How to Scout and Plan Your Next Fall Hunt
We are just about into the summer season here in Montana, a time when most hunters put away their hunting gear until the fall season arrives. If you want to maximize your chances at killing a big buck or bull this fall, scouting during these summer months is a great way to improve your odds.
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By the end of June, Montana hunters will know what tags they will have in their pockets. Hopefully you are lucky in the draws, and have a special tag to scout for this summer.
Even if you just have general tags, exploring new or old hunting spots is a great way to spend summer days.
Learning the Road System before your Hunt
I find that one of the biggest advantages of summer scouting is simply learning the road systems. Maybe it's just me, but I often finds that roads shown on maps or GPS are not always public roads. This can mean lots of miles driven for no reason if you get all the way to your access road and it's blocked by a gate.
I would much rather drive around looking for ways to access public lands in the summer, rather than burning up my hunting time just trying to get to my hunting spot.
You should also pay attention to what kind of condition the road is in and keep that in the back of your mind. A road with little to no gravel will be fine if it's been dry for a few days, but a rain storm will put you in a world of hurt in some parts of Montana. Having a backup plan in case it rains can pay dividends if foul weather does hit during your hunt. Aside from learning your access routes into your hunting grounds, you can also learn the whereabouts of local services.
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Things such as gas stations, grocery stores, meat processors etc. are all good things to know before your hunt begins. Eastern Montana can be pretty desolate, and knowing where you can get fuel on your hunt can help you avoid a serous headache.
Developing a Pattern
Once mid-summer hits, deer especially will be in a pretty predictable pattern. It won't be too difficult to turn up the same bucks day to day. If you find a specific buck you want to target, it makes sense to watch him as much as possible to determine where he beds, feeds, his travel routes, etc. The more you know about your quarry and the way he navigates the landscape, the better off you will be.
Deer feed late into the mornings and feed early in the evenings during summer, allowing you ample time to spot them and watch from afar. These bucks will stay in these patterns until the velvet comes off in early to mid-September, offering bow hunters a great opportunity to harvest a buck.
Elk are harder to scout for as they travel so much. Once the rut hits, they seem to vacate the areas they spend mid-summer and congregate in other areas to rut.
This probably isn't true for all areas, but seems to be the case where I hunt. Trail cameras are a great way to capture photos of the animals you are chasing and see what's out there for trophy potential. Beware that it is illegal to put up trail cameras in Montana if there is an open hunting season going on.
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Make Phone Calls Prior to your Hunt
I have found that game wardens can be some of the most useful and helpful resources in learning a new area. I like to call and ask about specific areas rather than just calling asking, "Where should I hunt?"
I always ask about the hunting pressure, how the animals respond after hunting season starts, gaining access to private ground, etc.
Wildlife biologists can also be helpful are worth giving a call.
Plan the Hunt, Hunt the Plan
Going into hunting season with a plan will greatly improve your chances of success. There's no substitute for having boots on the ground in your hunting areas. If you spend time scouting during the summer, you will have multiple spots picked out with backups so that you will always have a direction or options of places to go during hunting season.
Do you know how to plan out of state hunts where scouting may not be possible?
I don't know how many times I have had opening day spots not pan out, and fell back on other areas I had found during summer scouting that ended up producing successful days.
You gain such an advantage by knowing the ins and outs of your hunting area. Still have questions? Use the form below and we will work to get back to you within 24-hours.