Late Summer Prep for Bow Season
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Time to read 3 min
When the dog days of summer are in full swing, it is hard to motivate the mind to think about anything but air conditioning.
Then it hits! The first cold front. I'm not talking about the "this rain is slightly cooler than the air" type of cold front. I mean the frigid, opposite of the normal, get your heart rate up, first hints of fall in the air, initiate dreams of 200 inches and drop tines, cold front!
Scouting and Planning Strategies
When this strikes, we begin our plan. Studying contour maps and prepping our cell cameras to be strategically placed.
We set early on our public lands, and we do this for a couple of reasons. First, we are looking to get an overall inventory of bucks in any area. Second, we get a jump on any other human presence there may be. Third, this helps us pattern any buck movements we may be able to take advantage of before the ever- coveted pre-rut and rut.
One final reason for the early set, is it allows us time to adjust our cameras as needed, before season, without spooking anything or changing patterns. Let's face it; we cannot enter the woods without leaving behind some sort of indicator we were there.
Choosing the Right Waterproof Hunting Backpack for Scouting
So, we load up our waterproof hunting backpacks from TideWe, and set out on our first adventure of the upcoming season. We choose these backpacks not only because they are waterproof, and as such, can be very effectively made scent proof, but they also are exceptionally durable, comfortable, and most importantly, cost efficient. High functionality and dependability, with a low price tag is the name of the game for us! The products offered by TideWe check all the boxes for us, from outer wear and boots, to storage, blinds, and range finders.
Tips for Securing Trail Cameras on Public Hunting Land
We set our cameras high, usually utilizing a climbing stick or two to reach the desired height, and then angle them down and out, attempting to widen the field of view as best we can. After installation, cameras are locked to the tree. This is public land after all, and cell cameras are an investment we want to protect from detection and tampering as best we can.
Our cameras are of course set in the popular areas, such as draws, inside corners, and saddles. We don't concentrate much on water, as water is plentiful where we hunt. What we are really looking for is deer sign. Last year's scrapes and rubs, but most importantly, active deer trails. We are building mock scrapes, even this early. We only build these scrapes on active trails, that way we know they are going to be visited. Once visited, nature takes over and we don't have to visit these sites again until the hunt.
Using E-Bikes for Quiet, Efficient Scouting
We utilize e-bikes where permitted so that we can cover ground quickly and quietly. The bikes also help us so we aren't working up much of a sweat, and we can control our scent much more effectively.
When the photos begin coming in, the data for each photo is recorded. Time, date, temperature, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction, and deer movement direction. This data is laid out to look for any patterns. We do not move cameras if all we are receiving are photos of does. Come rut, if there are does, there will be bucks! We move cameras based on no deer movement, or heavy human movement.
The time is now! Check out TideWe to order the gear you may need and get those cameras out there to begin your scouting. Good luck to everyone this season and be safe!
Author
Raymond Tiffany
I speak wit, sass, and sarcasm regularly…. Sometimes even toss in some English….
