How To Scout Deer

Do you want to learn how to scout for deer? Scouting for deer is an important skill to learn and master if you want to be successful with hunting deer. Deer are very cautious and elusive. Developing the skill to scout them can be the difference between taking many home during the hunting season or a few. In this article, we will discuss how to track deer, how to identify and read tracks as well as what to look out for.

1. Deer Tracks

The most obvious thing to look out for when scouting for deer is deer tracks. Deer tracks consist of two toe tracks that converge to a point at the top. You will find tracks of fawn, does, and bucks. Fawn tracks are small and triangular-shaped. A doe's tracks are larger than those of fawns and are usually about 4 inches in length. Buck tracks have a length of 5 inches or more.

It is also very important to learn how to read the deer tracks as you can get a lot of information from them. You can learn about the size, gender, and age of the deer that left the tracks. You can also learn which direction the deer is going

as sharp tips point forward. Additionally, you can also determine if the deer left in haste or not. If the tracks are spaced a few feet apart and sunk deeper into the soil, that is an indication that it left in a hurry. If the tracks are spaced every couple of feet, then that indicates it was not in a hurry when it left.

2. Scat

When you are scouting for deer, look for deer scat. It is small and looks like chocolate raisins with its oval pellet shape. Rabbit poop is round and bigger so don't confuse deer scat with rabbit poop. Finding deer scat indicates that deer frequent that area. It is an indication that you are in the right area to find deer.

3. Deer Rubs

As you search for signs of deer, look for deer rubs. They use rubs for communicating as well as a way of exercising their necks. Deer have glands on their foreheads that spread a scent when they rub against trees. This scent is a way of communicating with other deer that this is their territory. Finding rub marks on a number of trees in an area indicates a deer path and that deer are using that area.

4. Scrapes

Deer create scrapes with their hooves to clear leaves and other debris from the soil and then urinate on the soil to leave a scent for other deer to discover. It is also a way for them to declare their territory.

5. Bedding Areas

When scouting for deer, look out for their bedding areas. Bedding areas are where they lie down and rest. Deer usually remain bedded during the day and come out at night to eat. Deer bedding areas can be easy to locate and they can also give you a good idea of the size of the deer. If you think you have found a bedding area, look closely for deer hair. Deer hair is hollow which helps to insulate them from the harsh weather. If you find hair, bend it slightly. If it is deer hair, it will kink at a sharp angle.

6. Teeth Marks

Look for signs of deer feeding on the fresh plants in the fields or at the edges of fields. See if you can identify jagged edges that they leave on plants and branches. Deer don't have upper incisors, therefore, they use their bottom teeth and upper palettes to rip the leaves off the branches. This will indicate that they feed in the area.

7. Live Sightings

You might be lucky when you go out to track deer that you accidentally spot one. This is a good sign that indeed deer are in the area. Take note of the time you spotted it, the area it was in, and the weather condition. This is very important information to help you when you come back to hunt deer. For more information on how to scout for deer, click this link.

Conclusion

Tracking deer is not difficult. It is a fact-finding exercise that requires you to be very attentive to the signs that you notice. Deer leave many signs of their activity and by finding those signs, you can know if the area is frequented by deer. This information will be valuable when the hunting season starts. If you want more information on hunting deer, then visit hunting terrain.