Two Different Kinds of Winter Scouting

Whether I’m shed hunting or just taking a stroll through the woods this time of year, I’ve got my eyes open for a couple of different things. The first is good-sized rubs. March is the best month for spotting rubs, and entire rub lines can be visible in the sparse woods. This low impact, late-winter scouting is a great way to not only pin-down very specific travel routes, but also to identify staging areas.

Bucks that spend their lives on properties that receive heavy hunting pressure will be reluctant to move during daylight. Hunters can often capitalize on what little movement will occur during legal shooting hours by setting up at the edge of a staging area. These areas are identifiable through a cluster of rubs or a series of rubs that are very close together. When I stumble across one of these potential hotspots I typically try to find a quality tree to hang a stand in. Then it’s simply a matter of marking the spot on a GPS and then creating a trail with biodegradable flagging tape. Using the GPS and flagging tape ensures that I’ll be able to find the specific tree again no matter how long it takes me to return with my stand-hanging tools. 

The second thing I look for while roaming the March woods is potential spots to set up mineral sites. I use a combination of Record Rack Mineral and Record Rack Deer Block. The ideal site is situated inside of the woods close to a creek, pond or some other water source. On top of that, it’s best to try to find a location where bucks are likely to feel secure enough to travel to. 

The Mineral is full of essential vitamins and minerals that will aid in antler growth and the bucks will absolutely hammer mineral sites by the middle of spring (great opportunity for trail cameras). The Deer Block contains plenty of vitamins and minerals as well, but also contains 14-percent protein. Using Mineral and Deer Block together may seem like overkill, but it only takes a few of the setups to provide maximum essentials to the entire herd. My method for marking a potential mineral site follows the same script as a good stand tree. 

Spending some time in the woods now to scout staging areas and mineral sites will somewhat alleviate the inevitable game of catch-up that we all find ourselves playing throughout the year.