Scouting tips for CO 3rd and 4th season

[Donjuan]

I'm applying in a moderate point unit in Colorado. I'm more versed in early season hunts with a bow. What tips do you have for escouting 3rd and 4th season? Summer scouting seems pointless. But weather and rut activity make it seem like a gamble on where they might be. Thanks for helping a newb

 

[huntnful]

I'm applying in a moderate point unit in Colorado. I'm more versed in early season hunts with a bow. What tips do you have for escouting 3rd and 4th season? Summer scouting seems pointless. But weather and rut activity make it seem like a gamble on where they might be. Thanks for helping a newb

No boots on the ground scouting is pointless IMO. You can figure out the terrain/roads and find population clusters of does as well as what bucks are in close proximity.

But for just e scouting. Find several good glassing vantages that over-look different terrain and vegetation types. It may take a while to figure out the select few areas of the unit that the deer actually live in.

 

[justinspicher]

I’ll add that there are going to be considerably lower in elevation during that part of the year. They will also be fairly active so trying to pattern them will be challenging.

 

[LongWayAround]

Access and observation points.

If you can, make a trip out just to drive the roads and see what it looks like in person. Otherwise, just arrive a couple of days early and do the same.

You might find that roads you thought you could use are impassable or not actually roads. Some might be goat paths, others may be gated, some might be better than expected. A gentle roll on the topo might open up a lot of area to the eye. Something you glance past on the aerial might really catch your eye on the ground.

 

[Nickofthewoods]

E-scouting for late Muley hunts should probably include researching deer migration routes for the area, which you should be able to find in the Colorado Hunting Atlas.

 

[dirtytough]

E scouting wise I would zoom in on the sat layer and look for unmarked two tracks.

If boots on the ground during the summer I would try to drive every road, find glassing points, access points, etc.

Personally I think a couple days early before the season would be best though. Because while finding access and glassing points, you will also be finding where the deer are hanging out.

 

[cnelk]

Does. Its all about the does

 

[Hnthrdr]

I would say boots on the ground in summer isn’t pointless, ID’ing good glassing spots is pretty key, 8k and lower seems to hold the most deer, and as mentioned above it’s all the about the does, find does and there will be bucks around

 

[RockAndSage]

The single biggest waste of time during the actual season comes from figuring out access that should have been nailed down pre-season. It's also the easiest part of physical scouting.

You can burn entire days of physical scouting just in driving around scouting for access you thought was easy or do-able from e-scouting. And as someone mentioned above, you can also uncover useful routes and 2-tracks that are just not marked on OnX. You also see landscape and vegetation layout that's impossible to perceive digitally.

On opening morning, there's no mystery at all where I'm going to be - I know exactly what my game plan is for where I'm driving, where I'm stopping, how I'm hiking, and how long each of those legs takes, to be at exactly the glassing points, food plots, and choke-points I'm going to be hitting. Including roughly at what times and roughly for how long, because I've done it before and logged that data. That is just not possible if someone hasn't nailed down access well before the season opener.

Time, energy, and mental focus are the most precious resources available during the actual season, and I don't want to burn any of that figuring out access or what I should do next. You only get a thorough and efficient game plan with pre-season scouting.

As to the challenges of a high-migration area, just scout for that. Deer spend the summers up high where it's cool, and move lower for food and warmth as the weather presses them down, obviously. You don't know exactly where the deer will be on any given week, because of weather conditions going all the way back to spring precipitation and what that means for food, so simply incorporate that ambiguity into your plan. Have high spots you'll hit first, and food/glassing/choke points down through lower altitudes you map out and know where you'll want to be if you don't see anything high.

Deer migration mapping data is also available - do a search here and you'll find at least one thread where there's a ton of resources others provided. That may help narrow down the specific glassing spots and geography you'd want to check out.

 

[jwatts]

I agree with what has already been said. I had a 4th season hunt last year. We scouted in July. I was able to drive a few roads and get a lay of the land. I was able to cross off several spots that I didn't want to go back to. I was able to get an idea of what habitat was where, so I could know where to go elsewhere in the unit once I started seeing deer. It definitely wasn't a waste of time.

 

[8mille]

Get there earlier and hit different areas. In your travels, when encountering hunters,waitresses,park rangers, locals, be friendly, spend time having friendly talks. You’d be surprised how many fishing holes and game activities have been offered to me for just being friendly and sincere to locals of any sort.

