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.

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

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...

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.

put out the corn and they will come!!!

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

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!

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

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.

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