Blacktail Scouting Checklist (NorCal) ✅ Habitat: Edges (timber/clearcut, oak flats, brushy draws) ✅ Feeding: Acorns, grass, blackberries at dawn/dusk ✅ Bedding: Thick timber, shady north slopes, near water ✅ Sign: Fresh tracks, droppings, worn trails ✅ Maps: Check benches, saddles, travel corridors ✅ Glassing: Look for ear flicks/legs, not whole deer ✅ Wind: Always hunt with wind in your face ✅ Pattern: Deer stick to small home ranges—scout early and return often