The takeaway: Early season scouting can be a time-intensive task. Learn how trail cams save you time and increase your intel.
Early season scouting is critical for hunters who want to learn as much as they can about deer behavior and patterns before the season begins.
Deer in the early season are predictable, and depending on when your season starts, bucks can often be very patternable. This means your hunting success increasingly relies on early season scouting so you can learn about the movements and behaviors of specific deer.
Why Early Season Scouting Is Important
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Identify deer patterns: Deer are typically more predictable in the early season as they focus on specific food sources and establish secure bedding areas. This means they are likely using specific travel routes.
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Maximize hunting opportunities: With travel routes better understood, you can move on to target specific bucks, dial in your stand placement, and cut down on disturbances to deer and your hunting area.
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Understand changing conditions: Weather or seasonal changes can shift food sources, and as the season progresses, bucks change their behavior. Early season scouting prepares you to anticipate, recognize, and understand these changes.
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Save time: With early season scouting under your belt, you’ll save time when the hunt begins since you can zero in on where your bucks are most likely to be at specific times.
Best Camera Setups for Early Season Scouting
Trail cams can save hunters massive amounts of time as they seek to fine tune their early season scouting. Instead of hours in the field, a few strategically placed deer cams can mean you have eyes on multiple sites at once.
For early season scouting, focus on placing your cameras in areas where deer are most likely to be: food sources, water sources, and travel corridors linking food sources to bedding areas.
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Feeding areas: Place cameras in crop fields, food plots, and areas where deer browse.
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Water sources: Position cameras near water sources, especially when it’s hot or other water sources have dried.
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Travel corridors: Target natural funnels like saddles, valleys, and fencerows.
Best Game Cam for Early Season Scouting
A great camera option for early season scouting will combine easy set up with long-term deployment and minimal maintenance. REVEAL cameras like the Ultra feature live video streaming, switchable low-glow/no-glow flash, and Active GPS. Pair it with a battery belt or folding solar panel for the ultimate in discrete game monitoring.