Private hunting reserves (make sure you have permission). National Parks and National Forests. State Parks and State Forests. Other public lands. A variety of habitats including plains, mountains, lowland forest, and more.

Deer like to eat fruit. If there are fruit trees or any kind or berry bush, take a look. Deer rely on grasses and other plants for food, too. They particularly like flowering plants and non-wood plants. If you see a field of green grass and flowers, you might want to check there. Deer will also eat mushrooms. [1] X Research source

Depending on your location, deer trails may have high or low traffic. Deer trails often appear as human trails, but will be somewhat less worn and pronounced. They won’t often be straight, either. Deer trails will often still have some grass or plant growth on the ground that might be ripped up or disturbed. [2] X Research source

Night-time bedding areas. Deer like to rest near easy feeding spots. Look for alfalfa fields, abandoned fruit trees, and open areas with lots of green grass and non-woody flowering plants. From these areas, look for places with more cover, where the deer will feel hidden and protected. You might find a bedding spot. Day-time bedding areas are often in denser woods or thickets. In areas with hills or mountains, they might be higher up rather than in the valley. The location and circumstances of bedding areas will vary based on climate, topography, and environment.

You will need to be in an area where animal’s feet make an impression in the soil. Rocky or very sandy soil will be difficult to see tracks in. Loamy soil, moist clay soil, or packed, damp sandy soil is good material for observing tracks.

When viewed upside down, deer tracks have a heart shape made up of the two hooves. The sides of deer tracks are convex (curved outward) The tips of hooves bend toward the inside of the track. [3] X Research source

The tracks of fawns or yearlings tend to be about 1 inch long. Fronts tracks of adult deer will be roughly 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 cm) long, give or take. They’ll be about 1. 5 to 2. 5 inches wide. Rear tracks will be about 1. 5 to 3 inches (3. 8 to 7. 6 cm) long. They’ll be about 1 to 2. 5 inches (3 to 6 cm) wide. [4] X Research source

Pronghorn antelope have a similar upside-down heart shape appearance, but the sides are concave not convex. Mountain goat tracks are wider and much more rounded than deer tracks. The front tips are centered rather than being pointed toward the inside of the hooves. Bighorn sheep tracks are straight rather than being curved inward. They’re also wedge shaped and the tips are duller than deer tracks. Wild boar tracks are relatively wide and round compared to deer tracks. The tips are not pointy and are dull. [5] X Research source

Plants that have been eaten by deer. Look for stalks close to the ground that have rough cuts bitten off. Rough cuts show because deer incisors are not as sharp as other animals like rabbits. Look for deer feces. Deer feces (also called scat) is identifiable by its oval shape. These oval pellets have a point on one end and a dimple on the other. Try to see if there is evidence of rutting. Rutting is when bucks use their antlers and rub them against the trunks of trees or large branches. You might also see leaves torn up and other evidence. [6] X Research source [7] X Research source

Tracks headed downhill or down a mountain indicate that a deer is going to feed. Tracks headed uphill mean that the deer is probably going to bed down. Tracks going in circles or back and forth probably indicate that the deer is feeding. [8] X Research source Deer Talk: Your Guide to Finding, Calling, and Hunting Mule Deer and Whitetails, with Rifle, Bow or Camera. By Don Laubach and Mark Henckel