Important Winter Scouting Tips For Hardcore Deer Hunters

[@ericwittman3]

70% of my scouting is in February. It’s where my next year deer library is written. 10% in October, 10% in November, and 10% in December. In season confirmation from February.

[@Rottenegg49]

Hey Jeff! Not quite sure what happened to my comment. I saw you responded but wasn’t able to see it when I went back to look for it. I harvested a young buck on the last day of the Illinois season. Probably about 2 years old if I had to guess. This buck (who had just shed its antlers) came slowly limping through the woods by itself. I really had some pity for this little guy. He looked to be in some pretty bad pain. After the harvest, I discovered he had a broken foot and was also very skinny. Not a cwd deer, but he certainly was not healthy. Anyways, after the harvest I really had a tough time with myself on it. While it wasn’t a trophy, I feel like I did the right thing. At the end of the day it was either me or the coyotes, especially in the shape of this deer. Maybe I care more about these deer than others in the hunting community, but this really made me consider the harvest. My question to you: have you ever been in this situation? If so, how did you deal with it? Most importantly, do you think I did the right thing? Just possibly looking to put my head at ease

[@janitorialguy4436]

Thanks Jeff

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Thanks for always watching!

[@transamguy9073]

I havent walked my property yet to see how the sign looks. I try not to walk around during deer season. I no most of the scrapes are were they usually are. Did not see as many rubs this yr but havent walked it all. It seems like we have bucks yr round. That beeing said tho. There are some summer bucks that stay but there are some we loose. But we also gain bucks in the fall and winter

[@KenJennrich]

Hey Jeff, Love your channel, I always learn something. How often do you go into your property in the winter, spring and summer to do scouting, cutting, brushing,filling water holes etc. without fear off scaring deer off your land?

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Hi Ken! We are on the land from the day after the season ends, thru about 2-3 weeks before it begins.. and we shoot the majority of the target bucks in the area, every year. I say that because we build a Fall parcel...not a winter, spring, summer parcel. You never want the deer to think your land is devoid of pressure during the non season, only to have the most pressure applied during the Fall. Also, mature bucks almost always live somewhere else during the late winter, spring and summer vs the fall. Again we build a Fall parcel. Fall food, and fall cover with a carryover into early winter. We have zero fear of spooking bucks off during the non season, other than early to mid winter shed drop. So on the best parcels in the neighborhood, the bucks recognize the least amount of pressure and best food and cover...in the Fall. We are on the land during the off season, over 1/2 of all days, doing something. During the season we are on the land about 30 days on average, for 4 months. And most of those days we sit during the season the deer had no clue we even hunted. During the off season we use multiple side by sides, tractors and trucks...they know we are in the land nearly every time we are out. The vast majority of the bucks we shoot we see very little during the off season...with the most we see out of season, over the first 2 months after the season ends. 2/3 of the bucks we shot during the 24 season we didn't see during the spring and summer, and both our target bucks we saw in WI we did not see in the spring or summer...and that's with dozens of cameras running year round. Thanks for the question Jen! Enjoy that land 😊

[@JonLewis-ct2mk]

Hello Jeff.Just wondering about how you feel about the concepts you use with whitetail movement strategies. And how you can apply that to Bear hunting for Mature Bears. For example having a large Primary baiting area for night time feeding.then secondary bait sites that are more enclosed for day time movement.

[@wyattrichards6740]

Starting to think about TSI and bedding for next year, what’s the best move on a 15 yr old clear cut full of yellow poplar? In north Georgia

[@thepracticalrifleman]

Question, Jeff. I have buck bedding on the back of my property and a couple travel corridors. There is an ag field and a hayfield across the property lines. Both property owners have stands/blinds a few feet off the property lines. What can I do to direct traffic and keep the deer on my side? Would hinge cuts on the edge of the woods be a good idea?

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

It all begins with quality food on your side...on the opposite side from the neighbors. Then that buck has no reason to head towards the neighbors. Also creating bedding next to your food for does and fawns. The last thing you work on is b doing for the bucks. Alignment and the fact he is already there is critical. Also, lots of rubs next to a field edge doesn't in any way mean there is a buck bedding area...instead it would most likely be a staging area where they enter the ag.

[@thepracticalrifleman]

@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 I think it’s mostly buck bedding from the cameras. It’s on top of the ridge. On the bottom of the hill I see does mostly and there is an ag field I own there. Thanks for the advice, sounds like more fall food on the opposite side is how I hold them. Thanks Jeff!

