Post season scouting

[Soonerlongbow]

Did some small game hunting and scouting the other day on the public lands behind the house. Found this lil’ thing.

[GCook]

I like the sign post rubs.  You can get some really nice pics of the area bucks at them.

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[Crittergetter]

Looks good! Love post season scouting almost as much as hunting! I’ll be doing a lot over the next month or so!

[Huntschool]

Mine from two years ago:



In the yard at the house and NO...  I did not take this buck !  He lived into the 2019 season and was taken by a hunter that sneaked in along our North fence line without permission to be on that property. 

[Friend]

A significant part of my prep for next season occurs after season thru March.

[Soonerlongbow]

I like the sign post rubs.  You can get some really nice pics of the area bucks at them.

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There’s literally houses within 200yds or less from this exact spot.

[BAK]

Very beautiful buck, but not sure how proud I'd be of it if I had to poach it to get it.  Actually, I am sure, and I wouldn't have it.  People suck.   

[Soonerlongbow]

Mine from two years ago:



In the yard at the house and NO...  I did not take this buck !  He lived into the 2019 season and was taken by a hunter that sneaked in along our North fence line without permission to be on that property.

That sucks!!!

[GCook]

I like the sign post rubs.  You can get some really nice pics of the area bucks at them.

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There’s literally houses within 200yds or less from this exact spot.

It's amazing how well whitetail have adapted to humans. 

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[BAK]

"It's amazing how well whitetail have adapted to humans. "

Well, when you consider that in today's world only a very small percentage of humans actually are a threat to the deer it's no wonder they often loose their fear.  I've been around dear that will stick their noses in your pockets looking for treats.  I don't think they have a particularly inherent fear.   

[NY Yankee]

Fred Bear said "The next hunting season starts as soon as this one ends." Or something to that effect. It's a good idea though.

[Soonerlongbow]

"It's amazing how well whitetail have adapted to humans. "

Well, when you consider that in today's world only a very small percentage of humans actually are a threat to the deer it's no wonder they often loose their fear.  I've been around dear that will stick their noses in your pockets looking for treats.  I don't think they have a particularly inherent fear.   

My dad live in downtown Boston area and has sent me pictures of turkeys on his front lawn at the condo less than half a mile from the water, then more from the actual wharfs with turkeys on them as well.

[Pmringer]

The first few weeks post season are my favorite for scouting and planning for next season. I inevitably discover new trails and lines that I missed and fine tune my ground locations. It’s even better with fresh snow.

[Bowguy67]

"It's amazing how well whitetail have adapted to humans. "

Well, when you consider that in today's world only a very small percentage of humans actually are a threat to the deer it's no wonder they often loose their fear.  I've been around dear that will stick their noses in your pockets looking for treats.  I don't think they have a particularly inherent fear.   

Imo there’s no such thing as inherent fear. Animals are conditioned by experiences. I live on the NJ/NY border. Only bout 100 yards away.
The bears in NJ before the hunt we now have were brazen n unafraid of people. You change your oil they’d you’d see paws from under the truck. They’d walk up to you. Go to  NY 100 yards away n they take off when they see you.
Scientists have taken monkeys. Most are afraid of snakes. They put orphaned young ones in a pen w snakes. They have no fear without mama showing them that.
Your kids, if your wife freaks every time she sees bugs are more prone to freak too. Why is that? Conditioning

[Bowguy67]

The first few weeks post season are my favorite for scouting and planning for next season. I inevitably discover new trails and lines that I missed and fine tune my ground locations. It’s even better with fresh snow.

Something to think about? Trails that are discovered now are useless. Early season patterns aren’t anything like they are when you find trails/tracks now in the snow.
Rub lines n such would help. The lay of the land is easier to decipher. You’re not going to hurt yourself post season scouting but many guys don’t think it’s only generic information you gain unless you’re scouting for late season only.
Things change. Scouting now is good information for where they are now.
Can tell you things that help in season as well but not exactly where they are. That’s dependent on food, cover, water, pressure during the season.

[Homey88]

That’s a giant buck rub!

[Crittergetter]

The first few weeks post season are my favorite for scouting and planning for next season. I inevitably discover new trails and lines that I missed and fine tune my ground locations. It’s even better with fresh snow.

Something to think about? Trails that are discovered now are useless. Early season patterns aren’t anything like they are when you find trails/tracks now in the snow.
Rub lines n such would help. The lay of the land is easier to decipher. You’re not going to hurt yourself post season scouting but many guys don’t think it’s only generic information you gain unless you’re scouting for late season only.
Things change. Scouting now is good information for where they are now.
Can tell you things that help in season as well but not exactly where they are. That’s dependent on food, cover, water, pressure during the season.