 

[8mille]

The single biggest waste of time during the actual season comes from figuring out access that should have been nailed down pre-season. It's also the easiest part of physical scouting.

You can burn entire days of physical scouting just in driving around scouting for access you thought was easy or do-able from e-scouting. And as someone mentioned above, you can also uncover useful routes and 2-tracks that are just not marked on OnX. You also see landscape and vegetation layout that's impossible to perceive digitally.

On opening morning, there's no mystery at all where I'm going to be - I know exactly what my game plan is for where I'm driving, where I'm stopping, how I'm hiking, and how long each of those legs takes, to be at exactly the glassing points, food plots, and choke-points I'm going to be hitting. Including roughly at what times and roughly for how long, because I've done it before and logged that data. That is just not possible if someone hasn't nailed down access well before the season opener.

Time, energy, and mental focus are the most precious resources available during the actual season, and I don't want to burn any of that figuring out access or what I should do next. You only get a thorough and efficient game plan with pre-season scouting.

As to the challenges of a high-migration area, just scout for that. Deer spend the summers up high where it's cool, and move lower for food and warmth as the weather presses them down, obviously. You don't know exactly where the deer will be on any given week, because of weather conditions going all the way back to spring precipitation and what that means for food, so simply incorporate that ambiguity into your plan. Have high spots you'll hit first, and food/glassing/choke points down through lower altitudes you map out and know where you'll want to be if you don't see anything high.

Deer migration mapping data is also available - do a search here and you'll find at least one thread where there's a ton of resources others provided. That may help narrow down the specific glassing spots and geography you'd want to check out.

I get all this technology can be useful in preventing wasted time finding game. On the other hand, isn’t that what hunting is? What’s next , sending out drones to find activity? I’m not trying to mock any one so please don’t misunderstand my comment. I’m just saying.

 

[RockAndSage]

I get all this technology can be useful in preventing wasted time finding game. On the other hand, isn’t that what hunting is? What’s next , sending out drones to find activity? I’m not trying to mock any one so please don’t misunderstand my comment. I’m just saying.

Not sure what exactly you're referencing here on "technology", as almost the entirety of my post is about getting into the field and doing the work.

 

[8mille]

Not sure what exactly you're referencing here on "technology", as almost the entirety of my post is about getting into the field and doing the work.

When I saw E Scouting I thought it was some new computer app. Maybe it’s one of those bikes I see occasionally. Technology or not , everyone have safe outings and fun.

 

[8mille]

Not sure what exactly you're referencing here on "technology", as almost the entirety of my post is about getting into the field and doing the work.

When I saw E Scouting I thought it was some new computer app. or gadgetry. Maybe it’s one of those bikes I see occasionally. Technology or not , everyone have safe outings and fun.

 

[RockAndSage]

When I saw E Scouting I thought it was some new computer app. or gadgetry. Maybe it’s one of those bikes I see occasionally. Technology or not , everyone have safe outings and fun.

Ah, I see. OnX is a mapping app, like a digital paper map, that also allows you to see photos of the landscape. It's a big step up from paper maps, yes. As can be seen in my comment though, it has its limitations and most definitely doesn't replace scouting on the ground.

 

[Shadow Walker]

Here’s a second vote for studying migration corridors on the CPW website.

Good luck.

 

[ColoradoV]

Colorado has a ton of resident deer that never migrate…..

Just sayin..

 

[Clark33]

I had the same situation last year OP. I didn't have enough personal leave to make a scouting trip to CO from my home state. Spent a lot of time marking POTENTIAL access points, called the local BLM and USFS offices and spoke to the ORV guys about roads, what they're like when they get wet (that damn greasy clay/mud that cakes your tires), and marked pockets that appeared to be not visible from any roads.

I was able to get down there a full day before the opener and hit a bunch of my marked "potential access points" some were viable, others were not. It snowed a bunch 3 days before the opener and that played a big role as well, all bets were off as far as access, I watched UTV's get stuck in the mud/snow once it warmed up.

Have fun pouring over onx and google earth, give yourself the full season if you need it and have fun!

 

[Poser]

I agree that late season hunting is more about knowing the road access (and in relation to various conditions) than anything else. When you’re hunting lower elevations, there tends to a lot more access than the high country, so it’s all about knowing where to drive and what can be driven.