gotcha. It looks like the swampy stuff is pretty wet, or is it mostly dry? Looking at the terrain map there are some very distinct terrain features that I'm guessing will show very distinct trails. I'd plan a good long walk to hit all of the major "connections" like this that form a bridge or a "shortest route" between the various areas of high ground where an animal crossing from ridge to ridge would most easily cross one of the swampy areas or cross one of the bigger ridges--I just circled a few below to show what I mean, but theres others and some of these may have roads, etc on them that you want to avoid. Maybe also check out some of the points that fade into the swamps that I didnt circle. Theres also a few places where multiple ridges converge, if those arent travelled or dont have trails on them they could be another good spot to check out.
View attachment 756052I'd plan a walk to hit as many of these as you can and identify the most heavily used trails, as well as mark areas with good fall food sources--clearcuts with browse, swamp edges or blowdown areas with browse, areas of oaks with good acorn crop (bring binos to see acorns on the trees). I'd follow some of the heavily used trails into the swamp if posible, so if its wet bring your mud boots. guessing you'll find bedding areas in the swamps as well as on midslope benches and knobs. I'd also be looking in the swamp, on the swamp exit trails, and any of the ridges dropping into the swamps, for any concentrations of rubs, especially if they show signs of having been rubbed more than just one year. during rut some of the terrain funnels themselves and any terrain funnels near bedding benches/knobs can make a good sit based on sign, the trails and swamp edges can make a good still-hunt, and any of the funnels or feeding areas and swamp edges where trails enter are good places to check if there's snow so you can pick up a buck track--200 acres isnt big enough to track a buck most times, but that technique will transfer to the bigger areas of public nearby. I bet if you do a power scouting day like that you will identify some hot spots to go back to and hunt--maybe some of what you targeted and some other stuff that didnt jump out on the map--and that'll likely be enough to get you in the game for some hunts int he fall, and you can adjust on the fly from there. If you want that will also identify the best places to hang a camera if you want to go that route to get more info. There's always stuff that is hidden and isnt on a quick first look like this, so this isnt at all a end-all/be-all for what to scout, it's just how I'd approach a first scouting trip never having been there. Curious what others see as well, I feel like everyone sees different things on a map like this so i enjoy hearing what jumps out to other folks.
