Scouting for Whitetail Deer in Texas: Tips from the Pros
Scouting is a crucial part of whitetail deer hunting, and doing it effectively can be the difference between backstrap for dinner and tag soup. To enhance your success rate, here are some professional tips to help you scout for whitetail deer in Texas.
1. Start Early: Begin your scouting well before the hunting season starts. This allows you to identify patterns and changes in deer behavior over time. Early scouting helps you understand the movement, feeding, and bedding habits of the deer in your hunting area. Having a familiarity with the terrain will allow you to better predict late season changes when weather or behavior patterns change.
2. Use Trail Cameras: Trail cameras are indispensable tools for modern hunters. Place cameras along known trails, near food sources, and at water sources. Check the cameras regularly to gather valuable information about deer activity, including the time of day they are most active and their travel patterns. Cell cameras are the preferred choice for many hunters as they provide real-time updates and don’t require you to disturb the hunting area to retrieve the photos.
3. Identify Food Sources: Food sources are key to understanding deer movement. In Texas, deer commonly feed on acorns, mesquite beans, and agricultural crops like corn and soybeans. Locate these food sources and observe how deer are using them. Even if these crops are not in season yet, having a list of the locatiosn will allow you to follow the deer as they alternate between harvested corn and later season acorn drops.
4. Locate Bedding Areas: Bedding areas are where deer feel safe and secure. These areas are typically in thick cover or secluded spots. Identify potential bedding areas and avoid disturbing them too often to keep the deer from relocating.
5. Understand Water Needs: In Texas, water sources are particularly important due to the usually arid conditions. Find ponds, creeks, or other water bodies that deer frequent. During dry periods, these areas can become hotspots for deer activity.
6. Study Travel Corridors: Deer often use the same routes to travel between bedding, feeding, and watering areas. Look for well-worn trails, rub lines, and scrapes. These indicators can help you determine the best locations for stands and blinds.
7. Use Topographical Maps and Aerial Photos: Topographical maps and aerial photos can provide a broader perspective of the land. Identify funnels, ridges, and pinch points that deer use to travel. These features can help you pinpoint high-traffic areas. Even in dry seasons, topographical maps can help mark locations that may become temporary ponds filled with water and forage in the wet times of the year.
8. Pay Attention to Sign: While scouting, look for deer sign such as tracks, droppings, rubs, and scrapes. Fresh tracks and droppings indicate recent activity, while rubs and scrapes are signs of rutting behavior and territorial marking.
9. Observe from a Distance: Use binoculars or spotting scopes to observe deer from a distance without disturbing them. Early mornings and late evenings are the best times for glassing fields and open areas where deer are likely to be feeding. The high magnification from a spotting scope can be helpful in not only identifying target bucks but also dissecting the terrain and understanding how the deer are moving between areas.
10. Keep Detailed Records: Maintain a scouting journal to record your observations. Note the locations, times, and conditions of deer sightings. This information can help you identify patterns and make informed decisions during the hunting season.
By incorporating these professional scouting tips, you can gain a deeper understanding of whitetail deer behavior and improve your hunting strategies. Scouting takes time and patience, but the rewards are well worth the effort. Happy hunting
