Deer hunting success in the fall of 2023 starts NOW! Many of the best hunters out there have one thing in common: they scout more than they hunt. Now is the perfect time to get a jump start on your scouting for the year. The woods are as open as they will be, much of the sign from this past fall is still visible, and if you're fortunate enough to have snow, deer trails and beds will stick out like a sore thumb. This is also the lowest risk time to scout. No need to worry about spooking deer onto your neighbors property, running a buck out of his core area, or ruining your next hunt with pressure. The deer have all year to forget about your intrusion! With that said, many are tempted to move on to other outdoor pursuits this time of year, and that's great. But make sure to set aside some time for what is likely the BEST time of year to really break down the areas you hunt and learn how the deer use them. 

In this episode of the How to Hunt Deer Podcast, Josh talks with Aaron Hepler about his approach to post-season scouting. Aaron is a serious public land deer hunter from Pennsylvania. He consistently gets on above average deer for his area despite intense hunting pressure. One thing that makes him so successful is his commitment to scouting. As you'll hear in this episode, for Aaron, post-season scouting begins as soon as his buck tag is full. Tune in to hear how he fine tunes his understanding of the areas he's familiar with, how he locates and breaks down new areas, and how he begins to formulate a plan for the next hunting season. Enjoy!

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