Creating "track catchers" in areas that otherwise would not show clear tracks is an inexpensive way to capture records of big bucks when multiple trail cameras don't fit your budget.

Several steps can be taken to reduce risks. To begin with, going the extra mile to eliminate human odor greatly enhances the odds of going undetected. Furthermore, by either wearing clean rubber boots and placing straight non-estrus doe urine on boot pads, or wearing scent-blocking or scent-eliminating clothing, our tracks are viewed harmless by deer. Next, timing our trips into the woods during midday hours, when deer are least active, further reduces the chances of bumping them.

Finally, strive to limit the trips into the woods to no more than three, spaced by at least five days apart. With one trip used for setting up and two for checking, that provides ample opportunity to gather data on the targeted area. Limiting and spacing our trips in this manner typically is enough to keep the deer off balance, even if they pick us up.

RIDING A BIKE
In area where suitable trails slice through deer habitat, using bikes to scout can be another creative way to keep tabs on deer activity. In most settings where poaching and hunting from vehicles are not the norm, deer seem to have developed a tolerance for anything on wheels. As silly as it may sound, riding a bike through the woods is an effective way to take advantage of that.

Another advantage of riding a bike is that it allows covering much more ground faster than on foot. A midday ride down trails or logging roads can quickly reveal any new developments in deer patterns. This is especially true when the surface either collects tracks naturally or when combined with tack catchers. When fresh sign of interest pops up, a quick foot scout can reveal its value.

Finally, assuming care is taken to cut odors on the wheels, the bike's tires leave few telltale odors behind to educate deer. The combination of speed, ability to keep up with changing patterns and relatively low impact make bike scouting yet another tool that can have a niche in our scouting arsenal.

THROW-AWAY HUNTS
As valuable as bike scouting can be to stay abreast of fresh sign, throw away hunts can even be more effective. The concept is very simple; finding a location that provides low impact access, keeps odds of being busted low and provides good visibility of a selected area. The primary difference between throw-away hunts and observation is that these low-impact hunts take place in season, a weapon is brought along and this tactic isn't geared exclusively toward open areas.

Rarely does an archer get more than one close brush with a mature buck. Stand placement is critical to preserving an otherwise great setup. Furthermore, hanging a stand, only to have to make minor adjustments to its placement, results in twice the disturbance in a relatively small area. These factors make it important to get it right the first time.

Throw-away hunts often make that possible. In any situation where it's possible to observe an area from a relatively safe distance, this technique can be used. Common locations for this type of hunting/scouting include ridge tops for observing valleys, elevations that provide a view of exit routes from swamps, logging regrowth areas or any form of thickets, as well as high spots and wooded fingers adjacent to or jutting into food sources.

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