Several years ago, I drew a limited hunt on public ground in my state. Part of that draw required hunters to harvest a doe before filling their buck tags. I went into that hunt assuming I’d tag a doe on the first day and have three days to find a buck. Boy, was I wrong.
It wasn’t until my third day that I even saw a doe on that pressured ground. Even then, I lucked out, getting a thirty-yard shot while still-hunting through the timber. I basically dragged that 70-pound doe out by the hooves, and it felt like one of the crowning achievements of my hunting career. It was a humbling reminder that killing any deer can be a daunting task, especially in the late season.
After the general firearms seasons have rolled through and deer have been pressured for three to four months, the woods can seem like a ghost town. Whether you’re looking for a mature buck or a hefty freezer queen, your goal is the same—just find the deer. Here’s a few things to consider if you’re still looking to fill a tag this winter.
Still-Hunt
Growing up, my dad and grandfather preferred to still-hunt. I learned from them, so I’m a bit biased, but I’ll reference that hunt I just mentioned. If I hadn’t been still hunting during that midday stretch, I probably would have returned from that trip empty-handed.
Late-season hunting comes down to food and cover. The majority of the work involves finding what and where the deer are eating right then. Sure, you could argue that’s the case for most of the year, but it becomes even more critical when those resources have dwindled. Still-hunting provides a great way to find the freshest sign. You can read more about still-hunting here, but focus on transitions near the thickest cover, as does will gravitate to these areas.
Hunt Midday
Unlike the morning and evening sits, the parking lots at that public ground were empty. I guess the deer knew that too. I’ve pulled enough all-day hunts or midday scouts to know that the 10-2 window can be just as productive as a morning or evening sit. There are a few ways to go about hunting this time frame, but you should focus on cover regardless.
If you prefer to still-hunt, you can do so on the edge of bedding or a good transition that provides screening cover for deer. Bucks are more likely to get up and browse in these types of areas, especially when the cover has thinned. If you prefer a typical ambush, go for a hang-and-hunt in the same type of area. Only, I’d probably be more aggressive and push into the cover.
Find Food
Food becomes a limited resource in the late season. For this reason, you might not want to rule out anything. Natural browse, overlooked acorns, and, yes, even food plots. The latter gets a bad rap from weekend warriors, but food plots can be great deer magnets even on pressured or public ground in the late season. In fact, research shows that buck movement near food plots is highest during the late season than at any other time of year. You just need to approach hunting them the right way.
If you’re just looking to punch any tag, sitting on top of a food plot with a rifle isn’t a bad option. On the other hand, targeting a buck might not be as easy. It can be tempting to sit right over the food, but your chances of shooting a buck in the middle of a food plot aren’t great. Instead, you’ll still want to set up near cover or in staging areas where bucks are likely to daylight or at least J-hook the downwind side of a field.
In this case, look for trails leading into the food plots and try backtracking them to the nearest cover. Look for fresh droppings, tracks, or even rubs. Cutting a fresh track at this point in the season probably holds more weight than anything, but fresh rubs aren’t nothing as long as you find them in cover.
Plan A Strike
If you have the time, plan an observation sit. This might not be critical for rifle hunters, but dedicated archers should consider pulling an observation sit before moving in for a strike. Observation sits will tell you a lot this time of year. Since cover is limited, deer, especially does, might bed in the same general area several days in a row.
This approach can help you dial in your setup if you hunt areas without defined travel routes. For instance, in big woods or flatland, try to observe where and why the deer travel in/through a specific area. You might notice that they walk through a small ditch or around a blowdown for whatever reason. Then, you can go back the next morning or evening with a plan.
Last Call
Late-season hunting can be tough, but in some ways it’s simpler than the rest of the season. If you’re willing to deal with cold temps and skittish deer, you might just find that the latter part of the season can be some of the most rewarding.
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