Summer Scouting

PREP FOR SUCCESS
By Jake Rush ~ Outdoorsmans Store Manager

With the temperatures rising and summer in full swing, most of our days are spent in an air-conditioned building dreaming of chasing our prey this fall. These months, however, are the best time of year to prepare yourself for success this upcoming season. Scouting new areas right now could truly be the difference between a freezer full of meat, and the awful taste of a bowl full of tag soup.

Whenever I start scouting for next season my first stop is typically Google Maps on my computer and OnXhunt maps on my phone. These two tools allow me to map out terrain, find bedding areas, food sources, and year around water sources. After mapping out the areas that hold the best potential for sustaining a healthy population of game animals, I start planning short scouting trips into the areas to see if my hunches pay off.

Typically, these scouting trips are short half day trips getting to the area well before sunrise and only staying until the heat gets overbearing around mid-morning. Since these scouting trips are usually done whenever I can find time, I keep my summer scouting bag in my truck at all times. My favorite summer scouting trip bag is an Outdoorsmans Muley pack, which is our smaller 2,000ci lumbar pack that works fantastic for these situations.