1 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:05,720 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Wired to Hunt Foundations podcast, your guide 2 00:00:05,760 --> 00:00:10,799 Speaker 1: to the fundamentals of better deer hunting, and now your host, 3 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:15,840 Speaker 1: Tony Peterson. Welcome to the Wire to Hunt Foundations podcast, 4 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 1: which is brought to you by First Light. On this episode, 5 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:22,000 Speaker 1: it's time to set the phone down with the tablet 6 00:00:22,040 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 1: away and actually get into the woods to really scout. Listen, 7 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 1: the scouting is fun, getting trail camera picture sent to 8 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:47,520 Speaker 1: your phone, that's fun. Hell, almost all scouting is fun, 9 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 1: but the most necessary scouting is the kind where you 10 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:52,400 Speaker 1: get into the woods for a firsthand look at where 11 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 1: the deer actually live. This isn't that much fun this 12 00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 1: time here, So I guess not all scouting is is 13 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:00,960 Speaker 1: super fun. I like that doesn't matter, because despite the 14 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 1: heat and the bugs and the stinging nettles and probably 15 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:05,920 Speaker 1: the bees or whatever, it's time to get out there 16 00:01:05,920 --> 00:01:08,160 Speaker 1: and really dig into the woods and see what it's 17 00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:10,479 Speaker 1: going to offer you this fall. That's what this week 18 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:24,120 Speaker 1: show is all about. Hey, everybody, welcome to the Wire 19 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 1: to Hunt Foundations podcast. This is episode four and I'm 20 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:31,120 Speaker 1: your host, Tony Peterson. So far with Foundations, we've covered 21 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:34,319 Speaker 1: developing and fostering a crazy love for all types of 22 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 1: deer scouting, and more specifically, we've gotten pretty deep into 23 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 1: the weeds on the topic of East scouting. Now we 24 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:43,120 Speaker 1: need to get off the couch and we need to 25 00:01:43,120 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 1: get into the woods, which, to be honest, kind of sucks. 26 00:01:46,720 --> 00:01:49,360 Speaker 1: And I'm not saying that scouting deer sucks generally. In fact, 27 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:52,040 Speaker 1: I love it. But this time of year, you're going 28 00:01:52,080 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 1: to feed mosquitoes and ticks, You're going to fight the heat, 29 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 1: all while gleaning some knowledge that might help you out 30 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 1: this fall. This might not seem like a great trade off, 31 00:02:02,760 --> 00:02:05,240 Speaker 1: especially since I'm not really sugarcoating it a whole lot, 32 00:02:05,680 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 1: But the reality is that most of us are out 33 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 1: there trying to out hunt the other hunters as much 34 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:13,400 Speaker 1: as we're trying to out hunt the deer. Most of 35 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:15,360 Speaker 1: the people who are going to buy a deer license 36 00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:18,040 Speaker 1: this season are not in the woods right now doing 37 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:20,239 Speaker 1: a whole lot of work besides maybe running a few 38 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 1: cameras or maybe putting out a mineral block to take 39 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 1: some inventory. There's nothing wrong with that. But the hunters 40 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 1: who are out there doing the ship that just needs 41 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:30,360 Speaker 1: to get done, those are the hunters who will have 42 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:33,239 Speaker 1: a real advantage when it comes to beating the crowds 43 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 1: and beating the deer this fall, So donating a little 44 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 1: plasma to the various bloodsuckers out there just part of 45 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 1: the deal. But before you head out, I would recommend 46 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 1: taking some protection against the ticks, since I'm a guy 47 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 1: who writes squirrel hunting articles for a living, which is 48 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 1: as far from having a medical degree as you can get. 49 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:54,000 