Attn Late season hunters
 

Need some advise. I have been gun hunting for 2 weeks on and off. First day, passed on 16 deer, 4 pts and spikes and does. Well, I shot an 8pt but it got claimed as it ran 15 yards on another farm. Another story. Anyway, it went downhill from there. Saw 2 does a few days later, and then a few days of not seeing anything. Anyway it goes, last three times I went out, I only saw one doe. They are tucked away tighter than a tick. I can only hunt this small patch of land behind my house and its been stomped on by trespassers and drove and everything else.

I am sure alot of guys here late ML hunt. Do you ever do well late season after they have been hunted hard for 2 weeks or more? We have a week off and then ML season starts next week. Trying to decide whether to even bother to go out again.

I always get me a buck early ML season in Oct, and I was lucky this year with two nice bucks with a bow and two does. So the freezer is full. I am looking for horns bascially. Just usually don't go out late season, but this is the first year in like 7 I didn't get a rack buck with a gun.

RE: Attn Late season hunters
 

I Have did a late season Sothern Michigan hunt for ni onto 20 years now Just for a huge racked buck. I have taken two very nice 8 points and passed on many smaller bucks.
I do know that if you do not go out, you will not get one to come wake you up from your recliner. Never say never is my moto.

:) Al

RE: Attn Late season hunters
 

When they are pushed and hunted hard, I usually change spots and give them a chance to calm down. The problem this year was both my places, they were hunted hard and pushed plus the weather did not cooperate.

This is a you call the shots.. If you think one is out there then you have to go out there to get it. I went every day and ended up getting skunked for the season. But that's why its called hunting and not shooting....

Good luck in the final trial...

RE: Attn Late season hunters
 

Problem is cold weather has came here in MD early. And Duck season starts Tuesday. So all the birds are coming down early, so I can't put off my duck hunting until end of Dec. as I usually do. Too many seasons, not enough time.

RE: Attn Late season hunters
 

put out the corn and they will come!!!

RE: Attn Late season hunters
 

Nope, I don't do that. I am after a nice buck. Feeder hunters won't see any nice bucks. Generally only see does and spikes. I like to feel like I am actually hunting

RE: Attn Late season hunters
 

Here we went straight from gun season to ML season. I choose to bypass gun season and just do the ML season. #1 reason is thepressure of so many gun huntersis gone. Thats just my preference becauseI enjoy the peace and quit plus its less likely to have a bunch of unwanted huntersstumbling through yourarea all day.

I have to believe there are a few big bucks still wondering around regardless. I saw one nice 6 point but had no shot, later took a doe. You just have to be in the right place at the right time orsay "the heck with this" and go duck hunting! :D

RE: Attn Late season hunters
 

bigcountry

Ditto - to the hunting situation, I think of the ones I passed on - darn!- Here in Idaho where I am the BIG problem is thebig moon and lots of snow - they are out all night and not to interested in moving in the day time and where I am hunting it is just me... nobody to push & now it is over. On to winter Turkey season

RE: Attn Late season hunters
 

Here in NY our southern zone only has a late ML season which occurs right after our 4 weeks rifle/shotgun season. ML starts today and i will go out this weds till the following tues. Its only my second ML season but I did it last year and shot a doe. I find the deer very nervous since we had 4 weeks of people pounding the woods. My friend and I have a piece of property that was lighly hunted during the regular season so if we get anything I expect it to be from that piece of property. Personally, as long as its a mature deer I am taking it as i would like one more deer for the freezer. Good Luck and bundle up its cold this time of year.

RE: Attn Late season hunters
 

If you have the time to hunt. Then certainly hunt! :)

I find ML season to be some of the most rewarding deer hunting ever. Very little pressure and the deer behave more normally than during the regular firearm onslaught.

I might do afew different things:

[ul][*]First off, alter your hunting position based on the current wind direction if you can. I would take a 5-gallon bucket and a pad and sit in a completely different area of my hunting "zone". Access the area different, don't follow the exact same path. If you find yourself "out of position" by a shift in wind that will carry your scent to the deer, then take your 5-gallon bucket and move yourself to wind-advantage. Sit next to a tree or tucked in front of a bush or thicket. You really don't need an elaborate "blind" if they can't smell you or see you move (every movement should be slooow). Then you have the advantage.[*]If you can, move right into the heavy cover area as that's where they will be holding longer during the fervor of regular hunting season.[*]They will be returning to bed from night forage earlier in the AM and coming out from beddinglater in the day. Arrive at your spot an extra 30-60 minutes in the AM and stick quietly. I bagged a nice doe(I'm only doe hunting the rest of theseason as Ihave two bucks)yesterday AM right at 7:14AM with my T/C Hawken 54 anda PRB at about 30 yards. However, I heardthe big doe and severalothersmoving around an hour prior. I was in my blindtwo hours before first shooting light.[*]If you get a heavy snow during the night, be sure to hunt the entire following day. They will bed for cover during a night storm and then often feed during the day afterwards.[*]Lastly, you can still find buck's trailing does well into December. So I would certainly keep my eye's on doe wandering about. There just may be a nice buck lurking near by or shortly thereafter.[/ul]
Best of luck!

Tahquamenon