The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 6 letter word RECCED
R
E
C
C
E
D
More clues leading to the result RECCED
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Was scouting" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case was scouting = recced.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does RECCED mean?
RECCED verb- Reconnoitre.
- To recommend.
- To record.