DECEMBER AND JANUARY
 

WE ALL KNOW THAT THE RUT IS THE PRIME TIME TO BE OUT IN THE WOODS, BUT CAN YOU STILL HARVEST HIGH QUALITY BUCKS IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY?

RICH

RE: DECEMBER AND JANUARY
 

Of course you can. The young and dumb ones will have been thinned out by the gun crowd. The smart ones survived. (how do you think they get so stinking big ;))

But now it will be time to concentrate on high quality food sources and quick Carbs ( read find corn)

Find the winter yards.For the most part you'll have the woods to yourself. After gun season the weekend warriors lose interest quickly!It can actually be easier hunting..but unfortunatley the demands of Christmas and the Holidays limit the amount of time even the most dedicated, "family" guys, can get out.

RE: DECEMBER AND JANUARY
 

Late season is my favorite time...besides the pre-rut The woods are quiet and cold...most people quit hunting and you can concentrate on being a deer killing machine! Love it.

shadow

RE: DECEMBER AND JANUARY
 

YES!
Is it wrong that I can't stop smiling now? I had almost forgotten about how peaceful the December woods are...until the infamous 'thwack' of an arrow busting through a deer.

RE: DECEMBER AND JANUARY
 

I can't wait for it, much easier to track.

RE: DECEMBER AND JANUARY
 

I know its a rare year that you won't catch me in the woods on the day after Christmas when second season comes in.

RE: DECEMBER AND JANUARY
 

Absolutely. Shed and I have talked about this before.

Personally it is my favorite time to target SPECIFIC mature bucks. They get back into their winter range and are the most patternable this time of year.

The rut is a great way to catch a mature buck on his feet, but if you are targeting a certain buck, it can be more difficult to have an encounter with him.

RE: DECEMBER AND JANUARY
 

The late season can be as good hunting as the pre rut if you can pattern the deer.
They're more predictable in their travels to food and warmth.
On really cold days look for deer bedding on South facing slopes to suck up the sun. Also cedar bottoms hold heat and provide edge for travel.

RE: DECEMBER AND JANUARY
 

My brother zipped a 140" whitetail a few years back in late December here in Minnesota. I've seen alot of bucks chasing doe'salso late in December, there shootable but a little bit tougher to hunthere where i live because they getspooked and ranso hard during the gun season in November.

RE: DECEMBER AND JANUARY
 

Yes...

RE: DECEMBER AND JANUARY
 

I got my 10-pointer last year on December 23. So I'm willing to guess you'd still have a shot. ;)

RE: DECEMBER AND JANUARY
 

I'm gonna be quittin my job to go hunting in December so it better be good. It's gonna be gettin a little bit nippy up here though.

RE: DECEMBER AND JANUARY
 

I think late season is good also. Why are you quitten your job and what kind of work do you do?

RE: DECEMBER AND JANUARY
 

I killed my highest scoring buck on Jan. 2, 2000, the big boys are still out there and hungry. And I usually have the woods to myself.

My season goes till Jan. 15th and if the weather isn't life threatening, I plan on being out there.

RE: DECEMBER AND JANUARY
 

Its almost easier to hunt late season... cause the natural food supply thins to only a few sources... Find the late season food source and your golden...

I usually give it about 2 weeks after gun season for things to settle down a bit.