 Late
season bowhunting
Late Season Bowhunting is a hard time to hunt deer, but it can be very rewarding. Late season bowhunting can be very cold. Here are some tips to help you stay warm and be succesful. Staying Warm is definitely important if you want to late season bowhunt. If you live in the north the temperature drops below zero often and can be bitter cold without the right clothing. I wear two layers of long underwear and a warm pair of hunting pants on my legs. On the top I wear a long underwear shirt, a turtleneck, sweatshirt, insulated flannel, and a fleece hunting coat. This usually keeps me warm. If it gets really cold it works good to ducktape handwarmers on your shirt. For your feet a warm pair of socks and boots are a must. Sweat is what makes your feet misrably cold .Disposable foot warmers also work very good at keeping your feet warm. Another extra for your feet are bootblankets from Icebreaker. These zip over your boots and have thinsulate insulation. A handwarmer around your waist is good also. I have a big glove on my left hand that has a place to put your right hand in. This works very good because I usually have a fanny pack around my waist. It also keeps my hand warm when it is on my bow. A thick glove is a must because your hand will get very cold hanging on to your bow. A bowholder is a good idea if you hunt from a treestand. Your hands are free and warm, and your bow is right by you for the shot. Finding deer in the winter can be hard. Some deer may leave the area because of gunhunters or because of food. Bucks can be vulnerable at this time though. Bucks will be where the does are. A good place to find deer is where there is still corn or some other kind of farmers crop up. Ask farmers if they know of anyplace where they still have crops up, or where no one has gunhunted at. Also look for places like ravines where deer could get out of the wind. These are prime places where you are almost guaranteed to see deer. The does will be wherever there is food. The bucks will follow the does and try to find some does coming back into estrus. Does will come into second estrus if not breed succesfully in their first estrus about mid December. There are not many tactics for late season. Doe scents can be very effective on bucks. If you do any calling probably doe bleats are the best. Grunting aggresively can scare off bucks during the late season. Their past rutting habits are taking a toll on their bodies.. Your best bet would be to call every 45 to 60 minutes. You should doe bleat or do a social grunt call. Still hunting is good in the late season if you can not stay warm. You must walk very quiet and slow. Snowshoes can be helpful if you walk in very deep snow. A good pair of binoculars are good for looking for deer or determining how big the deer is while still hunting. Always make sure you are
safe while bowhunting. If you climb up a stand always wear a safety belt.
Be careful not to slip on snow or ice when climbing up to your treestand.
Wear some blaze orange if there is a muzzleloading or deer gun season going
on while you are bowhunting. . . . . . . . . Dinger
Paul Thedinga
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