for a food source. Hardwood hammocks are great places to start. Most hardwoods have some kind of oak tree and if there are oak trees then there will be acorns and if there are deer in the area then acorns is one food source they will be searching for. Another food source is agricultural land such as cornfields or in the south peanut fields. If you have access to these
fields then this is another good place to scout. Remember though when a primary food source is gone, deer already have other food sources identified that they can eat. By knowing where the different types of foods are the deer will feed on as they deplete their primary food source, you can predict where and when deer may be each week of hunting season. Once I have located food sources the next thing I look for are trails leading to and from the food sources.

For the most bow hunting success in the early season, look for the trails leading to the agricultural fields. Try to find where the deer are bedding. Pick the trees you will hunt from when you'll be hunting bedding areas. Select trees along the trail and trees near the fields for hunting. Study the acorn trees in your region that deer will utilize later in the season for food sources. You have to look at the whole picture while formulating a plan. Wind direction, how you are going to enter and exit your stand sight, the time to be in your stand and which tree to setup in. Heavily used trails and food plots are things to look for right now. Later, rubs and scrapes will start showing up and good locations should be easy to find. The key is to find areas deer are using and pattern your hunting plans around them.

One thing to remember when scouting is your sent. You will want to use some type of cover sent. I like natural sent to the area, a good earth sent this time of year would work. You may think that you or your clothes don't smell, but to a whitetail it is another story. Also, don't forget to wear rubber boots to cover the human scent while walking around in the areas you will be hunting.

Ok, now that you have and Idea where you will be hunting. There are still things that need to be taken care of, if you will be bow hunting. June is also a good time to start getting prepared. You may need arrows and waiting until the last minute to order or to visit your bow shop is a bad idea. Go ahead and get set up. I like to stay tuned in, so I will break my bow out at least once a week. This helps keep me from getting rusty. I recently got myself a new bow. The Team Primos by P.S.E. Primos is very particular about products that carry their name and endorsement. A Team Primos bow must employ uncompromising quality, forgiveness and speed. Its longer length and high brace height create a fast bow that shoots with unbelievable forgiveness. You'll also notice the NV System and the Ultimate One Cam to make every shot from the Team Primos whisper quiet.

Another thing you will want to do is match your clothing to the area you will be hunting. The woods will change from bow season to gun. Mossy Oak has a pattern for any situation. A few of my favorites are Shadow Leaf' and Forrest Floor. Shadow leafs realistic leaves, limbs and shadows render you virtually invisible in green woods, making it the most color perfect green pattern available and the ideal choice for hunting early archery and New Forest Floor will do for leaf camo what Break Up did for all season camo. Forest Floor depicts the natural depth and colors of fall foliage and oak woods with absolute authenticity.

The next thing I would stress on is good footwear. I prefer Rocky. Like Mossy Oak Rocky also has a boot for any situation and they come in most of the Mossy Oak patterns.

By getting started early, scouting and getting your gear up to snuff will, if nothing else will give you a peace of mind and make it easier to concentrate on the hunt.

Hunt hard and be safe.

© Copyright 2002 Donald Parker