I drew a 16C early rifle tag for this year and a friend of a pilot friend of mine has me in touch with a pilot out of Socorro. I'm planning to do a 1-2 hour flyover of the unit, was originally to do it during a summer scouting trip that I'm bringing the family along on, but given the great changes in water and such, I'm now wondering if I should just budget it into another day before season? I was planning to arrive Wednesday (season opens Saturday), but, assuming the weather was cooperating, could also arrive Tuesday and do the flight Wednesday or Thursday.
So - has anyone done a pre-hunt flight scout before? Better to do closer to the season or doesn't matter? any particular tips on how to use what you see from the air? Remote water is a priority, of course, and obvious bedding ridges and travel routes, but anything else?
So - has anyone done a pre-hunt flight scout before? Better to do closer to the season or doesn't matter? any particular tips on how to use what you see from the air? Remote water is a priority, of course, and obvious bedding ridges and travel routes, but anything else?