Scouting for.. Squirrels?

Yes.  It is quite easy.  Scouting for where squirrels are in the preseason is a great way to know where they are.  Here are some things to look for:

1. Nuts:  Nuts are must.  Oaks, Hickory, Beech.  Any squirrel food source (including crops like corn).  Identifying nice squirrel food also might help with finding nice deer food sources (both like acorns and corn for example).  Look also for opened nuts on the ground.
2. The squirrels themselves. 
3. Look for the nests.  They look like big balls of branches in a tree.  Squirrels also use hollow parts in a tree for nests.  

Knowing where squirrel habitat is and how much of it there is can help a lot in wildlife management.  You know a rough population of squirrels and can know how many to harvest in the future.

Scouting Tips

Today I'll talk about some things I have learned and come up with for helping me scout in the hunting off season.  Both are helpful in ways that you may not have to go into the field (you still have to, but these lessen the time).

Google Earth
Great program.  Use place markers to mark spots of stands, blinds, points of interest, etc.   Trails can be marked also.  Use them to mark out logging roads (if any), trails, any other thing related to paths.

Printable Maps
I use a downloaded topo map and printed it and marked down all the sighting I had of deer and used them to locate likely spots for next season.

Fishing Tip

Fishing is fun.  A great way to enjoy the outdoors.  I'll give a new tip I learned on my last time fishing.

I fish in a pond that is mostly round.  But there is one part that makes a little point in it.  A little bay almost.  I fished in that little "bay" and I caught fish every time I went there.  So here is what I am saying.  While fish may be in the bigger body of water, look in small bays in lakes and ponds, because fish will gather in calm water and the small fish feel a little more secure.