Steve Bartylla will bring you along as he bowhunts on a late season doe hunt at the end of the year.

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Late Season Wisconsin Deerhunt - 2000
Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 |

Day 2 

During late season we enjoy making our own fun. This is the time of the year that we unwind and simply derive as much pleasure from bowhunting as we can. Part of the fun we find in bowhunting comes from forcing the action with drives. Because we will no longer be hunting these areas we are freed from the concerns associated with spooking deer. What follows is a dissection of one of the drives we performed on this day.

Bordering a road was an approximately 40 yard swat of thick, 10 feet tall pines that ran for about 1 mile in length. To the opposite side of the road was a fresh clear cut with pockets of mature timber dotting along the length of the strip of pines. The distance of the 5-20 acre pockets of timber from the pine strip ranged anywhere from 50-200 yards away with wide open clear cut separating them. At one end of the strip was wide open clear cut and the other end was bordered by a large piece of timber. So, the scene is set: a road paralleling the strip to the south, a clear cut dotted with timber to the north, the east end dumping into a clear cut and the west end into mature forest. 

With only 3 of us, we needed to plan it carefully. On the opposite side of the road was a very large clear cut. Between that and the wind blowing to the north, it would be possible to keep most deer bedded in the strip from kicking to the south. Because the west end adjoined mature woods, it would be much easier to nudge them west than east. However, there was the very real and likely possibility that deer would kick to the north as well following the strip to the big timber. The reason behind this is simple. Although it is possible to nudge whitetails in a straight line away from you for a short distance, they do not like being followed. Two tactics they use frequently to avoid this is to kick to the sides or circle back behind the drivers.

To make the most productive drive possible, I positioned Joe a quarter of the way up the strip from the east end in a small opening and put Tim on the far west end where the strip met the timber. The odds of pushing a deer the entire length of the strip were almost nonexistent and this would give us a chance to cover the northern edge for the final 3 quarters of the drive.

After they were in place I began. The first leg to Joe was the most challenging. Because of the width of the strip I was confident that no deer would be able to circle me without my seeing them. Getting a shot would be another issue, but I would drop to my knees and should be able to get an arrow through. My real challenge was to keep them from busting to the north. To try to avoid that from happening I kept my stalk/drive very close to the northern edge. My attempt failed.

I no more than got 50 yards into my push and 3 does busted out to the north. Because I was close to the edge, I was able to jump out and get into position for a shot. At 40 yards away, running full bore, that was not an option. The rest of the push to Joe was uneventful.

With two of us now able to drive the odds were about to swing a bit more into our favor. By having Joe walk very slowly and quietly along the northern edge, averaging about 15 yards in front of me, I could work much closer to the southern edge of the strip. Now, if something busted out to the north Joe would be in position.

About half way through the drive I heard the jail break. Because of the density of the pines I did not see them, but could tell they were heading straight for Joe. What I didn’t know was that the lens of Joe’s glasses had popped free and he was in the midst of cleaning the snow from it as the 6 does and fawns single filed by him. Tim saw nothing and we did not fling a single arrow, but we came close twice on one 30 minute drive during midday hours. It sure beat sitting around the cabin and we had a blast doing it. Gentle pushes can be a lot of fun. 
 

	Joe slowly stalks his way through some pines on a drive. When dealing with a small group of hunters, I believe it is better for the drivers to stalk their way through. If the stander is to have any real hope not seeing deer running full tilt, it is imperative.
As you can see, Tim has his bow in hand and ready for a shot at any moment. When standing on a bow drive it is critical to be ready to shoot or the chances are good that you will never have a chance.

After we concluded our drives we returned to the cabin to shower for the afternoon hunt. Joe’s sit was rather uneventful until the final 15 minutes of shooting light. During that time he saw 7 does and fawn, all of which spooked for various reasons. It did not appear as if any of the reasons had anything to do with Joe.

Tim also had 4 come in at the very end. As the lead doe worked its way to within 25 yards, its head behind a tree, Tim drew his bow. Not even a quarter of the way drawn all 4 exploded into flight.

20 minutes after I climbed into my stand a nubbin buck browsed its way through. Slipping out of my Heater Body Suit, I got ready just in case it was being followed by a doe. Sure enough, within 5 minutes a mature doe began towards me on the same path. Slowly turning, I did no more than brush the tree I was in, making such a soft noise I barely even heard it, and she bolted without hesitation.

It was until the final 10 minutes before I saw a doe fawn cautiously making its way into range. In the thick pines I caught the movement of a mature doe also moving with ultracare towards me. Behind the doe was yet another mature animal. To say it was responding with extreme caution would be a tremendous understatement. It would take one step, stop and wait and wait and wait, checking the wind, looking in every possible location and finally taking another. Not being able to see the head, I was certain this had to be a bruiser of a buck. I was wrong. It was another doe. 

As the lead doe neared my shooting lane, I began to draw. I take extreme steps to ensure my equipment is as silent as possible, particularly for late season hunting. The softest whisper my carbon made as I pulled it over my felt covered rest was enough to tip her off. She was gone in a flash. I have bow hunted since I was 11 years old. I have hunted on public land that is over run with other hunters. I have hunted 5 different states, including this very area for years. Never in my life have I seen deer anywhere near this jumpy. The 3 rifle season they endured had transformed them into the ultimate survivors I have ever chased. I can not help but admire them tremendously.

Tomorrow: My swan song for the season.
  For those looking for every advantage in understanding whitetail deer, Steve Bartylla's column Becoming A Student Of Whitetail Deer is a must read.