Do you worry about educating or blowing out bucks while scouting?

[desertcj]

If I go backpacking on an overnight trip up a canyon/basin I have picked out, should I worry about blowing out any good bucks that might be in there? I'd like to scout the area, but I don't want to bump into a bruiser before the season and ruin my chances at taking him home.

 

[Foldem]

I typically scout the same way I hunt, but I don't actually stalk. I get on a good vantage point and glass for hours and hours. I will try to find the areas the deer like to frequent, but I don't actually go into their bedrooms until the season is on and I'm moving on a buck.

 

[desertcj]

What if you're not sure where their bedroom is? Take your chances?

 

[HellsCanyon]

This is a tough one. I know guys that intentionally bump bucks to see where they go and often times they'll be back the next day. However if I was watching a big buck I'd be real cautious... maybe would attempt it in July but definitely not August when the season is so close.

Mike

 

[shaun]

I bring in big glass get up high and glass. Try to minimize x-country if at all possible. Figure deer are used to seeing backpackers all summer on the trails so it shouldn't be a problem while on them

 

[desertcj]

There is a hiking trail where I'm headed, but I don't think it gets used very often. I was up at the trail head two weeks ago and I didn't see any signs of travel up the trail.

 

[Slim Jim]

I bring in big glass get up high and glass. Try to minimize x-country if at all possible. Figure deer are used to seeing backpackers all summer on the trails so it shouldn't be a problem while on the trails

Same as Shaun. I even try to get to where I am hunting about two days before the hunt starts so that if they see me hiking in they can settle, plus I can watch them a little before the stalks commence

 

[Whisky]

So once you get to hunting season do you guys ever still hunt/sneak through areas in hopes of coming across one bedded somewhere that was out of sight from your glassing point? Or if you're glassing session yields nothing do you just lounge around camp waiting for the evening glass session, and not disturb the area?

I've had stupid luck walking around with my head cut off, once...I don't expect to kill a lot of deer that way though. But you can't kill them sitting in camp either.

 

[robby denning]

Never spook the big bucks under any circumstances if possible. Just trust me on this one.

 

[shaun]

Never spook the big bucks under any circumstances if possible. Just trust me on this one.

The Man has spoken! Waited for him to chime in

 

[robby denning]

So once you get to hunting season do you guys ever still hunt/sneak through areas in hopes of coming across one bedded somewhere that was out of sight from your glassing point? Or if you're glassing session yields nothing do you just lounge around camp waiting for the evening glass session, and not disturb the area?

I've had stupid luck walking around with my head cut off, once...I don't expect to kill a lot of deer that way though. But you can't kill them sitting in camp either.

Thanks Shaun, you're funny...,
I walked away from computer and realized I hadn't answered Whiskey's question which was a good one.

Glassing is your best option IF the bucks aren't pressured and using some open country but sometimes you gotta go in after them. I don't just dive into miles of brush and timber hoping for the best, but if I can't glass up bucks but I know they are there (either saw them go in or have been seeing their tracks), I've gone in after them. I don't always get them, but as you say, "can't kill them sitting in camp either..."

 

[Broken Compass]

July 27, 2010, Spotted largest buck I have ever seen about 600 yards across a high alpine basin, he was bedded above a huge cliff, with cliffs going up the right of him and behind him, he only had one way out, to his left. So I decided to try and sneak closer to get better pics, worst case he takes off left to a joining basin, which isn't too far and beds back down. Right?... WRONG!!! The second I move closer he jumps up and runs straight away, up what appears to be a shear wall of rock. I sat back down and watched this buck work his way straight up and over the mountain, probably close to 2 miles maybe? I returned to that basin 4 times during the 2010 archery season (eventually killing a buck a couple hundred yards from those cliffs) once with my brother during the muzzy season, 4 scouting trips in 2011, 3 times during archery season (killing another buck a couple hundred yards from the first) and once again in that years muzzy season. Never laid eyes on the big guy again! I find myself wondering almost daily what became of him. Wishing I could do that day over again.

 

[Tdiesel]

Suprised at the responses and I have to agree I think most people get too agressive on scouting they go until they see animals.(Responses here go with my thinking) Now from far away you can safely glass them that's fine but most people go potting around in the area and put all the animals on high alert even just from smell. If you do go proceed carefully until you find any sign then that's as far as you need to go it confirms hey deer are around. But people start thinking ya but how big then they go until oops bumped into that big buck hope he is back which they might or might not be. I prefer
to hunt deer that have no idea they have ever even been seen I blew a stalk on opening day a couple years ago that one bump had that deer disappear for all year never saw him again old super wide typical that I still dream about once in a while

 

[Foldem]

What if you're not sure where their bedroom is? Take your chances?

That's what I hope to find out by glassing from the vantage point. Now if I was hunting somewhere in arid country that had a high dependence on water sources I would probably ground check water sources but my hunting is typically timberline with plenty of water.

 

[Nick Muche]

I have heard time and time again while reading books and other forums to "bump the deer early just to see where he goes"... That is not a chance I am willing to take, ever... If it happens on accident, there is nothing I can do about it, but I certainly would rather hunt a deer that is 100% satisfied with his surroundings that he has spent the better part of several months in than some other area that he was just bumped too...

My thoughts...

 

[Rizzy]

For me it's a concern, but you have to get in somehow and your not going to know where the animals are unless you get in and get that initial elevation gain. I scout a lot of areas where there are 3 parallel ridges and by taking the middle one I spook the animals that are on it, but get to observe the animals on the other two. The worst thing to do is go up the middle of the basin or along the creek. This gives everything in the basin and on each adjoining ridge the advantage of detecting your scent from the thermals ,unless its early morning, or just simply seeing your movement. I've learned the hard way on that and still do it sometimes when I'm exploring a new area because I want to have access to water.
If I see something I want to come back for, I back out of the area completely. Even by being a mile a way, they still detect your presence somehow. These Idaho timber Bucks seem to be a one hit wonder, they don't come back once spooked.

 

[Jpeaston]

View attachment 9588

"These Idaho timber Bucks seem to be a one hit wonder, they don't come back once spooked."
Our local deer that the OP is talking about are what I imagine Idaho bucks are like. I like to stay above them and out of sight, we have real thick stuff at treeline and bucks can get into it and never be seen again. Plus I get extra satisfaction anchoring a buck knowing that he has never seen me and is not exactly sure what just hit him.

 

[Hoytnut]

I accidentally bumped a great buck several weeks ago sneaking into an area. I gave him several days and entered the same area from the steep backside. He was 50 yards from where I bumped him feeding with some other bucks, so he didn't blow out of the area, but I agree with others that you should scout with caution. I usually try to do so, but sometimes you will accidentally bump deer.

 

[Jason]

I try not to spooked them obviously, but I don't lose sleep about it when I do. Sure you educated them a little, but I think they rarely leave the area, you can find them again. Plus you learn a lot when you spook them about their secondary bedding areas.

 

[Sunspot]

Never spook the big bucks under any circumstances if possible. Just trust me on this one.

This^