| If you love to deer hunt, obviously the goal is to end | | | | topography and even download Google Earth, which |
| up with a trophy deer, one that other hunters would | | | | is free and provides actual satellite images of any |
| be in awe of. To succeed, you need to develop | | | | area. |
| sound scouting habits. A common mistake made by | | | | Bow versus Firearm - If you hunt both bow and |
| hunters is to believe that scouting begins only a | | | | firearm, make sure you obtain information for both |
| month or two before actual deer season but in truth, | | | | seasons. |
| you need to prepare for great trophy deer hunting all | | | | Hunt Clubs - Consider getting involved with |
| year round. In other words, even during off season | | | | several deer hunting clubs, which are comprised of |
| months you should be scouting. That way, once the | | | | other enthusiasts like you that want to learn about |
| hunting season opens you have a huge advantage. | | | | the best locations for trophy deer hunting. |
| If you are a huge trophy deer hunting enthusiast, | | | | Hunting Stores - Chances are you would need |
| you have all year to learn and plan for open season. | | | | some new clothing and equipment for the current |
| In fact, when done right you can gain tremendous | | | | deer hunting season so while in stores, take |
| insight to increase your odds of getting that trophy | | | | advantage of any knowledge you might obtain from |
| deer. The following are great tips for scouting deer, | | | | workers or even other customers. |
| which could be done all year long. | | | | Taxidermists - Since trophy deer are often |
| Networking - Spend time connecting with other | | | | mounted, taxidermists have access to a tremendous |
| deer hunters, sharing information about prime | | | | amount of information. Therefore, visiting this type |
| locations, not just for the previous year but several | | | | of business would likely yield valuable information. |
| years back. | | | | Meat Processors - You could even find several |
| Online Research - Spend time on any of the | | | | individuals or companies that process deer meat, |
| primary search engines such as Google.com, | | | | again asking about areas where the best deer and |
| Lycos.com, and looking for information about prime | | | | the greatest quantity of deer are being hunted |
| locations to consider. | | | | successfully. |
| Registration Stations - You can also visit several | | | | Road Trip - Drive around and look for tree rows, |
| registration stations specific to deer hunting to gather | | | | logging roads, fields, orchards and other telltale signs |
| information and ask about areas where other hunters | | | | of good deer hunting. Deer thrive in certain |
| have snagged trophy deer. | | | | environments so any land with a water source, low |
| Private Landowners - In addition to looking up | | | | valleys, and high ridges and places with tall grass |
| new hunting locations open to the public, identify | | | | where deer can bed are excellent indicators. |
| private landowners willing to let you work the | | | | Shed Antlers - While on foot scouting potential |
| property. Remember, a large number of private | | | | areas to deer hunt, look for shed antlers, which are |
| landowners have no problem in letting people hunt | | | | dropped by bucks in January, February and March. |
| the land but unfortunately, most hunters believe the | | | | Then take them with you so other hunters scouting |
| request would automatically be turned down so they | | | | would not find this pristine spot. |
| never ask. Scout areas and if you see a farmhouse | | | | Deer Signs - Again, once you have a few ideas |
| attached to promising land, approach the owners and | | | | as far as areas where you might get a trophy deer, |
| ask if you could hunt deer on their land. | | | | spend a day walking around looking for hoof prints, |
| State Fish and Game - Another great resource | | | | droppings, beds and any type of scraping on trees or |
| for information about getting a trophy deer would be | | | | fence posts which would be done by bucks. |
| through the local state fish and game department. | | | | Human Distractions - Trophy deer are just that |
| Ask about statistics, number of deer per square mile | | | | because they know how to identify when humans |
| for a specific area, permit and licensing information, | | | | are near causing them to leave the area quickly. |
| etc. | | | | Therefore, as you scout around for land to hunt if |
| Mapping - After identifying both public and | | | | you begin noticing anything left by humans, empty |
| private land, obtain maps so the next seasons | | | | plastic bottles, food wrappings, shell casings, ATV |
| hunting trip could be plotted to perfection. In addition | | | | trials, etc, start looking for a different location, one |
| to looking at a standard map, we strongly | | | | several miles away. |
| recommend you purchase one that shows distinct | | | | |