How many of your hunts are planned to a "T"?

I try to have a pretty good idea where I'm going the night before but I will stand there with my climber on my back for what seems like an eternity trying to decide sometimes. You think you have it all planned out then your gut feeling seems to change.

 

Before, when I chose a position, it was "hey! this looks like a good area...hey look, a tree to boot!" situations. Now I'm paying alot more attention to the areas and hunting the terrain. I have never used more than one stand until this year, so that is another aspect I am taking on.

 

I can tell you without a doubt, the more I scout and game plan, the more succesful I am in locating game. But some days I get tired of it all and just wander. I sleep in late, eat a nice breakfast, drink a big cup of coffee and wander into the woods with a general plan of attack. I need those types of days to just refresh and to take in nature, to kind of refresh my competitive juices for future hunts.

 

Pretty much the same for me with most of the scouting/recon hunts happening the last month and a half of season. The aftermath of rifle season and the first big snow/snows have me pretty much starting from scatch again to find good bucks.

Tim

 

Pretty much the same for me. I'd say about 85-90% I have a good plan the night before based on wind, time of year, etc... I have several options in both lands to hunt and stand locations to pretty much cover every situation. Based on the conditions I'll quickly narrow it down to what it allows me to hunt and go from there. Like virginia said, every once in awhile i'll take a mini "vacation" from the whole thought process lol. I'll go to a piece of land I've never hunted or haven't hunted yet that year. Go in and wander around half scouting as you go. Pick a tree and see what happens. Maybe even go try to stalk some critters after sitting awhile. It does recharge the juices and then back to reality.