Tips to August Whitetail Scouting

Tips to August Whitetail Scouting

By Ryan Graden

So you’re getting the “itch” are ya? Turkey season closed in May and the summer seems to be dragging on and on and on! What do you do? Lots! If you truly want to put that trophy on the wall year after year, August should be your month of preparations to find the big boy that you’re looking for!

I know as the summer begins to close my mind begins to wander more towards the fall season opener. As a bow hunter, October 1st couldn’t come soon enough. A reason to get out in the woods and put to use all you prepared a few months prior.

Now, some of the following tips could be put to use a bit sooner. Say July and maybe June, and possibly even sooner. But August is your “do or die” month as you enter into the “prime time” of the fall. Consider the following things to do this month in order to set yourself up for the hunt of a lifetime!

Tip #1
Know the Food Sources
Food sources are such an important part of hunting whitetails here in the Midwest. August is the month that a lot of bucks begin to feel the urge to feed a bit more than normal. The November rut is only a few months away and their bodies will need the energy to survive the countless hours of chasing as well as the elements of winter. Knowing where the food sources are and what they are will be key.

Some of you hunters out there have the privilege to plant your own food plots while others have to depend on what Mother Nature provides. In my opinion, both are great benefits for any hunter as long as they know what they are looking for.

By September (on a good year) soybeans are being taken out of the field which will only leave you those cornfields to focus in on. Setting up on the outer edge of a corn- field can have some killer results. Big bucks love to cruise those edges and the first few rows during the early season. Make sure to pay attention to these fields.

On the other hand, acorns and other fall greens within the timber are making their presence known as leaves and other grasses begin to slowly dry up and vanish. Oak trees are a huge bonus as you hunt the hardwoods here in Iowa. Acorns are a great source of nutrition for our big bodied whitetails.

Tip #2
Know the Lay of the Land
Terrain is another important factor to your hunt this fall. When you decide to hunt a property during the fall, you must get out and understand how it lays out. Know where the rises are, the flat spots are, the dips, and also the pinch points.

Deer like to be in different parts of terrain through the day for different reasons. It could be for bedding, safety, breeding, comfort, and so much more. Depending on what time of season it is, deer will use the lay of the land to their advantage.

Where I hunt, I’ve learned that there are a lot of west winds that tend to blow from the top of a ravine to the bottom. As I’ve observed over the seasons, many of the bucks that come through that area of the property will tend to follow a trail on the very bottom of the ravine. Why?

They are looking for the estrous scent of bedded does.

By discovering that tad bit of information, I’d be glad to show you my wall and the European mounts of five Pope and Young bucks that I’ve taken over the past six years from that location!

Know your property, but know it sooner than later. Do not scout too close to the hunting season. A human presence in the area at that point “in the game” could really mess things up.

Tip #3
Glass your Fields
You need to start making a plan in August on how, where, and what you pursue during the hunting season. Finding a spotting point is a vital tool to hunting any area that you choose.

Once you’ve discovered the feeding areas and the lay of the land that you intend to hunt, pay close attention to the evening hours. Deer will, if you’ve found a good feeding area, begin to come out right at dusk. Mostly the does and the fawns will appear first. But wait patiently!

As bucks see that all things are good with the does and their feeding, they will make their presence known in the feeding area. Use this time to cruise the merchandise and choose the bucks that are the right age to harvest.

By August most of the antler growth is about 80%-90% complete. The younger bucks will be all done growing for the most part and the older bucks will still have a bit to go. Regardless, you will be able to tell who is young or old and who will make the hit list!

Tip #4
Use a Camera
Trail cameras are becoming more and more affordable for the average hunter. And if you are serious about taking a trophy size deer, one of your first investments should be a camera.

Find a good food source or pinch point that the deer are constantly using. Place the camera there and let it “soak” for a while. At this point in August, you never want to spend too much time in your hunting area. Deer WILL remember!

When you return a week or so later, take an inventory of what has been captured. Does, young bucks, and mature. All if you have it in the right spot will be seen. And you won’t have to do too much work to see them! Remember a quick tip on cameras, to speed up your time in the area simply take an extra SD card and swap the one out in the camera with the one you brought. Quickly in, quickly out.

Tip #5
Make your Hit List
Every year, after my cameras have been working overtime in August, I begin to form a Hit List that I use for the fall season. I file pictures into different labeled files with the deer’s name on them (I know that it’s geeky!) And after I begin to see these bucks regularly and know that they are permanent fixtures of the area, I will judge their age and size and make a call.

