Summer might not feel like hunting season, but ask any seasoned outdoorsman and they’ll tell you: the work you put in now sets the tone for your success in the fall.
Whether you’re chasing big whitetails, prepping for fall turkey, or simply fine-tuning your small game skills, summer is the time to scout smarter, dial in your gear, and sharpen your edge. Here’s how to make the most of these crucial months before the leaves turn and the woods go quiet under a hunter’s watchful eye.
🎯 1. Scout Smarter, Not Harder
📸 Deploy Trail Cameras Strategically
Summer is when bucks in velvet and other game animals are most predictable. To pattern their behavior:
- Focus on Field Edges: Soybeans, clover, and alfalfa are prime food sources.
- Target Water Sources: In summer heat, secluded ponds and streams are magnets for wildlife.
- Hang Cameras High: Place them 6–8 feet up and angle downward to minimize detection and theft.
- Minimize Intrusion: Check cameras sparingly—every unnecessary visit leaves scent.
🔭 Glass at Dawn and Dusk
A quality pair of binoculars and a spotting scope can tell you more in a few evenings than a week of stomping around the woods.
- Scout from Afar: Watch deer enter and exit feeding areas and note travel routes.
- Take Notes: Use mapping apps or a good old-fashioned journal to track behavior patterns.
🥾 2. Tune Up Your Gear Before It’s Too Late
There’s nothing worse than finding out your boots leak or your stand squeaks… on opening morning.
🥾 Boot Check
- Early morning scouting means dew-soaked grass and creek crossings. Waterproof, breathable boots are a must.
- Break them in now to avoid blisters later.
🎒 Pack Inventory
Make sure your essentials are ready:
✅ Field dressing knives and gloves
✅ Headlamp (plus extra batteries)
✅ Scent-eliminating sprays and wipes
✅ Rangefinder and paracord
🎯 Bow & Gun Prep
- Archers: Tune your bow, replace strings if needed, and practice from treestand heights.
- Gun hunters: Confirm your rifle’s zero and clean your shotgun before fall birds.
🦌 3. Learn the Land Like the Back of Your Hand
Summer is the time to quietly walk your hunting ground and:
- Identify Bedding Areas: Look for shaded thickets, flattened grass, and deer sign.
- Locate Natural Funnels: Find pinch points and trails connecting bedding to food sources.
- Mark Stand Sites: Flag trees now while foliage is thick so you’re ready when visibility improves in fall.
🦃 4. Don’t Forget Fall Turkeys and Small Game
- Turkey Tactics: Fall birds flock and follow food, not mating urges. Scout mast-heavy areas and perfect your kee-kee calls.
- Small Game Warmups: Rabbits and squirrels are great for honing shooting skills and keeping your fieldcraft sharp.
💪 5. Prep Your Body and Mind
Hiking a stand in, dragging a deer out, or waiting hours in a blind require stamina and mental toughness.
- Condition Now: Weighted hikes and functional strength exercises pay off later.
- Practice Patience: Summer scouting is a mental game too. Train yourself to sit still and observe.
✅ The Bottom Line: Smart Prep Wins Hunts
The hunters who pack their bags and start preparing now are the ones who tag out when others are still trying to figure it out.
So lace up your boots, grab your glass, and put in the sweat this summer. When the air turns crisp and the rut kicks in, you’ll be ready—not scrambling.
Your future self (and freezer) will thank you.