Speaker 1: Take this for what it's worth. You don't want lyme 50 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:57,079 Speaker 1: disease or an alpha gal allergy. And now I know 51 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:00,639 Speaker 1: alpha gal sounds like some hot superhero cost or whatever, 52 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:03,639 Speaker 1: so I must apologize for getting a new comic book 53 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:06,600 Speaker 1: geeks fired up. It's not that cool. It's actually a 54 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:09,720 Speaker 1: weird reaction that springs up after an infected tick digs 55 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 1: into you that kicks off a red meat allergy. So 56 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 1: if you like venison backstraps or Ribby's, or cheeseburgers or 57 00:03:16,480 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 1: t bones, and you don't want to spend your life 58 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:23,280 Speaker 1: solely eating fish and chicken, take some precautions against ticks. 59 00:03:23,639 --> 00:03:26,280 Speaker 1: But don't be so cautious that you never go into 60 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:29,400 Speaker 1: the woods, because right now you've got all of those 61 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 1: interesting way points you've dropped from your east scouting efforts. 62 00:03:32,480 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 1: They're sitting in the back of your mind, and the 63 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:36,600 Speaker 1: voice in your head is saying, you need to go 64 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 1: in and see if that pinch point is legit. You 65 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:41,360 Speaker 1: need to walk that river to see what the crossings 66 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 1: really look like in person. You need to make that 67 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:47,080 Speaker 1: three hour drive to that random chunk of public land 68 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 1: to see if it's really worth hunting. And unfortunately for 69 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 1: you and I, the window for easier winter scouting has 70 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:58,160 Speaker 1: long since passed. That ship has sailed. But that doesn't 71 00:03:58,160 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 1: mean you shouldn't look at all those waypoints on your 72 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:02,120 Speaker 1: own and make a rough plan to get in and 73 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 1: see them in person if you possibly can, or at 74 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:07,120 Speaker 1: least see as many of them as you can. And 75 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 1: even though you called out some of your dad way 76 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 1: points already, you'll see in person others you were convinced 77 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:17,840 Speaker 1: are going to be super amazing actually aren't. Others will 78 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 1: prove to be absolutely worth hunting. And no matter how 79 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 1: it shakes out, you'll still be in the woods looking around. 80 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:26,679 Speaker 1: You'll be doing deer work. And this is a tremendously 81 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:30,200 Speaker 1: beneficial thing to do. It's kind of like observing dear. 82 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 1: No matter when you can, it's just a great way 83 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:37,800 Speaker 1: to increase your personal level of woodsmanship, and that undoubtedly 84 00:04:37,880 --> 00:04:40,920 Speaker 1: helps you make better in the moment scouting and hunting decisions. 85 00:04:41,720 --> 00:04:45,760 Speaker 1: Let me further illustrate this. Consider something I went through 86 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:48,800 Speaker 1: on public land in South Dakota several years ago. I 87 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:51,200 Speaker 1: had marked a bunch of spots on on X. I 88 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:53,240 Speaker 1: showed up two days before the bow season was going 89 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 1: to open, and I was going to run through those 90 00:04:55,240 --> 00:04:57,480 Speaker 1: spots pick my best places to hunt, and I was 91 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 1: going to hit the ground running on opening morning. Problem was, 92 00:05:00,880 --> 00:05:03,400 Speaker 1: when I hiked into most of those way points, they 93 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:06,160 Speaker 1: just didn't do it for me. Part of this was 94 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:07,599 Speaker 1: due to the fact that there was a hell of 95 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:10,080 Speaker 1: a lot more cattle around than I expected, and part 96 00:05:10,080 --> 00:05:11,559 Speaker 1: of it was due to the fact that the water 97 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 1: holes I wanted to hunt were bone dry, at least 98 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:17,560 