The couple points I abide by are that the buck must be at least 3.5 years old. I know that’s on the low end of maturity, but for us, that’s the beginning of big and that’s what we’re comfortable with.

We also like to make sure that their antlers are “outside” the ears. Even if we know that the buck has hit the 3.5 year mark, we’d like to give him a fair chance to grow all that God has given him.

Some people think naming deer and a hit list is silly and it got started because the big name celebrity tv hunters did it so “I” will do it too. The truth of the matter is naming deer and putting them on a hit list it an important deer management tool. It will hold you accountable to shooting the mature bucks and letting the little ones pass. Don’t do this just to have names for deer on your property. Do it because it will help you shoot the deer you want to in the fall.

On our property, if you break the rule, you have to put a penalty payment into the “seed fund” for next year’s food plot. Usually, it’s a $100 bill!

Tip #6
Set Your Stands
Getting your stands and blinds up in August is so important to a successful hunt. I can’t tell you how many times I haven’t obeyed this tip and have suffered the consequences!

Take the time to think through a few things. First your food sources, second the lay of the land (particularly pinch points), third possible wind directions, and fourth the presence of the right deer. Put all of these together and find the perfect place to put up your stand.
Take the time to put them up good and tight eliminating any chances of noise while you move in them. Also, allow them to de-scent. If you’ve stored them in the garage over the year, they will smell like your garage. Placing them in August is going to allow them to go through a few weather cycles that will help eliminate the garage smell.

Also remember to clear your shooting lanes when you set your stands. I look for every little branch that could get in my way. I don’t want the shot of a lifetime to be ruined by a little tree!

Tip #7
Create Your Paths
When I say this tip, I want you to think of a couple of different things. First off, how are you getting to your stand or blind? Remember, in the fall leaves will begin to fall from the trees and the forest floor is going to become hard and loud to navigate. Map out a route that will allow you to arrive at your stand without too much noise and too much time on the ground. Remove branches, saplings, and anything else that might hinder your stealth.

And secondly, make a path that you want the deer to follow. It’s known that deer will always follow the path of least resistance. As you trim your shooting lanes, lay the branches down creating a “travel path” that you would like the deer to follow. Bringing them into the spot that works best for you is a great thing to remember!

Tip #8
Practice Your Shooting!
Whether you are a gun shooter, a bow shooter, or both, practice makes perfect! I’m sure you’ve heard that phrase before but it’s so true! If you are a better shooter, you’ll have a better chance at a successful harvest.

Take the time and make the commitment to shoot 50 arrows a night (or at least till your arms get tired!) And if you’re a gun shooter, I don’ think you need to use that much ammo a night, but do set up a time to shoot your gun regularly and do what’s necessary to zero it in.
Not only do you want to make a harvest, but you owe it to the animal that you are taking to make a good clean ethical shot. Practice will make perfect! A full freezer as well as a perfect mount on your wall!

Tip #9
Know Where the Ladies Are!
If you want to get to the big boys come bow season, you have to know what they are looking for! It’s the does. You can bet if there is a pile of does on your property and they are all congregating in an area, sooner or later Ol’ Big Daddy will be cruising on by trying to pursue somebody within the group.

Does are a huge part of shooting a mature buck. Find your food sources, pattern your deer, and make a note in your mind of how many does you are seeing in the area. Lots of does will lead to a number of bucks frequenting your stand. You just have to make sure that you are there at the right time to make the shot.

If you are having a hard time pulling a buck from a herd of does, using a decoy and a call might do the trick. If there is a challenger that the buck is aware of, he will make the distance to set things straight!

Tip #10
Don’t Delay
In years past I have put these things off way too long in August and have paid the price for it. Plan a weekend early in the month to hash out what you need to do in the timber or field as you prepare for the up and coming season. Set aside the time to get it done, gather the help that you need, and make sure you have all the tools you need for the job.

Get in, get it done, and get out! That’s got to be your “August motto” for preparing your hunting areas for the intense fall and winter months. Trust me, you won’t ever regret the time you spend preparing for this. Especially if it produces a trophy that you will be proud of.

In all, enjoy the creation that God has given you. Be a good steward and never stop challenging yourself. Always think “outside the box” and enjoy every moment that you are given.

Good luck!