Late Season Whitetails

Late Season Whitetails

By Noel Gandy

Time, as always, is fleeting. The time from deer season a year ago to opening day seemed to take forever. We waited with anticipation for October 1 to roll around after a long summer. Now, like a vapor, it is late December and deer season is fast closing in on its conclusion. Have you gotten your buck? Have you spent as much time in the field as you had hoped? Whether you answer yes or no to the questions above there is still some good news: you can still cash in on a little post-holiday time afield.

Beginning December 23 you can begin to hunt what is officially the Late Muzzleloader season. Don’t have a Muzzleloader? That’s ok! This season also affords you the opportunity to hunt with archery tackle, a handgun, or a crossbow for residents. The task of collecting a deer can be daunting during the late season, however, it is not impossible. Strategy can be employed to help secure your deer before the long off season.

The Colder the Better
The very things that make us uncomfortable are some of the very same things that make whitetail deer uncomfortable. Are you cold? So are they! Are you hungry? Most likely, they are too. With that being said, it is not uncommon to find whitetail pouring out into crop fields on super cold and high pressure days. Drops in temperature insist that deer get up and feed in order to maintain their body fat and in turn, their temperature. When bitter cold occurs you have even more of a driving force to get deer out in the open during daylight hours. Late in the evenings are usually the best time to see the most deer movement as they filter from timber and bedding areas into places that have the most available and easily attained food.

When you find a field that deer happen to be using during the late season you would be wise to key in on the areas where you see the deer entering the field. Pay close attention to your wind and visible approach: after all, the deer are cold and hungry, not stupid! Be sure that you arrive early enough that you do not bump the deer from the area and the chances are you will be able to see plenty of activity.

One of the keys to hunting cold weather is to dress accordingly. When I moved to Iowa from Mississippi I always fretted over the fact that I could never get warm. My family would cancel outdoor activities if the temperature was too uncomfortable and we would darn near never plan to go or do anything. However, a wise member of my church gave me these words of encouragement: “Dress for winter, don’t dread winter.” That phrase has stuck with me and I have since enhanced my wardrobe to include more layers and a heavier coat.

There is nothing worse than being miserable on the stand while hunting a big buck. When we get uncomfortable then we get careless and that causes us to miss opportunities of filling tags. Be sure that appropriate headwear, outerwear, underwear, and footwear are utilized to not only keep you safe but to keep you comfortable and in the field longer.

As we mention colder weather you would be wise to practice with your weapon in you bulkier clothing. It is much more difficult to shoulder a gun when you have a more limited range from layers of clothing. Take time to understand how your clothing will affect your range of motion.

This is especially concerning when one is attempting a late season archery shot. Pulling a bow string back might prove difficult and allowing room for the string to be released without hitting a jacket sleeve might be even more daunting.

So, what have we learned: the colder the better, hunt the food, and dress for success.

What if it’s Warm?
The temperature and weather listed above would be ideal for a late season hunt but we must realize that Mother Nature is often very fickle and cannot be counted on to maintain predictability. That being said, if this year turns out like the bulk of the late season did last year in Iowa then we could be due for some warmer than normal days. If this is the case, you can still kill a late season whitetail if you change tactics just a bit.

Assuming the end of the season is drawing near and the forecast doesn’t predict a drastic weather shift my strategy will turn to hunting closer to bedding than usual. I know it is taboo to enter into a bedding area and even more of a no-no to enter into places that have been deemed deer sanctuaries. However, if there were ever going to be a time to get into a buck’s core area this would be the time.

The downwind side of a bedding area or even slightly into the interior of bedding area can be a killer setup if played properly. This looks like getting to your stand setup very early in the afternoon and camping out while waiting for movement. Likewise, if a stealthy approach can be made, this could be the time to try that early morning sit while attempting to catch a deer on its way back to bed after a night of feeding. Deer will be less likely to get up early and feed in the daylight if the temperature is warm or rising. Therefore, being close to where they are will heighten a hunter’s chance of harvesting a buck. Gone are the days where deer are roaming miles and miles at all hours of the day and night looking for does in estrous. Now, you’re looking for food and the transition between the food and bedding could be a killer setup.

That’s the conservative approach. Another, more dramatic approach to hunting super late in the season, and more specifically, warm late season days is to “bump” the deer into the direction that you want them to go.

With the season quickly approaching an end it could potentially work to a hunter’s benefit to send a couple of guys to the upwind side of a buck’s perceived core area. Walking back and forth, very slowly and methodically could cause the deer in the area to be “bumped” meaning: get up and shift around their location. The idea would be to have a hunter or two as a stander on the downwind side of the area. Keep in mind that the idea is not to push deer completely out of an area like a deer drive. However, the idea is to get the deer on their feet and move around slowly as to not be detected by the drivers. This could cause just enough of a stirring within the deer herd to allow the standers to get the shot at the deer. Another note: a stander hoping to shoot a deer needs to have the appropriate tag for the deer he or she hopes to harvest due to the fact that no party hunting is allowed for bucks. Check all game laws to ensure you are in compliance.

Several things need to be kept in mind when “bumping” deer.
1.) Safety is the most important thing in the world. Proper avenues need to be taken to assure that EVERYONE involved in the process remains absolutely safe at all times. This means making and executing a detailed plan of how and when the bump will occur. This is establishing that only experienced and responsible hunters are taking the roll of standers. This ensures that all people are wearing the appropriate amount or more of hunter’s orange in order to be quickly and easily identified. Finally, this assumes that the shooter will always identify exactly what it is he is even pointing his gun at much less shooting.

2.) Big bucks very rarely shoot out across open areas when “bumping” deer. Don’t mistake slow bumping a deer herd with doing an all-out deer drive. This method requires some patience and skill to understand the possible escape routes and reroutes. More mature deer will hug the edges of timber and will likely stay just inside of cover in order to maintain their safety. A lot of times, the bucks will even escape and circle back around to where they were before they felt threatened. It’s not wise to set up on a deer bump well away from the bedding area but, rather, get into the trenches with the deer. Shots might be limited by distance but that would be the price paid.

Hunting during the latter part of the year can be fun and rewarding. Take time to enjoy what is left of the Iowa deer season. After all, it’ll be a long time before October 1 rolls around. We live in the best state in the country for whitetails so take advantage while you can!