Speaker 1: most of them. In that depressing process of hiking through 99 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:20,159 Speaker 1: the heat to see that my east cutting efforts were 100 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 1: really bad, I walked right past a pond that was 101 00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 1: just ringed with deer tracks. It was covered in sign, 102 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:31,760 Speaker 1: but it was also about two yards from the only 103 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 1: access on the entire walk in ranch that I was scouting, 104 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:39,400 Speaker 1: so I wrote it off on opening night, bad wind, 105 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:42,920 Speaker 1: directions that I didn't really plan for, and limited options 106 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:45,719 Speaker 1: due to other hunters a lot more hunters than I expected, 107 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:49,599 Speaker 1: just left me scrambling with nothing to lose. I hiked 108 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:52,599 Speaker 1: to that pond and immediately jumped a bedded buck next 109 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:55,080 Speaker 1: to it, and as soon as I got that stand 110 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 1: hung and stepped out of the platform, a different buck, 111 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:00,359 Speaker 1: a bigger buck, ran over the hill and stopped at 112 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:02,719 Speaker 1: the edge of the pond at twenty yards. He froze 113 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:05,520 Speaker 1: right there. The problem was my bow was laying on 114 00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:07,919 Speaker 1: the ground, but I did get to bend down and 115 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:10,800 Speaker 1: pick up my tow rope, and every time he shook 116 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:12,680 Speaker 1: his head to get rid of the flies that were 117 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:15,560 Speaker 1: really thick because it was so warm out, I pulled 118 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:17,719 Speaker 1: that bow a little bit more and a little bit more. 119 00:06:18,560 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 1: When he finally dipped his head down to take a drink, 120 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 1: I had my bow in my hand, I had gotten 121 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 1: my release on, and so I got an arrow knocked. 122 00:06:25,440 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 1: And it ended up being the shortest out of state 123 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:29,799 Speaker 1: public land hunt in my life. And it was made 124 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:33,480 Speaker 1: possible by speed scouting a bunch of spots that I 125 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 1: had marked with way points, even though they were mostly turds. 126 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 1: The fact that they were turds didn't change the reality 127 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:41,159 Speaker 1: that I had to walk through a bunch of deer 128 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:44,159 Speaker 1: ground to see them, and in that process I stumbled 129 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:46,440 Speaker 1: on a no brainer spot that produced a buck for 130 00:06:46,480 --> 00:06:51,440 Speaker 1: me literally within seconds of setting up. So it's time 131 00:06:51,480 --> 00:06:54,480 Speaker 1: to sweat, it's time to get bit up, it's time 132 00:06:54,520 --> 00:06:57,719 Speaker 1: to hike through the woods, slog through the swamps, across 133 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:03,120 Speaker 1: the fields. But remember this is transition time for white tails. 134 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 1: There's brows everywhere, whether you're in Canada or Mississippi or 135 00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 1: Georgia or Maine or wherever white tails live. They have 136 00:07:10,920 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 1: more food options than they'll have it any time of 137 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 1: the year, and they are dealing with the same crappy 138 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:18,679 Speaker 1: conditions you'll be dealing with when you make a foray 139 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:22,360 Speaker 1: into their world. And that discomfort comes in many forms, 140 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:25,160 Speaker 1: and it portends a few things for you. And the 141 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:28,640 Speaker 1: deer that nice deep in the woods hillside bench that 142 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 1: you think you could kill a buck on in November, 143 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:35,040 Speaker 1: it's probably absolutely worthless. Deer wise, right now, he's not 144 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:37,120 Speaker 1: going to go in there and live with the mosquitoes 145 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:39,320 Speaker 1: and deer flies. He's going to bed out in some 146 