This!!!

I hunt a lot more in late season than early season here. Mainly because the weather (heat) and hunting pressure.
Late season has always been better for me. The pressure of early season pushes the deer into the areas I like to go. Ive run cameras through the summer in some of these areas and get very very few pics on them because that’s not where they are during early season.
I do like to make a few pre-season scouts just before season starts to try to find sign for early season Incase I do venture out.
But for me, late season is where it’s at!!

[Burly]

I'm always scouting, just love it. Out doing some shooting just yesterday.

[Pmringer]

The first few weeks post season are my favorite for scouting and planning for next season. I inevitably discover new trails and lines that I missed and fine tune my ground locations. It’s even better with fresh snow.

Something to think about? Trails that are discovered now are useless. Early season patterns aren’t anything like they are when you find trails/tracks now in the snow.
Rub lines n such would help. The lay of the land is easier to decipher. You’re not going to hurt yourself post season scouting but many guys don’t think it’s only generic information you gain unless you’re scouting for late season only.
Things change. Scouting now is good information for where they are now.
Can tell you things that help in season as well but not exactly where they are. That’s dependent on food, cover, water, pressure during the season.

This!!!

I hunt a lot more in late season than early season here. Mainly because the weather (heat) and hunting pressure.
Late season has always been better for me. The pressure of early season pushes the deer into the areas I like to go. Ive run cameras through the summer in some of these areas and get very very few pics on them because that’s not where they are during early season.
I do like to make a few pre-season scouts just before season starts to try to find sign for early season Incase I do venture out.
But for me, late season is where it’s at!!

I suppose I should have been more clear.  Late season has benefits on our property here in SE Indiana for a few reasons.  There is the primary benefit which is late season patterns.  Hunting here is garbage in the late season due to the immediate pressure from all the gun hunters.  Early season (pre-rifle) is way more productive.  I was into deer every time out prior to gun season and saw a single yearling during daylight from start of gun onward.  Late season scouting gives me clues to their change in movement and how to correlate with my single trail camera I run for the higher pressure late season as they start getting back into habits.  I am not sure how this will benefit me next season late since this is our second year owning the property but the more data the better. 

There are early season benefits as well.  I made a lot of notes from field observations and my trail camera in the early season.  Observing the late season trails etc. has been valuable to confirm my observations on patterns of travel corridors as influenced by the terrain, food, and water sources.   I like data and late season scouting, even when I was primarily hunting public, provided some value to each part of the season at varying degrees. 

[Bowguy67]

The first few weeks post season are my favorite for scouting and planning for next season. I inevitably discover new trails and lines that I missed and fine tune my ground locations. It’s even better with fresh snow.

Something to think about? Trails that are discovered now are useless. Early season patterns aren’t anything like they are when you find trails/tracks now in the snow.
Rub lines n such would help. The lay of the land is easier to decipher. You’re not going to hurt yourself post season scouting but many guys don’t think it’s only generic information you gain unless you’re scouting for late season only.
Things change. Scouting now is good information for where they are now.
Can tell you things that help in season as well but not exactly where they are. That’s dependent on food, cover, water, pressure during the season.

This!!!

I hunt a lot more in late season than early season here. Mainly because the weather (heat) and hunting pressure.
Late season has always been better for me. The pressure of early season pushes the deer into the areas I like to go. Ive run cameras through the summer in some of these areas and get very very few pics on them because that’s not where they are during early season.
I do like to make a few pre-season scouts just before season starts to try to find sign for early season Incase I do venture out.
But for me, late season is where it’s at!!

I suppose I should have been more clear.  Late season has benefits on our property here in SE Indiana for a few reasons.  There is the primary benefit which is late season patterns.  Hunting here is garbage in the late season due to the immediate pressure from all the gun hunters.  Early season (pre-rifle) is way more productive.  I was into deer every time out prior to gun season and saw a single yearling during daylight from start of gun onward.  Late season scouting gives me clues to their change in movement and how to correlate with my single trail camera I run for the higher pressure late season as they start getting back into habits.  I am not sure how this will benefit me next season late since this is our second year owning the property but the more data the better. 

There are early season benefits as well.  I made a lot of notes from field observations and my trail camera in the early season.  Observing the late season trails etc. has been valuable to confirm my observations on patterns of travel corridors as influenced by the terrain, food, and water sources.   I like data and late season scouting, even when I was primarily hunting public, provided some value to each part of the season at varying degrees.

Sounds like in your case late season scouting would be very beneficial. You’re trying to find them nearish now. Being the property is new you can also learn the lay of the land. Easier to see funnels, saddles, etc.
I’d take note of certain trees for the upcoming  mushroom season too.