Summer Scouting Tips for Mule Deer

When it comes to punching your mule deer tag in the fall, the real work starts long before the opener. Summer is your window a critical time to find bucks, pattern their movement, and build a plan that stacks the odds in your favor.

And if you’re serious about consistent success, there’s one piece of gear that separates the average from the deadly: a rock-solid scouting tripod.

In this guide, we’ll break down how to scout mule deer effectively during the summer, how a tripod improves everything, and what gear and tactics give you the edge.

Why Summer Scouting Matters More Than You Think

Most big velvet muleys are still locked into their summer patterns feeding in predictable areas, bedding near food and water, and moving at dawn and dusk. This makes late June through August prime time for glassing and patterning mature bucks.

According to research from state wildlife biologists, mature mule deer bucks typically bed within 400 yards of their feeding areas during summer months. That means if you find them once, they’re probably close by again tomorrow.

But spotting these bucks and keeping tabs on them without bumping them takes the right method.

Use a Tripod to Scout Smarter, Not Harder

If you’re still glassing off your knees or resting your binos on a rock, you’re at a serious disadvantage.

Here’s why using a scouting tripod like the Muley Maniacs Canati Redline XL Combo makes all the difference:

• Stability = better image clarity and longer glassing sessions
• Hands-free viewing = easier to grid terrain methodically
• Smooth pan/tilt = track deer without vibration or shake

With a tripod, you can spot deer that would otherwise blend in, especially when you’re glassing at first or last light.

“Once I switched to a tripod system for summer scouting, I started seeing deer I’d missed” says Ryan Uffens, host of The Hunt Stealth Podcast. “It completely changed the game.”

Find the Right Glassing Spot (Then Sit Longer Than You Want To)

When it comes to successful scouting, location and patience are everything.

The Best Summer Glassing Spots:

• East-facing slopes for morning shade
• Transition zones between feed and bedding
• High ridgelines that offer multiple basin views

Once you find the spot, resist the urge to bounce around. Sit for at least an hour (preferably two), working the terrain slowly in a grid pattern. The longer you sit, the more you’ll see.

Using a fluid head tripod helps you pan smoothly across slopes and catch movement with minimal effort.

Scout for Patterns, Not Just Sightings

It’s easy to mark a waypoint and move on once you see a buck. But if you want to kill that deer in the fall, you need more than just a one-time sighting you need a pattern.

Take notes every time you glass. Log the following:

• Time of day
• Wind direction
• Deer behavior (feeding, bedding, traveling)
• Entry/exit routes
• Sun angle and shade use

Over a few weeks, these details reveal how that buck uses the landscape and more importantly, where he’ll likely be come opening day.

Pro Tip: Use a rangefinder from your glassing point to mark where the buck was. When you return to scout or hunt, you’ll know exactly where to look.

Pack Smart, Scout Hard

Scouting trips are often short but intense. Here’s what we recommend you bring in your summer scouting pack:

• Binoculars 10x42 or 12x50
• Spotting scope optional, but great for confirming antler growth
• Tripod like the Muley Maniacs Canati Redline XL
• Bino adapter or clamp try the Muley Maniacs Bino Clamp
• Notebook or digital app for logging sightings
• Rangefinder
• Water, electrolytes, and snacks
• Lightweight chair or pad for long sessions like the NEMO Switchback 

Final Thoughts: Build a System Now, Tag Out Later

Scouting isn’t about luck... it’s about gathering intel, building a pattern, and committing to the grind. The more efficient your system, the more effective you’ll be.

That’s why we recommend all serious mule deer hunters start with a dialed-in glassing rig. The Canati Redline XL Combo gives you a lightweight, bombproof foundation for scouting and hunting success.

Check out the full lineup of tripods and glassing gear at MuleyManiacs.com

Muley Maniacs: Built by hunters, for hunters.