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:41,880 Speaker 1: finger of tall grass where the breeze is always blowing, 147 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:45,080 Speaker 1: and the insects are kept at bay. This also means 148 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 1: that not all the sign in the deer sightings matter 149 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:50,840 Speaker 1: right now or will be relevant to your hunting decisions 150 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:55,240 Speaker 1: come fall. Take, for example, a pounded trail around a 151 00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:59,000 Speaker 1: swamp or some other wetland, which, because it's wet, will 152 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:02,400 Speaker 1: look way more pounded than it probably actually is. That 153 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:05,480 Speaker 1: trail might exist right now simply because the water level 154 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 1: rose back in May with a bunch of spring rain 155 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:11,080 Speaker 1: and it hasn't totally dried out yet, and the deer 156 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 1: simply just had to go around upon that. They might 157 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 1: go through or around a wetland that they might go 158 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:19,600 Speaker 1: through in October. Or you might jump a buck out 159 00:08:19,640 --> 00:08:22,440 Speaker 1: there in the middle of a patch of sumac in 160 00:08:22,480 --> 00:08:25,160 Speaker 1: a place you just didn't expect them, and you go, 161 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:28,600 Speaker 1: I got that, some bitch now. But that spot might 162 00:08:28,640 --> 00:08:31,320 Speaker 1: serve as a one off betting area for a month 163 00:08:31,360 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 1: each summer and nothing more. Listen, this is no different 164 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:39,160 Speaker 1: from your winter scouting efforts. If if you see a 165 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 1: sweet trail carved through the snow leading right to a 166 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:45,120 Speaker 1: standing cornfield in the end of January, you don't think 167 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:47,960 Speaker 1: to yourself that's going to be the ticket in September 168 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:50,120 Speaker 1: at least. I hope you don't think that. I hope 169 00:08:50,120 --> 00:08:51,800 Speaker 1: that you look at that and say, hell, yes, I 170 00:08:51,880 --> 00:08:54,160 Speaker 1: might find a shed antler here. But I also know 171 00:08:54,200 --> 00:08:56,800 Speaker 1: that the wintertime movement to a prime food source doesn't 172 00:08:56,800 --> 00:08:59,719 Speaker 1: mean jack squad come hunting season when the conditions are 173 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:03,600 Speaker 1: to really different. Actually, boots on the ground, summer scouting 174 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 1: is quite a bit different from winter in late spring scouting. 175 00:09:06,280 --> 00:09:08,560 Speaker 1: I just lied to you, and I'm sorry for that. 176 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:12,040 Speaker 1: The truth is that when you're cruising through the March woods, 177 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:15,080 Speaker 1: you're looking for rubs and scrapes, real bucks sign that 178 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:19,120 Speaker 1: late winter scouting that's all about sign You want to 179 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:21,720 Speaker 1: find a core area or a staging area, or just 180 00:09:21,800 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 1: the telltale rubs that show you a good dear fake 181 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 1: fota sapling in one specific area. There will be none 182 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:31,960 Speaker 1: of that now in the middle of the summer, because 183 00:09:32,000 --> 00:09:35,880 Speaker 1: rubs and scrapes are going to be nearly unidentifiable. It's unfortunate, 184 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:38,000 Speaker 1: I know, But as my kids like to say, and 185 00:09:38,040 --> 00:09:40,840 Speaker 1: I don't really know why it be like that. Sometimes 186 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 1: look at this type of scouting during this time of 187 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:47,600 Speaker 1: year like it's an effort to just discover what is 188 00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:50,920 Speaker 1: actually knowable and usable, and to tell the rest of 189 00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:56,439 Speaker 1: the stuff to go kick rocks in the street. Let's 190 00:09:56,480 --> 00:09:59,480 Speaker 1: take my earlier river scouting example a step further here. 191 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:02,680 Speaker 1: Imagine walking along the bank of a river or a 192 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:05,439 Speaker 1: stream that flows right on through the ground you hunt. 193 00:10:05,920 --> 00:10:08,080 Speaker 1: Deer might cross it at different times of this season 194 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:11,200 Speaker 1: for different reasons, but depending on the size and the 195 00:10:11,280 --> 00:10:14,720 Speaker 1: depth of the water, they might always cross in only 196 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:18,040 Speaker 1: a few different spots out of convenience or just necessity. 