Scouting for animals before the fall hunting season is essential for a successful hunt, as it helps you understand animal behavior, movement patterns, and habitat preferences. When to begin scouting varies depending on the species, but starting early—usually in early to late summer—allows you to gather valuable insights as animals settle into their seasonal routines.
Observing food sources, bedding areas, and travel corridors over several months allows you to fine-tune your strategy before the season opens. Proper scouting ensures you're well-prepared to capitalize on prime fall hunting opportunities.
Here’s a breakdown of when to start scouting for different animals typically hunted in the fall. The exact timelines are dependent on your specific hunting season dates.
Deer (Whitetail, Mule, etc.)
Scouting for a fall deer hunt involves gathering as much information as possible about deer behavior, travel routes, feeding areas, and bedding spots.
Early Summer (June to July): Begin scouting now when bucks are in their summer patterns, focusing on feeding areas, trails, and water sources. These early months allow you to establish baseline patterns without disturbing the deer. Bucks are growing antlers, and you can start to see their potential.
Late Summer (August to Early September): Deer are in more predictable summer patterns now and are feeding heavily to prepare for the upcoming rut and winter conditions. Look for areas rich in natural food sources such as oak trees (for acorns), fruit trees, soybeans, or cornfields.
Pre-Season (Mid to Late September): Deer may move to new feeding areas in early fall as food availability shifts. Look for signs like rubs and scrapes, especially in treelines along the edges of harvested fields, indicating the pre-rut's beginning. Adjust your plans based on what you find.
Photo Credit: USFWS Mountain-Prairie | Flickr | CC BY 2.0 | no changes made
Last-minute Checks: Just before the season opens, revisit the key areas you noted to confirm that deer still use the trails, bedding spots, and feeding areas. Fresh sign will confirm their presence.
Elk
Elk are often found in rugged, remote areas. Before heading out, study the terrain using topographic maps or GPS tools, focusing on areas that offer food, water, and cover.
Mid to Late Summer (July to August): When it’s still hot out, focus on understanding the herd’s summer range. Scout high-elevation areas where elk gather to enjoy cooler temperatures. Look for feeding meadows, water sources, and bedding areas. Early scouting will help you better plan where herds may move during the rut as temperatures drop.
Pre-Rut (Late August to Early September): Bulls gather cows into harems and become more vocal. Their patterns also become more predictable. During this time, look for rubs on trees where bulls have scraped off velvet from their antlers. As the rut approaches, locate wallows, travel corridors, and bugling areas.
Bear
When scouting for a fall bear hunt, identify areas where bears are actively foraging in preparation for hibernation. Locating travel routes and bedding areas also increases your chances of encountering a bear during the hunt.
Late Summer (August): Bears are active and feeding heavily in preparation for winter. Scout for food sources like berry patches, oak groves, and other natural foraging areas. They are opportunistic feeders and may scavenge on deer or elk kills left by hunters. Pay attention to areas near recent kills.
Early Fall (September): Bears enter a state of hyperphagia now, where they consume large amounts of food to fatten up for hibernation. Feeding up to 20 hours daily, they are typically highly active around food sources. Focus on fresh bear signs like tracks, scat, and tree markings.
Turkey
Scouting for a fall turkey hunt differs from spring hunting because fall turkeys focus on food and flock behavior rather than breeding.
Late Summer to Early Fall (August to September): Begin scouting in late summer as turkeys are still in their summer patterns. This helps you locate where they are feeding, roosting, and traveling. Turkeys will be flocking up for the fall, so look for large groups.
Early Fall (September to October): As temperatures drop, turkeys become more active during the day. Scouting during or after cold fronts can help you find flocks more likely to be out feeding. Listen for calling and look for fresh sign, such as tracks and droppings, to pinpoint active areas.
Final Pre-Hunt Scouting: A few days before your hunt, return to key areas to check for fresh tracks, scratchings, or droppings. Make sure turkeys are still using the spots you’ve scouted.
Waterfowl (Ducks, Geese)
Waterfowl follow specific flyways during their fall migration, including the Pacific, Central, Mississippi, and Atlantic Flyways. Study migration patterns in your area and note the peak times for specific species, adjusting your scouting schedule around migration timing.
Late Summer (August): Waterfowl migration can start early, and identifying where birds congregate will give you a head start. Start scouting local water bodies, fields, and flyways to understand where birds congregate. Look for food sources like cornfields and flooded areas.
Early Fall (September): Monitor migration patterns and weather forecasts. Early-season cold fronts can push birds into your area, so be ready to adjust your scouting locations.
Upland Game Birds (Pheasants, Grouse, Quail)
Before you start scouting, familiarize yourself with the specific type of game bird you will hunt. Individual species have different behaviors and preferences. Combining knowledge of bird behavior, habitat preferences, and food sources with active scouting techniques can significantly improve your chances of success in the fall upland bird season.
Photo Credit: Becky Matsubara | Flickr | CC BY 2.0 | no changes made
Late Summer (August): Identify key habitat areas like grassy fields, brushy edges, and crop fields. Look for birds feeding or dusting in these areas. Upland birds are most active in the early morning and late afternoon. This is when they leave cover to feed, making it the best time to scout for them. They are often in thick cover, resting or hiding in the middle of the day.
Early Fall (September to October): As fall progresses, birds may move to thicker cover as the weather gets colder or after crops are harvested. Adjust your scouting to account for these shifts. Focus on areas with good cover and food sources. Pay attention to weather changes that might push birds into different spots.
General Tips for Fall Scouting:
- Use trail cameras to monitor specific areas and understand animal movement without disturbing the area frequently.
- Be flexible with your scouting, as animals may change patterns due to weather, food availability, and hunting pressure.
- Try to scout at times of day and weather conditions similar to when you plan to hunt. This will give you a better understanding of animal behavior.
A Successful Hunt Starts Early
Pre-season scouting is an important element to a successful fall hunt, whether you're after deer, elk, waterfowl, or upland birds. By investing time in scouting your hunting grounds early, you’ll gain valuable insights into animal movements, feeding patterns, and ideal locations for your hunt.
Don’t wait until the season starts—get out there now, observe the landscape, and prepare yourself for the best possible outcome. Your pre-season work will pay off when you're in the right place at the right time.
Additional Sources
- Are you interested in starting food plots to attract animals for your fall hunt? Deer Creek Seed has a great how-to guide that provides a deeper look at starting a wildlife food plot.
- Purdue University’s Forestry & Natural Resources Extension offers an excellent guide that answers common questions about food plots.
- Game & Fish Magazine discusses why summer is the best time to strategize for your fall deer hunt.
- Let’s Go Hunting goes more in-depth about pre-season scouting for fall black bears