Preseason scouting is probably the most important element in hunting trophy mule deer. And, there is no better time to do it than in the middle of the summer, before they get ran all over the mountain.
The most successful mule deer hunters usually spend many days each summer searching for one particular monster buck, or at least an area that looks promising. They spend countless hours glassing canyon after canyon, checking waterholes and springs, and locating trails between bedding and feeding areas.
Since the majority of hunters have other obligations like family and jobs, it's sometimes difficult to put all the time in to scouting that may be necessary.
What are other ways a guy can go about scouting an area without actually being there 24 hours a day?

Well here is a technique that i learned from fishing bass tournaments. In most cases we all have areas that we concentrate the majority of our time in. This could be a specific canyon, ridge or mountain. Deer and elk are animals of habit. When it rains or snows or there is a heat wave these animals all have certain procedures they follow when conditions change. So like pre fishing tournaments, i have a log book for my different areas that i hunt and i make entries after each trip. This doesnt matter if it is scouting or hunting. i make an entry. This comes in real handy when you are having a hard time locating animals refer back to it and i almost guarantee their will be a hint in those entries on were to locate the animals. Of course this is not a system that you develop in a single season, i have had my journals for 12 years. But if you take the ten minutes after each trip to log in the information, in the long run it will pay off. Plus they make a great keep sake to pass off to your kids.....

Keeping logs of the activity in a particular area is a great way to make the most of your time. There are so many times when I've been camping with my family and I'll go with my boys on a four-wheeler ride or a hike. We'll come across remote water holes, beds, and tracks. As time passes I'll either forget about these places or as I'm with them, not be focused enough to see the more subtle signs of activity.
What a great chance to teach your kids the intricacies of hunting, while at the same time, scouting that area. What do they call that? Killing two birds with one stone? Whip out the little log book and move on. I like it.

ANother great thing along with the log booke is to keep a video log. Its really neat to be able to go back and watch some great animals grow over the past seasons and if you include the kids its like having an on going family home movie.