197 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:21,320 Speaker 1: In fact, even on smaller water that you can barely 198 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:24,599 Speaker 1: submerge a juvenile frog in, deer have their preferences for 199 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:28,000 Speaker 1: where they cross. This predictability has put more public land 200 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:31,240 Speaker 1: books on my walls than probably any other tendency, even 201 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:34,360 Speaker 1: more so than they're insane urge to pass on their 202 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:37,600 Speaker 1: jeans with any remotely functional dough who will slow down 203 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:41,199 Speaker 1: long enough for them to try to hop on. River crossings, 204 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:45,120 Speaker 1: which we will get to way more extensively in future episodes, 205 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:48,040 Speaker 1: are just one example of a season long deer spot 206 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:50,840 Speaker 1: that you could identify right now. The same goes for 207 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:54,280 Speaker 1: fence crossings. If there's one constant in the deer world, 208 00:10:54,360 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 1: it's the prevalence of barbed wire fences old and new. 209 00:10:58,040 --> 00:11:01,000 Speaker 1: They're out there, stitched across the country side, and deer 210 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:03,480 Speaker 1: hate them as much as we do. But deer are 211 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:06,560 Speaker 1: masters of finding the one anomaly in the fence that 212 00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:09,640 Speaker 1: allows them to jump over or go through. And if 213 00:11:09,679 --> 00:11:12,160 Speaker 1: you find a good fence crossing, just like when you've 214 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:14,920 Speaker 1: got a good river crossing, you're looking at a spot 215 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:18,760 Speaker 1: that could treat you well throughout the entire season. Of course, 216 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:21,400 Speaker 1: looking at a well used crossing of any kind and 217 00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:24,360 Speaker 1: deciding it is, in fact a well used crossing doesn't 218 00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 1: do you much good until you find a way to 219 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:29,600 Speaker 1: ambush the eventual crossers. Take a look at the trees 220 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:33,000 Speaker 1: around the area. Envision what they'll look like when they're 221 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:35,080 Speaker 1: bar and you're hanging off the side of them, not 222 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:38,480 Speaker 1: how they look now. Look for potential ground blind spots, 223 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:41,240 Speaker 1: natural ground blinds, places you can pop up a ground blind. 224 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:45,320 Speaker 1: Use your imagination here. I once killed a great buck 225 00:11:45,360 --> 00:11:49,319 Speaker 1: on a river crossing simply by hiding behind a giant cottonwood. 226 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:52,240 Speaker 1: It was the scooby doo version of a hunting strategy, 227 00:11:52,400 --> 00:11:54,880 Speaker 1: but it worked because the deer can't see through trees. 228 00:11:55,880 --> 00:11:58,440 Speaker 1: If you can't find a suitable ambush spot within the 229 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:02,240 Speaker 1: range within rain inge of the crossing, back off to 230 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:05,040 Speaker 1: see how far you'd have to get away to reach 231 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:07,679 Speaker 1: something workable. You might not be able to sit right 232 00:12:07,679 --> 00:12:09,559 Speaker 1: on the river bank and shoot them when they show up, 233 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:11,920 Speaker 1: But what does the trail offer you a hundred yards 234 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:15,280 Speaker 1: from the river. Maybe that super fence crossing is way 235 00:12:15,320 --> 00:12:18,160 Speaker 1: out on an open pasture and there's no conceivable set 236 00:12:18,240 --> 00:12:20,840 Speaker 1: up options, But some of the deer that crossed there 237 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:23,400 Speaker 1: seem to originate from a point of woods a quarter 238 00:12:23,440 --> 00:12:27,560 Speaker 1: of a mile away. Perfect setups, especially on pressure deer ground, 239 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:31,640 Speaker 1: are unicorns learn to adapt and scout with an eye 240 00:12:31,640 --> 00:12:36,120 Speaker 1: towards finding good as it gets set ups. This goes 241 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:38,800 Speaker 1: for those random deer hotspots you find while looking for 242 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:42,359 