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

Steve's Home Page | Bluff Country Outfitters hunt | Bucks & Beards hunt

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

Day 3 
 

I snapped a photo of myself with my doe. I am not too proud to admit that I faced a stiff challenge to harvest this creature. I really have never seen warier whitetails in all my years of hunting.

Both Tim and Joe had commitments for New Years Eve leaving only myself left for the final day of Wisconsin’s bow season. I only had one last shot before my season was over. Because I had managed to spook every deer I saw the night before I knew if I had any chance at all I would have to relocate my stand. Some would think this fool hearty for the final day of season. I saw it as my only option for ending it with a successfully harvest.

I relocated my stand to another trail leading from cover to browse. Because of the disturbance of hanging a stand, I tried to put it just far enough away so I could get it up without the bedded deer hearing me and do almost no clearing at all. I managed to pull it off just in time.

I didn’t want to work up an odor while hanging my stand so I dressed very lightly. I have never been more thankful for my Heater Body Suit. I had no more than slipped into it and began regaining feeling again when I caught movement emerging from the pines. Luckily, I saw the deer at the first possible opportunity and had plenty of time to position myself. The young doe did not have any fawns so I would only have to contend with her. I know it sounds almost ridiculous to be concerned about a fawn busting you, but, with the time of season it was and the barrage of rifle seasons they had to survive, I’m telling you, they were not fawns any longer. I was very thankful this young doe was without them.

After VERY CAREFULLY getting into position, I readied myself. I knew all too well that these deer redefined the term skittish, so I decided to draw while the doe was as far out as I could reasonably hold. Even then, I half expected her to bolt. It did not. 

Holding until the doe reached a broadside position seemed to take an eternity. Frankly, if it wasn’t for the 70% let off on my Mathews Q2 I would not have been able to pull it off. Steadying myself, I placed my pin low and behind her shoulder. Squeezing off the shot I knew it was true. The doe ran a mere 60 yards before it stopped and toppled over. The Rocky Mountain Titanium 100s did their job beautifully once again. To say I was thrilled was an understatement. I have no doubt in my mind that if I hadn’t moved my stand I would have went home empty handed. 
  For those looking for every advantage in understanding whitetail deer, Steve Bartylla's column Becoming A Student Of Whitetail Deer is a must read.