Late season tips

[JimR]

I couldn't get vacation until Dec 4 - 10. Any thoughts on best approach to hunt public land this late in the season.

I prefer to sit , but don't mind still hunting. I REALLY don't like tree stands. Thanks for your thoughts.

[Fantail]

That, is unfortunate.

I'd hit your best spots on weekends available before vacation then and hit alternates on weekdays you can get off that late as other hunters may be pushing. Try a 9-3 run on late weekends, got a nice 7 one year on state land that way after noon.

[mossy725]

If you're hunting state land in late season, stay in your tree stand. By this time, hunters will be coming and going from the woods more often (most by this time, are tired of sitting all day, and will put on small little hunts). Stay out there, so you can catch the deer either being pushed around, or milling about when they feel the coast is clear.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

Not sure what state land you hunt but down in Area 7 the state land is mostly vacant by that time. once in a great while you catch a car there but not often. Find thick cover and stay put if you don't want to still hunt. I really try to stay on stand all day becasue of the other hunter going out for lunch and coming back for evening watch. If you do like still hunting this time of the season is great becasue there isn't as much traffic in the woods. The old wise ones are hunkered right down by this time. I would find the areas that no other hunter would be willing to go...thick, nasty, flooded. funny how those deer find the smallest spots to hid.

[phade]

I would probably find a treestand you can tolerate or at least a blind (for comfort...blanket/heat etc.). Even a low treestand at 7-8 ft that time of year will allow you a larger field of vision. Hunt that for a couple hours in the a.m. and p.m. and in between, get down and still hunt a bit during the mid-afternoon...most likely the state ground will be void of all but a select few who tough it out all day.

I don't often hunt all day during that time of year because I'm usually experiencing burnout by then. If we do, it usually involves a midday meet with the hunting partner and planning a few two man drives (one still hunting to the other) of small sections of ground. Amazing what getting up and walking for a bit will do to warm you up and help you stay out there longer.