| If you are like most deer hunters you think of | | | | come fall. If you ask them what they are looking |
| deer hunting as a two-season affair, hunting and | | | | for they give you a long list including old deer |
| getting ready to hunt. For many people the | | | | trails, doe concentrations, last years rubs, etc, etc. |
| hunting season only last a couple of months. The | | | | They also spend a lot of time looking at the |
| rest of the year is spent remembering the | | | | ground. They also frequently are carrying trail |
| seasons past, dreaming/ planning what you are | | | | cameras and some kind of attractant like C'mere |
| going to do when hunting begins, reading articles | | | | Deer or dry molasses. When you ask them how |
| on deer hunting and talking to other deer hunters. | | | | successful they were in past years you never get |
| As a wildlife biologist I spend a great deal of time | | | | a direct answer. |
| in the bush during the off season. This is the time | | | | These people are serious deer hunters. Frequently |
| while doing my job of habitat management that I | | | | they will ask for your card and you can expect a |
| find next years stand sites and photo stations. | | | | call at least once a year. I frequently learn much |
| Occasionally I will come upon a deer hunter in the | | | | of what is happening on a piece of habitat and I |
| woods in June, July and August. The heat, deer | | | | trust their observations. Frequently they contact |
| flies and mosquito's are bad but here they are | | | | me at our Bruce Point Outdoors site to ask |
| with an aerial photo or topo map in hand more | | | | questions. I enjoy my contact with these deer |
| than a mile from the nearest road. At first they | | | | hunters because they know the relationships |
| are disappointed in seeing what they immediately | | | | between wildlife and their habitats and they have |
| perceive as the competition in "their woods". | | | | a genuine love of the outdoors. Deer season |
| When they find out you're a biologist they spread | | | | never ends for these devout hunters. It just goes |
| their map on the ground and begin interrogating | | | | from scouting to harvesting. Several of these |
| you for every bit of information you have on the | | | | woodsmen tell me the like the scouting season as |
| local habitat. Frequently they know as much or | | | | much or more than the harvest season as they |
| more about the local habitat then you do. They | | | | have the bush all to themselves. Get out and |
| already know the bucks they see in summer | | | | enjoy the deer season year around. |
| months may be in a different piece of habitat | | | | |