Spring Scouting for Fall Success: Deer Hunting in Southeast Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa!

Posted: 4/3/2025

As winter fades and spring arrives, it's time to get outside, enjoy the fresh air, and start scouting your hunting property for next fall. March and April provide the perfect opportunity to analyze deer signs left behind from last season, helping you piece together patterns that could put you on a mature buck this fall.  Here's why spring scouting is essential and how you can maximize your efforts.

Key Signs to Look For

• Big Rubs & Scrapes
  • Exciting to find, but their location matters!
  • Field edge scrapes = mostly nighttime activity.
  • Timber scrapes = much higher chance of daylight usage—prime stand locations!
•  Heavily Used Trails
  • Follow them to intersections where multiple trails meet—these are hot spots for tree stands.
• Bedding Areas
  • Deer beds are still clearly visible in early spring.
  • Concentrated bedding zones reveal prime hunting locations.

Best Stand Trees & Access Routes

• Choose a stand location with wind & access in mind—this is critical for staying undetected in the fall.

How to Make the Most of Your Scouting Trips
Use trail cameras
Mark locations digitally: use a hanging app or GPS to drop pins on important finds, like bedding areas and rub lines.

Bonus: Find Some Sheds!
Taking time to scout in the spring, you gain valuable insight into deer behavior and habit use that will help you make informed decisions this coming hunting season in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa.

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