Scouting tip: Never underestimate the power of natural foods to pull in whitetails

Late in the day of July 23, I made a spur-of-the-moment decision and headed afield. That action paid off with information that I’m confident could help me this early archery deer season.
My wife and daughters were in town that evening. Not one to sit around, I grabbed my new spotting scope and jumped in the truck. One problem: The public areas near me lack soybeans or other food plots that we consider prime deer feeding areas in ag country. What I have to work with are properties that feature good bedding cover on public land adjacent to private agriculture.
I was headed to watch one of those fields from a perch on public land, but did not make it that far. After walking less than half a mile from the truck, I peeked over the top of a hill and saw a young buck below. He was feeding heavily, but not on any kind of planted crop.