Late Season Deer Hunting and Scouting | How to Read Deer Sign

Rubs, Scrapes, and Bedding Areas Can Tell You a Lot About Where and How to Hunt

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As a kid, you learned how to hunt and what to look for from a close relative or friend. In most cases grandpa or dad taught you how to walk through the woods and what to look for while deer hunting. You learned where and when a scrape would appear, where to look for rubs, and what caliber of buck made it. You may have learned how to pay attention to your surroundings and the when and where of deer sign, but grandpa may have skipped the lesson on how to use it for hunting. Now is the time to learn. Scouting during the late season reveals a lot of deer sign, its time you understood the real reasons behind them, and applied it correctly to deer hunting.

Rubs

When photoperiods start causing an increase in a buck’s testosterone levels, velvet sheds, hormones are worked up, and scent glands start stinking. As a result bucks make signposts to announce presence and dominance for other bucks and does by rubbing a small, or in some cases, decent size trees. Research has found that in most cases, dad’s or grandpa’s teachings on rubs was somewhat true…

In many well documented studies from Georgia and Clemson University mature bucks were more likely to make rubs than younger bucks when present in the herd. They also found that a greater number of and larger rubs were found in areas with older age classes of bucks.

How to apply while deer hunting:

Finding a lot of rubs, and big rubs doesn’t necessarily mean you should hunt in that spot. However it does tell you that you most likely have an older age class buck on your hands, >2.5 years old and quite possibly in the 4.5, 5.5 on quite a large tree. Size doesn’t automatically correlate to a giant buck but is more likely.

The main takeaway from a rub is that it can help with pre-season scouting. Bucks will make rubs after they shed their velvet. Many hunters will have tabs on a buck during the summer but once testosterone rises and the velvet comes off that buck will pick up and move to different area of his home range. Finding a lot of big rubs most likely means you have found his home range. Put up some Bone Collector Bushnell Aggressor Low-Glow trail cameras in the area and find who is responsible for the rubs.

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Steps You Can Take to Become a Better Hunter

What to Do After Deer Hunting Season Ends

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It’s finally that time of year again when deer hunters across the nation leave the woods and fields, start weeping, and sadly retreat to their couches; especially if they weren’t lucky enough to fill their bow tag. What time of the year are we talking about? The end of deer hunting seasons, of course. Sure, it might mean more time for football and catching up on projects around the house, but that doesn’t mean we’re happy to see it go.

If this description fits you, you’re in luck. Just because it’s the end of deer season doesn’t mean you have to stop being a hunter and learning about your prey. There’s lots you can still do to celebrate your favorite obsession, even if you’re not perched high in a tree stand with your bow in hand. Let’s take a look at a few things you can (and should) be doing.

First, take time right after your deer hunting season ends to do some post-season scouting. Most people might not think of doing this after the season, because it wouldn’t improve their chance at getting a deer this year. But they’re truly missing out and could be hurting their chances of doing so next year. Simply lace up the boots and walk around your hunting property, following deer trails wherever they lead. You’ll often find new food sources, bedding areas, or great stand locations that you can use next season. Take good notes and pictures so you can develop a solid hunting plan next summer and fall. You’ll learn a tremendous amount about deer activity and be that much more likely to fill your tag next year.

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Deep South Deer Hunting | Just Cranking Up

Deer Hunting in the Deep South is Just Getting Warmed Up

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By Weston Schrank, Wildlife Biologist

Deer season and the rut in the northern states and the Midwest are coming to an end. The month of December has cooled down these states…maybe this year not in temperature but definitely deer activity. Normally this time of year might have had the Midwest under significant snowfall, but the unseasonably warm temperatures has hunters in early bow season scent control clothes…yes even this late in December. These warm temperatures have sparked rumors and rants of one of the worst deer hunting seasons and whitetail ruts possibly experienced. As we head into January, temperatures are still consistently warm, making plans for the late season hunting frustrating. With a whole lot of commotion up north making it feel hotter than it actually is, the south looks to offer a cooler residence and at this time higher likelihood for an opportunity to harvest a mature buck. It might be time to turn attention to the south…the Deep South.

While the rut passed through the Midwest in November as an intense 2 week period in states like Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana, the far less intense rut of the Deep South is just getting started. Mississippi and Alabama in particular have breeding dates consistent enough to make claim to action heating up in December and staying consistent into mid-February.

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Deer Hunting | When is the Best Time to Shoot Does?

Doe Management │ When and Why?

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As a whitetail deer hunter you love hunting the rut, it’s the only time a big mature whitetail buck can seem to suddenly materialize in our sights at any second. While putting some bone on the wall is always nice, every deer hunter knows deer huntingis about so much more. Filling the freezer, spending time in the outdoors, managing the herd and habitat, being part of the brotherhood, and the thrill of the hunt all keep us satisfied and obsessed. Late season deer hunting is no different. It is the second round and chance at a little doe management, and can satisfy even the most seasoned whitetail hunter.

The Right Time

If you ask any deer hunter that practices doe management “when is the best time of year to shoot does?”….you will get five different answers, and some unwanted bickering in between.

Overall, there are two main time periods during the deer huntingseason that lends the most benefits as effective doe management. The first time period would be the early archery season. The early season provides easy pickings on unsuspecting and unpressured does. Still on summer patterns, does are fairly easy to kill on green soybean fields and clover plots. Tags can be filled effortlessly during this time period. The second time put aside for doe management is the late season. Many states offer a late antlerless only season, but gun or bow, the late season is undoubtedly your last chance of reaping benefits off of doe harvests. During this time period deer are heavily dependent on food sources, especially during extremely cold, and again does are easily patterned and available for harvest.

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Late Season Deer Hunting │ Putting a Last Minute Buck on the Ground

Late Season Success │ Tips You Need to Know

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The late season is an all too often overlooked opportunity by whitetail deer hunters, when in fact it can be an excellent time to catch mature whitetail bucks on their feet and looking for food. Here are a few things you need to know that can help you be successful while deer hunting in the late season.

This time frame, from December- January, is arguably one of the best times to be in the deer woods in pursuit of a big mature whitetail buck. These rut worn, cold, and hungry bucks can be a little easier to pattern and, in the right situation lend themselves to be very susceptible to harvest. Putting cold hours in the deer stand this late into the season can be rewarding. Take note of these tips and head out before the deer season ends.

The Rut

During the late season the rut is winding down, and the post rut is in full swing. Many deer biologists will tell you that there can be a small peak in rut activity towards the beginning of what is referred to as the late season, but for the most part rut activity is minimal. Even with this marginal activity, mature bucks tend to hang around areas that are frequented by does and doe fawns. Light vocalizations such as grunting, bleats and some rattling can still be effective in the right situations. White-tailed deer are for the most part in a transition during this time, and their priorities have shifted from mating to other basic needs such as food and cover. The take home message here is that while you can have some success hunting with rut specific tactics, your best chance is to transition your strategy along with the bucks.

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