One thing that successful outfitters do is ‘pre-scouting’ before every hunting trip. This doesn’t mean you go out and do it two weeks before every stalking trip, it means preliminary season scouting and fine-tuning what you’ve already learned in the past and putting this into practice to make the next trip even more successful.
If you do these “final touches” before stalking – you’re going to have a successful hunt when the move does arrive.
The main purpose of pre-scouting is to find the right place or places to stalk. During this time you will usually be identifying the trails that your prey takes every day and therefore know the best places to return to for a successful stalk. By watching the animals months before, you will begin to understand how they move, live and behave, making your stalk much easier. You will also be prepared for any unexpected movements they may take.
In Gredos (one of the four locations in Spain with Ibex), hiking is a very popular past time. Sadly this can often disrupt the Ibex, so it is mandatory to do a good pre-scouting trip if you want to offer the best hunt to your guests.