Planning the Hunt

Scouting Tips

Handshake and a smile:

• Get to know the people in your hunt area
• Ask questions about wildlife, weather, terrain and access
• Note the human patterns. When does the school bus stop on the highway near your hunt area? When does the rancher drive out to check his livestock?
• Make at least one local contact you can reach just prior to your hunt, to find out about current conditions

Patterns of wildlife use:

• Conduct your scouting just like you would a hunt
• Watch the wildlife, note where the animals go, and when they go there
• Look for sign: tracks, trails, dusting and wallow areas, rubs and scrapes
• Note well-used travel routes, game trails, feeding and watering areas
• Watch other wildlife that use you hunt area. Other animals may give you clues to where hunted animals are located

Putting it together:
By the time you finish scouting, your field notes should have:

• Hunting routes on a map
• A list of contacts
• Camping spots and rest sites
• Strategies for hunting the area at different times of the day
• Notes on key habitat areas
• Equipment and gear lists to fit the area and conditions