Green’s Dictionary of Slang

to put off, to ignore.

1821–6

‘Bill Truck’ Man o’ War’s Man (1843) 313: I came here for no such purpose as to be scouted off so very easily.

(US) to search for, to discover.

1930

M. Fiaschetti You Gotta Be Rough 63: The simp, in a friendly way, used to scout up dope [i.e. information] for him.