Speaker 1: something else, or for the way point you've dropped specifically 243 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 1: on a deer funneling terrain feature confirmed not only that 244 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:49,160 Speaker 1: the spot will likely host some serious deer travel come 245 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 1: fall while you're out there right now, but really dig 246 00:12:53,280 --> 00:12:56,360 Speaker 1: in deeper to decide if the spots are unable, not 247 00:12:56,480 --> 00:12:59,680 Speaker 1: just whether they're going to host a whole bunch of deer. Truly, 248 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:03,439 Speaker 1: hunt of spots have some kind of good access. They 249 00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:06,480 Speaker 1: don't necessarily have perfect stand trees, but they have good 250 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 1: enough stand trees, or they allow for a situation for 251 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:12,360 Speaker 1: you to tuck into the ground somehow. It doesn't matter. 252 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:16,840 Speaker 1: Make sure you're looking for these at all of your spots, 253 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:20,640 Speaker 1: and even the ones that seem easily huntrible, like destination 254 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:22,720 Speaker 1: food sources where you think I'll just walk into the 255 00:13:22,720 --> 00:13:25,760 Speaker 1: corner of that field and set up, sometimes don't lend 256 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:29,640 Speaker 1: themselves easily to a good tree stand or saddle set 257 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:32,000 Speaker 1: up or a ground line as you think. Go in 258 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:36,520 Speaker 1: there now and make sure that you actually know and 259 00:13:36,640 --> 00:13:40,160 Speaker 1: during those walks, at least if you hunt where farmers farm, 260 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:44,480 Speaker 1: there should be another real opportunity for you to see 261 00:13:44,520 --> 00:13:47,720 Speaker 1: what crops are out there. Throughout much of the White 262 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:51,040 Speaker 1: Tail range, the burning question a lot of us ask 263 00:13:51,720 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 1: is what's going to be growing in these fields this fall. 264 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:58,319 Speaker 1: For example, here in my home state of Minnesota, I've 265 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:00,600 Speaker 1: got a farm I have permission to bowl hunt. The 266 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:04,880 Speaker 1: landowner runs a monster dairy operation, and he primarily plants 267 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:07,920 Speaker 1: corn and alfalfa. Of the four acres of fields on 268 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:11,840 Speaker 1: the property, most will always be corn, a few will 269 00:14:11,880 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 1: be alfalfa, and rarely he'll have soybeans planted. Because there 270 00:14:16,520 --> 00:14:18,480 Speaker 1: are quite a few hunters on the farm. I want 271 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:21,240 Speaker 1: to know right away if there will be any soybeans 272 00:14:21,280 --> 00:14:23,680 Speaker 1: for the year, because that will always factor into my 273 00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 1: early season strategy, and more often than not, that's where 274 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 1: I want to be posted up during opening weekend. Now, 275 00:14:30,040 --> 00:14:32,360 Speaker 1: of course the alfalfa will factor into the early season 276 00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:36,160 Speaker 1: strategy as well, and later the corn will come into play. 277 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 1: But the key is I want to know as soon 278 00:14:38,560 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 1: as possible what's growing out there, and you do too. 279 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:46,000 Speaker 1: This up to the minute intel is something you can 280 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:49,000 Speaker 1: just toss into the mix and it will really help 281 00:14:49,040 --> 00:14:51,960 Speaker 1: you tie up some scouting loose ends and build a 282 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:55,520 Speaker 1: more actionable plan for the fall. And don't forget to 283 00:14:55,520 --> 00:14:57,960 Speaker 1: look at any of the fields near where you hunt 284 00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:00,280 Speaker 1: to even if they are on properties that you can't 285 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 1: set foot on, provided you can drive by or you 286 00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:05,360 Speaker 1: can see them maybe by glassing from ground you have 287 00:15:05,400 --> 00:15:08,000 Speaker 1: permission to be on. If the neighbors have the bean 288 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:11,440 Speaker 1: fields or they have some other high draw food, you 289 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:14,000 Speaker 1: want to know that because you know a certain percentage 290 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:16,480 Speaker 1: of the deer that use the property