Whitetail Deer Scouting
Here are some photos from a couple of recent scouting trips as part of a follow-up from a scouting piece sent in earlier this year. I picked several stand locations on this trip and many of the properties have been scouted throughout the changing seasons over the last couple of years. My focus is to find property that holds deer during all seasons, not just the fall. I would also like to share a few photos of what I call “the business-end of the deal”. I didn't spill any blood on these trips but a whole bunch of sweat and lots of miles on foot were put down to really learn some pieces of ground. My scouting time far exceeds my time hunting and I often watch a piece a couple of years before picking 
a final stand location when hunting with a bow. With good locations picked and shooting lanes prepared these types of spots usually produce consistently from year to year. This is something that I have practiced for years prior to joining MAHA.
“The business-end of the deal”. All this for a 20 yard shot! Yeah, it’s worth it.
Here are some tools that I have used to climb trees with for years. They are great for hanging stands without screwing in steps or carrying climbing sticks from one location to another.
Here is another of Gary setting some steps and cutting some branches for a great stand location. Notice the surrounding cover just below his location. This tree is above very thick cover with good trimmed lanes in all four directions. He can’t be sky-lighted until the deer are standing in a shooting lane, too late for Mr. Deer.
Well, enough of the work and let’s look at some good stuff. Many of the locations visited show good signs of pre-rut activity and good deer density. Check out the overhanging branch over the scrape below. This guy must be getting pretty primed, he broke the limb and it was over 7 feet above the scrape. Signs of a BIG ONE.
The following pictures of rubs were also found nearby.
