| Bowhunting whitetail deer in the late season | | | | does or smaller bucks will use. Also, the mature |
| (December and January) is by far my most | | | | buck will often come out to the field late in the |
| enjoyable time of the archery deer season. Many | | | | evening. Placing your stand deeper into the woods |
| times it has been the best harvests for big racks. | | | | should be considered. This may allow you to see |
| Most of the time, I'm trying to fill my freezer | | | | your shooter before it becomes dark or too late. |
| with venison, but sometimes that extra bonus | | | | In the Northern states when the temperature is |
| comes along with a big rack. Bucks are still on the | | | | below freezing or colder, you may want to hunt |
| lookout for that doe that did not yet mate during | | | | closer to heavy thickets of pine, cedar or |
| the first rut. Young does that were born in the | | | | hemlock when possible. Temperatures inside a |
| early spring, can, and will actually come into estrus | | | | thicket or swampy area may be 10 to 15 |
| during the late season. This gives the bucks a | | | | degrees warmer than the tall hardwoods. During |
| second chance at being able to mate, and you as | | | | late archery season, deer will very often change |
| a bowhunter a second chance at harvesting a nice | | | | their habits and move to thermal covers during a |
| mature buck. | | | | cold spell. Choosing a pine tree to set your |
| Normally I wait until a couple of weeks after the | | | | treestand is also recommended. The pine tree will |
| rifle season has ended and the deer have settled | | | | give your background a better chance of not |
| down to their normal behavior before I start my | | | | being seen. If you do not have the pine tree for |
| second archery deer hunt. I've noticed that during | | | | choice of treestand hunting, then consider hunting |
| the late archery season, does are very wary of | | | | on the ground with a well built, hidden ground blind. |
| their surroundings, but the buck is still prowling | | | | When bowhunting in the cold weather, I like to pull |
| around for his last chance to spread his seed to a | | | | my bow back every now and then while on my |
| doe who was not caught during the first rut. | | | | stand. About every thirty minutes or so, you |
| Hunting one of your rut stands during a calm, cold | | | | should pull your bow back to stretch your |
| December morning can result in spotting one of | | | | muscles and to keep your bow from making too |
| your best cruisers, looking for their last chance of | | | | many noises. Many times your bow may ice up, |
| their rutting time. | | | | especially if it's snowing or freezing rain. |
| Very often during the late archery deer season | | | | Staying warm is sometimes a problem. Layering |
| I've seen deer gather in cut corn fields or bean | | | | your hunting clothes is essential, but can be a |
| fields. I believe the reason for this is, possibly deer | | | | problem when shooting your bow. Newer |
| prefer the corn or beans left on the ground that | | | | technology has helped this problem. By using hand |
| have softened up due to absorbing moisture from | | | | warmers and body warmers or using the new |
| the ground. After scouting where deer have been | | | | long underwear that wicks away sweat can |
| coming out of the thickets to the cut fields, I will | | | | reduce some layers of clothing. Boots with 800 to |
| then place my stand close to these areas. Many | | | | 1200 grams of Thinsulate is also recommended. |
| times I have seen deer come up to a cut field, | | | | Being able to stay out longer without getting cold, |
| stop and look around for a long period of time | | | | could make the difference in being successful or |
| and then walk straight out to the center of the | | | | not on your late archery deer hunt. |
| field without pausing for a second, giving you no | | | | Archery whitetail deer season in December is one |
| shot at all. If you happen to see a mature buck | | | | of the most peaceful times of the year. So, get |
| step out into the field a couple of evenings in a | | | | out and enjoy Mother Nature at its best. Bring |
| row, change and place your stand near that spot. | | | | home a rack that your hunting buddies will wish |
| The reason for moving your stand is mature | | | | they had harvested instead of sitting back home |
| bucks do not always use the same route that the | | | | next to the fireplace. |