you're gonna hunt 291 00:15:16,840 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 1: are going to go there and come back you can 292 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:23,680 Speaker 1: factor that into your strategy. This plays out a lot 293 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:27,920 Speaker 1: for public land hunters for one very obvious reason. Typically, 294 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:32,320 Speaker 1: quality tillable land doesn't end up under government authority. It 295 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 1: stays private for food production, and that means a lot 296 00:15:35,840 --> 00:15:38,880 Speaker 1: of the public land has great betting cover but not 297 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:42,120 Speaker 1: so great destination food sources, and the deer will often 298 00:15:42,160 --> 00:15:44,600 Speaker 1: travel from one to the other depending on whether they're 299 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:47,840 Speaker 1: hungry or sleepy, and knowing where they're headed or where 300 00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:50,040 Speaker 1: they're going to come back from can tell you a 301 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:52,920 Speaker 1: lot about why you should hunt certain spots at certain 302 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:55,760 Speaker 1: times of the season. Whenever I travel out of state 303 00:15:55,760 --> 00:15:58,960 Speaker 1: to bow hunt public land, I always try to figure 304 00:15:58,960 --> 00:16:02,200 Speaker 1: out what the primary food situation is, and it's mostly 305 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:04,520 Speaker 1: not on the land that I'm going to hunt. I've 306 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:07,320 Speaker 1: killed an awful lot of deer staging on public land 307 00:16:07,320 --> 00:16:11,440 Speaker 1: that we're headed to or coming from nearby private ground. Now, 308 00:16:11,400 --> 00:16:13,480 Speaker 1: I'm not saying that you should set up on a 309 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:15,880 Speaker 1: fence line like a lot of people do, but instead 310 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:18,640 Speaker 1: just take into account how the deer are going to 311 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:21,680 Speaker 1: fulfill their daily needs while you're hunting them, and work 312 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:24,960 Speaker 1: with whatever you've got to work with there. It's also 313 00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:27,400 Speaker 1: worth noting that while I often talk mad shit about 314 00:16:27,440 --> 00:16:30,120 Speaker 1: egg fields and food plots on public land as being 315 00:16:30,240 --> 00:16:33,920 Speaker 1: idiot magnets, that's a gross generalization and I probably shouldn't 316 00:16:33,920 --> 00:16:37,200 Speaker 1: say it. I've killed great books on public land food 317 00:16:37,200 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 1: sources in a couple of different states. Sometimes, if the 318 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:42,920 Speaker 1: pressure isn't terrible or the weather conditions conspire to keep 319 00:16:43,000 --> 00:16:46,080 Speaker 1: hunters out and put box on their feet, that gimme 320 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:49,280 Speaker 1: stand site on a state planet food plot might be 321 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:53,720 Speaker 1: the ticket. Even if it's a very very fleeting opportunity 322 00:16:53,840 --> 00:16:56,040 Speaker 1: to take advantage of that and file it away in 323 00:16:56,040 --> 00:16:58,840 Speaker 1: the maybe pile, you've got to know it exists, and 324 00:16:58,840 --> 00:17:01,440 Speaker 1: you've got to know what's currently planet in it, which 325 00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:04,359 Speaker 1: you can find out right now by getting out there 326 00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:07,359 Speaker 1: and putting on some miles. And no matter what else 327 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:09,640 Speaker 1: you find while scouting right now that you deem worthwhile, 328 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:12,919 Speaker 1: trust me on this, make a note of it in 329 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:15,760 Speaker 1: your scouting app. I know you think you'll remember it, 330 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:17,680 Speaker 1: but if you're like me and you pickled your brain 331 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 1: with Jim Beam for like twenty years before wising up, 332 00:17:20,320 --> 00:17:23,159 Speaker 1: you probably won't. And even if you didn't engage in 333 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:26,720 Speaker 1: professional level drinking for like two decades, You've still probably 334 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:29,080 Speaker 1: got a lot on your plate, and remembering exactly where 335 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:31,560 Speaker 1: the best stand tree is on that one river crossing 336 00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:34,199 Speaker 1: on that wildlife management area that has a name that 337 00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:37,240 Speaker 1: starts with A or a C. It isn't so easy. 338 00:17:38,320 --> 00:17:41,159 Speaker 1: Take notes on your phone. That's my go to strategy. 