The last weekend of August  was typical, hot, humid, with a fair assortment of biting bugs. Max, a traditional bow hunter from Italy and I set out to scout a Archery Only Area in the Lower Suwannee NWR and a couple favorite areas. We only saw one deer and one turkey but we learned a good deal and found the evidence we needed to choose what may be good set ups. One of the pleasures and difficulties with hunting public lands is the understanding the changing habitat, food sources, finding out of the way places that may not receive hunting pressure and challenging yourself to find new areas as well as go back to favorites. It is not for the lazy, some would say it's for the crazy. 
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Plenty of hog sign in the usual places and game camera photos confirm there is no shortage of them. Can we kill them with our bows, that is another story. Last year, I shot two hogs with pass through shots, decent blood trails....at first, then no luck recovering them. This year I may simply have exercise more patience and wait for that quartering away shot, not easy in the thick woods and swamp on moving hogs.

The photo above is of an old logging trail that was bone dry in the Spring and now has a foot or more of water running over it in places. The wet weather has redefined many edges along creeks and hammocks. Personally, I prefer the swamps to be full, as the edges along hammocks, hills and other natural features are more heavily used by deer and hogs. 
Max and I also took stock of the acorn growth. In the areas we checked, it looks like acorn production will be light this year. Light or heavy, on public land, as the acorns fall, the deer and hogs will find them.

Scouting Gear Used:

• Game cameras, typically bought used on eBay 
• Bug repellent, lots of it
• Protective clothing, face mask, hat, etc.
• Good supply of water
• Snake boots
• Compass and GPS
• Knife
• Camera
• Sometimes, a machete, saw, shears

Just when I was thinking the drought would continue into hunting season here on Florida Nature Coast, it started raining, really raining. The mosquitoes, gators, snakes and frogs are having a big time. And I'm wishing my snake boots were waterproof. To scout in hot, humid, wet, buggy conditions is the perfect balance of physical and mental punishment. I also like that there have likely not been anyone in the areas I'm scouting since last hunting season, if then. And there is no substitute for being able to find your routes in an out and good trees to climb before you need them. Trees fall blocking routes, trails become overgrown or close completely, new trails open, etc. And I never see any other hunters scouting, yes, only proving their superior intelligence. But perhaps also putting them at a disadvantage come hunting season. 

Some of my favorite refuges now have standing water in all the places I like to hunt. But after the sweat and bugs if you were fortunate to put a camera in good spot it can all become worthwhile when your photos reveal some nice deer and hogs.