[@MacMcCabe2456]

Line Hunters are the worst !

[@xrpeacemaker6437]

If I'm cutting bedding areas and moving brush and crap for food plots....is it best to burn it and get rid of it all? I guess I'm asking, do piles of logs and brush deter mature bucks...? Thanks!

[@harrisonnelson1064]

Thanks for the info! What’s the best way to clear really small super thick pole timber? Just a chainsaw? It’s pretty time consuming

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Thanks Harrison! Very time consuming. You don't have much of a choice if it's hardwoods. However pole timber like Aspen you can use a forestry mulcher of Fecon mulching machine to clear pockets.

[@lucashackner7935]

Such a cool feeling when you find one rub, and then another, and another all in a big loop! In the 💰 zone…

[@LILFawnkiller]

Jeff, do you understand turkey habitat and food plottery as well? I know you are mostly deer but Figured there'd be some crossover

[@tylermueller946]

He has tons of videos on food plots , even has his own seed company. He also talks about turkeys , grouse and all other wildlife

[@kurtpearson2793]

Pretty sure I had a late estrous doe in the dogwood behind the house. Wild activity!

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Man that's awesome Kurt! Love seeing that kind of stuff

[@kurtpearson2793]

@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 my wife pulled up from work with 8 bucks lined up ! (3 more were hiding)

[@Elonzo-k2y]

😱

[@benbearkiller]

Went out scouting in the snow in OK weekend before last and had fresh scrapes being worked on the edges of 2 saddles next to each other bout the same place and size probably the same buck. Pretty awesome marking trails after snows been on the ground for 72hrs! It was awesome.

[@jvollmer40]

We just got 9 inches of snow in Florida, do you think footprints or tire tracks in the snow affect deer more than on bare dirt?

[@fishingforester]

I am guessing you are asking if there is a negative effect of tracks in the snow, being they are more visually obvious? Here in northern MN, we often have snow for a month or two (or more) of our bow season. In my experience deer will often follow tracks, especially tire tracks, in snow. Have seen no negative effects of the tracks themselves. Best of luck with your winter wonderland 😉

[@jvollmer40]

@fishingforester awesome yeah I just want to check my trail cam Friday to make a plan for the weekend but I worried the snow would make it more obvious I'd been there.

[@jarettyuknalis301]

Not at all

[@Elonzo-k2y]

Lets put up some solar panels in them clear cuts ...NO SOUP FOR YOU😂😂

[@MacMcCabe2456]

Need a update on LL Beams ?......

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

We aren't 100% sure, but he seems alive where he normally Winters and Summers, on the neighbors. If it's him he shed by 12/14 and the last pic we know of was a week ago

[@MacMcCabe2456]

@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 Wow, hopefully good news. Thank you for letting us know. I look forward to talking to Wes again in a couple of months to continue on and enlarge my food plot that turned out very good this year despite us having no rain here in South Jersey. But, I have many Deer that have found the plot and get plenty of photo's of them enjoying your Brassica mix.

[@connorkropp6017]

😁🦌

[@jensturgis]

1st!❤

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

At least you had good intentions!

[@kurtpearson2793]

@@jensturgis 🤣now that I know I’ve got real competition, I’m back !

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Haha...love it!

[@jensturgis]

@@kurtpearson2793😂😂 Jeff - “well babe I got my video out” Me - “I know I was first” (assuming because it’s Wednesday you’re Not waiting for a notification) Jeff - “you weren’t…. Kurt beat you!” 😂 Me - “it’s Wednesday! He cheated!” 😂😂😂

[@kurtpearson2793]

@ 🤣!!

[@kurtpearson2793]

First

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

For certain...another almost for Miss Jen 😂

[@BryanRichardson-s3v]

Tell the michigan dnr how too manage are deer , in the upper & northern lower , the tb & cwd is a problem in every state ! No science in the dnr in the upper & northern lower ! Food plots are no different the bait spread out , i laughed about that subject when i drive pas a sugar beet fields 😅! Really ,us hunters are not that stupid! Ted nugent was so right on , you , ted& me know more about deer then the insurance people on the dnr board & the head dnr ,s hired by g Whitmore governor ! She & her burcrates are not are friends or care about wildlife! Have good time in mich outdoors