339 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:44,359 Speaker 1: For public land. For private land, I do the same 340 00:17:44,359 --> 00:17:47,560 Speaker 1: thing as well, But I also carry some biodegradable flagging 341 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:51,600 Speaker 1: tape during all these scouting missions, I might just tie 342 00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:53,760 Speaker 1: a little orange bow on a pine tree next to 343 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:55,880 Speaker 1: the tree I planned to sit. Or I might use 344 00:17:55,920 --> 00:17:57,800 Speaker 1: a little bit of flagging tape to mark the best 345 00:17:57,840 --> 00:18:00,080 Speaker 1: place to peel off an access road to get to 346 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:03,560 Speaker 1: a specific spot. Just little clues to help me remember 347 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:06,320 Speaker 1: how to hunt this after looking at it in person. 348 00:18:07,200 --> 00:18:10,159 Speaker 1: Scout this time of year as if at any moment, 349 00:18:10,359 --> 00:18:12,280 Speaker 1: someone could pick up a brick and toss it right 350 00:18:12,320 --> 00:18:14,399 Speaker 1: at your head, so that not only will you go 351 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:17,160 Speaker 1: temporary night night and see some cartoon tweety birds circling 352 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:19,560 Speaker 1: around your dome when you stop springing toward the light, 353 00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:22,360 Speaker 1: but you might also lose your ability to recall anything. 354 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:26,159 Speaker 1: Look all I'm saying is, don't trust your memory, do 355 00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:28,680 Speaker 1: trust your ability to figure out something important about the 356 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:31,040 Speaker 1: local deer movement. And if that's not enough to get 357 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:33,480 Speaker 1: you to brave hordes of mosquitoes and some ticks, then 358 00:18:33,480 --> 00:18:36,920 Speaker 1: thinking about it this way, very few people will really 359 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:39,520 Speaker 1: scout this time of year. To put a finer point 360 00:18:39,560 --> 00:18:42,760 Speaker 1: on it, consider this, Hunters asked me all the time 361 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:44,680 Speaker 1: what the secret to killing more dear is, and I 362 00:18:44,720 --> 00:18:47,199 Speaker 1: don't know how to answer it any other way than 363 00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:50,040 Speaker 1: I explained in episode one. You've got to learn to 364 00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:53,439 Speaker 1: love scouting, even right now, even if it has to 365 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:55,800 Speaker 1: happen when most folks are out throwing top waters for 366 00:18:55,840 --> 00:18:58,960 Speaker 1: summer's moallmouth or brushing up on their golf game. The 367 00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:01,720 Speaker 1: little sacrifice as it takes right now to ground through 368 00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:05,320 Speaker 1: some of your scouting findings will absolutely give you an 369 00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:07,920 Speaker 1: advantage of fall. So get out there and use those 370 00:19:07,920 --> 00:19:11,439 Speaker 1: waypoints you've agonized over. Hike into those spots, take a 371 00:19:11,480 --> 00:19:14,359 Speaker 1: look at them, try to understand if they'll be good 372 00:19:14,359 --> 00:19:18,000 Speaker 1: places to haunt or not. Factor in the summer foliage, 373 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:21,040 Speaker 1: and deal with what Mother Nature is going to give you. Now. 374 00:19:21,400 --> 00:19:24,680 Speaker 1: It won't be the easiest time to decipher dear sign, 375 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:27,480 Speaker 1: but the clues are out there. When you find enough 376 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:30,480 Speaker 1: of them, commit those spots to your memory and to 377 00:19:30,560 --> 00:19:34,880 Speaker 1: your phone, and start to really develop a roster potential 378 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:37,760 Speaker 1: ambush sites that you feel confidence in. If you do, 379 00:19:37,840 --> 00:19:40,560 Speaker 1: I'll make you a promise. Next week we'll talk about 380 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:43,480 Speaker 1: something more fun, like trail cameras and how they can 381 00:19:43,520 --> 00:19:45,960 Speaker 1: help you kill super huge bucks even on the most 382 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:49,640 Speaker 1: heavily hunted parcel in all of Pennsylvania, or at least 383 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 1: how they can complement a good scouting strategy. That's it 384 00:19:54,840 --> 00:19:57,080 Speaker 1: for this week, my friends. Be sure to check back 385 00:19:57,080 --> 00:19:59,880 Speaker 1: in next week as we keep this scouting ball roll. 386 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:02,800 Speaker 1: I'm Tony Peterson and this has been a Wired to 387 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:06,480 Speaker 1: Hunt Foundation's podcast. As always, thank you so so so 388 00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:09,480 Speaker 1: much for listening, and we will see you right here 389 00:20:09,680 --> 00:20:10,240 Speaker 1: next week