The Year-Round Hunter in August: Looking for Deer Hunting Land

In August, whitetail bucks are still in velvet, running around in bachelor groups, and some states even have early archery seasons that open up over the next few weeks.

As we continue our monthly series, “The Year-Round Hunter,” let’s get into what you should be doing this month in August: securing deer hunting land access and preseason scouting. 

The Year-Round Hunter’s Mindset in August

August is prime time to get out there to begin knocking on doors of potential permission properties to line up your deer hunting land before the rest of the weekend warriors get out there. Land access, permission, and patterning deer early gives you a major edge come fall.

How to Find the Right Deer Hunting Land in August

E-scouting can save you miles of walking (and guessing) about land ownership.

Leverage topo maps and satellite imagery on HuntWise to hone in on potential funnels, habitat edges, and pinch points. I like to use topo and LiDAR layers to also see what's going on underneath the tree canopy to spot small transitions in woodlots and paths of least resistance that deer use as possible travel corridors.

Asking Permission

If you don’t have your own property and have identified a few promising spots on the other side of the fence line, now is the time to reach out to landowners. Start making calls and knocking on doors.

The Property Lines layer in HuntWise provides the legal owner’s name, address, and contact details for any parcel, making it easier to connect with the right person.

In many cases, this may be your first interaction with an individual landowner, and first impressions matter. Present yourself neatly, speak respectfully, and don’t forget the power of a sincere please and thank you. Offering to lend a hand, such as helping out on the farm for a weekend or two before the season, can go a long way in earning their trust and increasing your chances of gaining access.

Remember: this is their land. Ask if they have any particular rules, as well as areas or weekends they prefer you stay off the property. A small gift of venison jerky or sausage at the end of the season can make the request easier next year.

Going Public

If you’ve decided to hunt public land this fall, scout access points early, and keep an eye out for hidden gems other hunters might overlook.

Deer on public land are highly attuned to human activity, so locating where other hunters are likely to hunt and travel to and from their stands can be a key component to finding success in the fall. 

Scouting for Whitetail Deer: August Tactics

Once you’ve secured where you can hunt this fall, now it’s time for some boots on the ground scouting.

Look in sign-rich areas for trails, rub lines, bedding areas, and food sources. This time of year, deer are putting on the feed bag and focused primarily on food. Bucks are still in their summer patterns and can be found hitting beans, alfalfa, and other green crops like clockwork. 

Evening glassing sessions can be highly productive this time of year. Use binoculars or a spotting scope to observe which bucks are in the area as they feed confidently in the open at last light before hunting pressure begins.

Warm August weather makes watering holes hotspots. Ponds, creeks, and shallow river crossings are great places to place trail cams for preseason scouting or early-season archery stands. 

Try These Top Deer Scouting Tips

Just because it's still summer doesn’t mean we can bust through the woods without consequence.

Be smart about how and where you place trailcams. Place them along travel corridors near food sources and water — not deep in the woods near potential bedding areas to avoid spooking deer.

And, just like during the season, check the wind when entering a property. You don’t want to educate that summer buck. 

Don’t over-scout: Less is more. Use cameras, optics, and tracks to gather intel without bumping deer and educating them to your access and travel corridors. Even in preseason, human scent can ruin a spot and pressure deer!

Always keep a small scent profile by practicing scent control. Avoid excessive sweating by moving slowly and using scent control products to reduce the amount of scent you are leaving in an area.

X Marks the Spot

While you are in the field scouting, go ahead and mark potential stand trees now. Keep an eye out for trees with good cover, shooting lanes, and downwind positioning from where you think deer will travel.

Build a Scouting Map in HuntWise by marking rubs, scrapes, trails, bedding, and food sources. You can use different layers for stand options, camera spots, and potential access routes. Then, update it regularly throughout the preseason to keep your intel as current as possible.

August Work to Find Deer Hunting Land = Fall Success

Most of the hunters who tag out on big bucks start doing their homework by August. Scouting now can give you more pieces to the puzzle, fewer surprises, and more chances to fill that tag.

Download HuntWise now to start scouting and planning for success this fall! We'll give you your first week free to scout, mark maps, add pins, and plan your hunt.

Get caught up on the rest of our Year-Round Hunter Series!

Learn what successful hunters do year-round to stay sharp and tag out.