Favorite Scouting Month

Joined
Oct 14, 2025
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For my Mulie freaks out there, anyone have a favorite month/weekend they are always making a scouting trip for? Not necessarily talking to the guys that live 15 minutes from their spots and can go all the time. I usually have a decent drive to make and go sometime in July or August.
 
Big fan of early July. Most years, the antler growth is far enough along to start judging their full potential, while their coats are peak orange and easy to spot. I usually end up seeing the most bucks this time of year as well, as I find them feeding in the open for longer periods. YMMV, but this has been true in my area.

August can be great as well, especially if it’s been a good moisture year and the forbs are healthy. On drier years, August is really tough for me to see as many, as I think they start to concentrate more over the limited food sources. Coats aren’t quite as orange in August either, but you can start to fully assess their score potential
 
Big fan of early July. Most years, the antler growth is far enough along to start judging their full potential, while their coats are peak orange and easy to spot. I usually end up seeing the most bucks this time of year as well, as I find them feeding in the open for longer periods. YMMV, but this has been true in my area.

August can be great as well, especially if it’s been a good moisture year and the forbs are healthy. On drier years, August is really tough for me to see as many, as I think they start to concentrate more over the limited food sources. Coats aren’t quite as orange in August either, but you can start to fully assess their score potential
Good points
 
I like mid to late July. In high mountain elevations they’re typically where there going to be come archery season on heavier snow years. (This years the exception unfortunately)
 
I think a lot depends on when you are planning on hunting. I always felt late July, early August was a great time to find bucks. If I was archery hunting in early September I could count on the bucks still being in the same spot. If I was hunting the MT opener in October, the bucks would at least be close by. If I went back in mid November the July scouting would be detrimental because I would be spending hunting time where the bucks were three weeks ago.
 
I like early to mid July, they got there red coats, there antlers are starting to take shape, and if I’m traveling I love to watch the weather and pick a time frame with a push of cooler weather. This recipe in my mind will produce the most buck sightings.
 
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