As for glassing, any decent-quality pair of 8X or 10X binoculars will easily provide ample magnification for identifying bucks at a distance. A friend of mine recommends using an 8X model, as the wider field of view gives him more terrain to scrutinize; I tend to rely on 10X binoculars like the Nikon Premier LX, because while the field of view may be reduced, I can through careful scanning evaluate deer, only rarely having to resort to a spotting scope to decide if the buck I'm eyeing is a "keeper."

Once you gather enough evidence to pinpoint the most-used trails, fence crossings and directions of travel, it's time to get out of the truck and sneak to the field edges to confirm your remote observations. Given the moist conditions of summer, the telltale trail created by high-density travel to lush feeding fields can reveal itself rather quickly. Look for muddy tracks, matted grass and broken limbs along field edges; then, follow these signs back into cover for a total view of a whitetail's established pattern. Scent-containment clothing and rubber boots can help hold any traces of your incursion to a minimum.

If you make summer scouting an annual habit, you'll find that deer often use the same trails year after year, varying their use only in response to their perception of the best food and cover options during a particular season. I know of several hunters who establish ambush locations in the same general area year after year because it's favored by whitetails and the deer trails become permanent fixtures.

These timber-shrouded trails can also be the answer to confirming the existence of a mature buck that's unwilling to cooperate in daylight -- and for this detective work, I defer to my digital assistant. The most reliable evidence is photographic, and you obtain get that with a digital trail surveillance camera such as the Bushnell Trail Scout. By slipping into suspected travel routes and setting up a trail camera, you can record the movements that can verify a buck's preference for one trail over another. Trails leading to and from feeding and bedding areas are also top candidates for trail camera placement.

Remember not to invade a buck's bedding refuge; you don't want to chance altering his routine. Plus, stock your camera with the largest memory card and best batteries available to limit the number of times you need to invade a buck's home range.

PREP YOUR STAND SITE
In summer you view the forest arrayed in its most luxuriant wardrobe. Trees in full foliage clearly reveal the amount of trimming that needs to be undertaken for the cleanest shooting lanes and best stand cover.

Before you pick the perfect tree or nook for a stand or blind, figure out the direction of the prevailing winds during a fall hunt -- they may vary widely from what you note in the summertime. That information is available online from the National Climatic Data Center, www.ncdc. noaa.gov. Wind direction will shift throughout the season, and even in the course of a day, but if you set up your ambush site to exploit seasonal prevailing winds, you'll be able to use that position more often than not.