The year is coming to a close, and what a “doozie” it has been. Deer season has been my saving grace during these last couple of months, allowing me to unwind in the woods and decompress. Many things have changed over the course of my lifetime, however the feeling of sitting in a treestand and enjoying the woods remains the same. There’s a sense of tranquility that can be found this time of year. The average person may think that nature seems dead, now that all of the leaves have fallen and what used to be green is now crisp and brown, but, to me, the woods seem more alive now than ever. I was lucky enough to harvest two decent bucks during muzzleloader season and have been riding that wave for the last couple of weeks. I’m still holding one more buck tag in my pocket, and I intend to cash it before the season comes to an end. Success during the late part of the season can be hit or miss. Here’s some things you can do to make sure you have an enjoyable and hopefully bountiful rest of the season.
Change the scenery
Maybe you’ve been sitting in the same tree waiting on the same buck for two months now. Eventually the laws of the universe will turn in your favor and something worthy of shooting will walk by right? Chances are by this time a deer is well aware that it is hunting season. If they didn’t pick up on it in Archery Season, they undoubtedly figured it out on that first day of muzzleloader season when the orange army declared war on the woods at first shooting light.
It may feel like all of the deer have gone nocturnal. I promise this is not the case. Just because the only pictures you have gotten of a deer are in the middle of the night in the corner of a field, doesn’t mean they don’t move throughout the day. While it may not be for long, even the biggest bucks will step out of their beds for a sip of water and a bite to eat throughout the day, they probably just aren’t walking in front of your camera. Use maps such as google earth to locate potential bedding areas and go on the look for the freshest sign possible.
When looking for sign right now, keep in mind that the age of it can be hard to determine. Most rubs were made in the second half of October and the first half of November. I pay attention to them, however I don’t put much weight in them telling me what’s in the area. Look for fresh scat and tracks. Deer scat is the easiest of signs to determine age, short of watching a deer walk by of course. Tracks can also be very telling, most tracks you find will have been since the last significant rain. If you happen to get lucky enough for it to snow, this is a great time to go looking for tracks because they are guaranteed to be fresh.
Change the approach
A more aggressive approach may be necessary to get a bruiser in your sights during the daylight. A method called “Bump and Dump,” made famous by Andrae Dacquisto, is a great tactic to use in the right setting. It involves intentionally pushing a buck out of his bedding area and then setting up for his return. I used this method to kill my biggest buck this year. I was sneaking in to hunt an area that I knew had sign of a decent buck. When I arrived at 11 AM, I was disappointed to find that the buck was home and he wasted no time trotting off and out of sight. While that wasn’t exactly how I saw the hunt going, I decided to anticipate his return route and headed down wind of where I thought he would walk. Sure enough, with just a few minutes of shooting light left, the big 8 pointer emerged from the direction he had run during his hasty exit. An easy 25 yard shot was the result of a 6 hour stakeout.\
Another method to consider this time of year is a simple deer drive. Everyone has an opinion on the use of dogs, but a simple man drive can be very effective. If you have a few friends that are willing to do a little bit of walking, you can have some great success. Be sure to practice good communication and firearms safety. A little extra blaze orange during these hunts isn’t going to hurt anything.
Slow down
Take time to enjoy the great outdoors. This is the social part of the season. Hunting with a club, or with friends and family, can be very enjoyable and rewarding. My favorite hunting memories are those that came from being in the woods with people I love. A few times a season I am reminded that it’s really not about killing deer. Cherish the time you get to spend away from work, and enjoy what nature has to offer.
Most people don’t know what it’s like to watch the sun go down on a cold evening while sitting on the edge of a swamp, but those of us that love the outdoors know exactly what I’m talking about. Enjoy the rest of the season and take time to share it with the ones who make it special.
