Scout day before, or just walk in opening morning...

[Daubs]

Headed to Sandhills of Nebraska tomorrow in advance of Saturday's rifle opener. It's a 6 hour drive, and I've hunted there before.

I know where I want to go (from experience hunting there, and google-earth scouting a few new spots).

Question is this: Do I walk in and scout around Friday afternoon and risk spooking deer?

Or just ditch any last minute scouting and walk to my spot before sunrise on opening morning?

I'm leaning towards the later...

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I would scout using your binos and/or spotting scope. You may not want to start heading into the really great areas, but I sure would get to a couple of spots where you can see good and look, especially at daylight & just before dark.

 

[Ikeepitcold]

Scout things can change from when you were there last. Good luck

 

[CODAK]

Scouting ALWAYS pays off. You may find out the deer are in a totally different area than what you expecting, and can seriously bite into hunting time trying to find them. Scout from afar and don't barge into places. Just pretend you are bowhunting and be very stealthy and you won't mess up anything. Figuring out their patterns before the hunt can lead to great success

 

[mallardsx2]

Since your in the west I would say that If you can scout from afar I say go for it if you have the time and available funds..

Just tramping around the woods is never a good idea. At least from my experiences of hunting whitetails...

 

[HiMtnHnter]

If you can scout from afar it's a good idea. If you are hunting a very localized area where you expect to find deer, I'd hold off.

In one of my old haunts there is a little canyon that always held bucks at the time of the season. There was no real way to scout it as the deer held up in there and you had to walk to it. In that case it was best to hunt it opening day, as once the bucks got wise to you, the jig was up.... I can still see the two four point bucks I busted out of there one day... never saw them again.

 

[Slugz]

Scout from a distance.

 

[Yell Co AR Hunter]

I have not hunted out west, but I would always take advantage of any time you may get to scout. I like to have several options in case plans fall apart due to factors out of my control. Good luck!