Late Season Tactics

[BigGuyNY]

I am heading up this weekend and I was wondering what late season hunting tactics other use (scents, calling, rattling etc..).

[Chromeslayer]

Hunt the food sources

[genesee_mohican]

The main thing is trying to find an area that hasn't seen a lot of hunting pressure, where the deer are moving during daylight hours.  I look for a spot that has a thick bedding area close to a food source (like acorns this year) and set up downwind. Mid day and early afternoon movement seem to be good this year.

 

[Culvercreek hunt club]

There are tow more things that Chromeslayer didn't mention that are key besides Food. That would be FOOD and FOOD.

[Tim Rozansky]

I agree

FOOD & cover

Shoot straight

[BUCKANDAQUARTER]

Don't forget about finding does, there are always some in estrous, the secondary rut. If you are about to take a doe make darn sure there is nothing in tow. I almost made the mistake of pulling the trigger on a doe on the last day of muzzleloader. finger on the trigger and safety off and about to shoot when I heard crunch, crunch, crunch. i looked over and there was a bruiser. i relocated him to my freezer shortly after.

[Water Rat]

Deer drives with a few hunting partners have worked well for me in the past .

[Carbonelement]

hunt the thickest nasty part of the property that is near a food source!

[the blur]

With the snow on the ground, I followed deer tracks.  They all led into the thickest nastiest mountain laurel I have ever seen.  I couldn't even walk through it.   I got in about 10 feet, and had to back out.

 

One deer was bedding down in thick laurel, 30 feet off the main road.  I walked by this area 100 times over the years.  Never knew it was a bedding area.