For a deer hunter, little is more exciting than gaining access to new hunting property.
Whether it’s land you’re considering buying or leasing or property you’ve been given permission to hunt for free, properly evaluating the land is critical to future hunting success. Pursuing whitetails in any area involves significant time, effort, and money, and most hunters don’t have unlimited days to hunt. Here are some tips for thoroughly sizing up a property to decide whether it’s worth the investment to hunt.
Be a Deer Detective
The first step in evaluating a property is “boots on the ground” scouting. Do this at your earliest opportunity and, ideally, at least a couple of months before hunting season. With a notebook in hand, walk the property and note the locations of deer’s three most important necessities: food, water, and cover. Record heavily used fence and river crossings, trails, and other features that funnel deer movement and cover deer use for sanctuary. Also, note the best access and exit routes to avoid spooking deer. Don’t just think about what the property offers deer now, but what it will offer them in the fall during hunting season. Where legal, use a small can of spray paint and mark potential stand sites. Don’t just walk the property once, but a few times, always asking yourself, “How do deer use the area?” Note the locations of deer signs like scrapes and rubs, as deer often use the same spots year after year to communicate with other deer. Look for stands next to fence lines on adjacent land, which can tell you how neighbors hunt the area.
Evaluate Neighbors
Speaking of neighbors, pay them a friendly visit to let them know you’re considering
hunting the nearby property. Getting to know neighbors is a great way to talk about how deer use the area and how others hunt them. Neighbors are often a wealth of information about the hunting pressure deer face. Make sure to discuss whether you have permission to retrieve a deer that passes away on the neighbor’s property.
Consider giving out your business card with contact information so neighbors can easilyreach out should the need arise. Finally, offer your assistance in finding and retrieving deer during hunting season. It’s a great way to make new hunting buddies and learn more about how deer use adjacent properties.
High-Tech Tools
Use aerial and topographic maps to learn more about how deer will likely traverse the property. They’ll reveal how deer likely use funnels, lower elevations, saddles, and other landscape features when moving throughout the property and also give you ideas for additional stand sites. Today, there are many mobile apps that provide detailed maps, property boundaries, and other navigational tools, enabling hunters to evaluate land for hunting. Used with in-person scouting, they enable you to thoroughly assess a property, select hunt sites, and boost your odds of success next fall.