.jpg "Ohio DNR Photo")
Too many hunters pack their bows, crossbows and muzzleloaders away with their Christmas decorations and sit by the fire waiting for the spring thaw. By doing so, they might just be missing some of the most challenging and pressure-free deer hunting available. Many states offer a winter bow and muzzleloader deer season, or an extended permit program, that can run from early January to the end of February. These overlooked deer seasons give thousands of hunters a second or third hunting season—and another opportunity to put some venison in the freezer.
Moreover, some states, like my home state of New Jersey, also provide an antlered and antlerless tag, and/or extended harvest rules for antlerless deer. (Remember that antlers do fall off, and the later you start, the less likely you are to use that buck tag).
That being said, mid- to late-winter deer hunting is not easy. Granted, there are not nearly as many hunters out there, and even public land can seem almost deserted, but the deer act differently as well. It is cold, food is generally scarce, water sources can be frozen, cover is sparse and there is not much reason for the deer to move around. That’s why you have to re-scout for winter deer hunting. Take advantage of a new snowfall to go for a walk where you hunted the season before. Use the snow to look for new tracks and fresh beds. However, the trails you depended on last fall may not be the only place to look. If the old runs seem to be unused, focus on areas with southwest exposure (it’s typically warmer), checking for sign around good cover that would provide some protection against the wind and cold. Droppings that have recently melted some snow are always good indicators that deer are close by. Pay attention to the number and directionality of the tracks as well. Very often I have seen several does traveling together in the post-rut winter season.
As you follow the tracks, look for fresh browse marks, as deer will feed on the tips of tree branches. You may have to look higher up on the tree, as the low-hanging feed has probably already been eaten. If the trees seem to be stripped up about as high as a deer can reach (about 6 feet or so off the ground), the deer have already taken about as much as they can get, and it’s time to move on.
Winter is also a really good time to ask the local nursery if they have a deer problem. You may be surprised by the warm welcome you’ll get. For example, this year one fellow who has a tree farm one town away from me actually asked a few of us to shoot some deer off his property this winter.
Effective hunting hours are also different in the winter. Morning and evening can be cold, and deer will bed down, or move very little in the extreme cold. Bear in mind that there is no rut to excite them and few hunters to push them, so there is not much reason to expend a lot of energy when food is scarce. Start after the sun rises and stay all day. I have seen more deer in the mid-afternoon in January and February than in the early morning and evening hours.
Staying all day brings up the idea of how to stay warm while sitting in a tree stand or ground blind. Minimizing exposed skin and dressing in layers are key, as is using an outerwear system that will seal in your body heat. I have found that a good insulating base layer, followed by a layer of wool or fleece, topped by an insulated jacket and bib pants or a one piece suit, works pretty well. When I have a long hike to my stand, I wear a wind-proof fleece jacket and lined jeans out to the stand and then pull my one piece from my pack and put it on just before getting into the stand.
Hands, feet and face are always problem areas. I like a ski-glove reflective liner over a pair of good wool gloves. (Military surplus liners are the best and are very affordable). That combination keeps me warm and gives me enough touch sensitivity to operate my safety and trigger. High-top insulated rubber boots work well in the winter, especially if combined with a sole or toe heater pad. Look for a pair that has at least 1200 grams of Thinsulate. Putting a stiff foam pad, folded foam sleeping bag pad, or a Hot Seat-style cushion between your feet and the ground will help insulate your feet from the cold. A fleece baklava, covered by a hood and a skiing face mask (the kind that are fabric over thin foam or neoprene) complete the picture. Other handy items include the activated charcoal and foot heaters, as well as the Therma-Care-style back warmers.
The choice of a tree stand or ground blind will be dictated by the terrain and prevailing weather. Tree stands give you a better vantage point as the leaves are down, but can be very cold as you are exposed to any wind and have limited mobility. If the cover precludes use of a tree stand, set up a folding seat with an insulated seat cushion against some cover. To help break-up your outline, you can pound four wire-fence stakes into the ground around your stand (assuming the ground isn’t frozen solid) and attach several yards of camo cloth or fleece around the stakes, making a camo perimeter of your stand. If you are concerned about scent, remember the rut is over, so sex-attractants are of little value. Use a masking scent or a scent killer instead.
Luckily, you won’t need new equipment. Whatever worked in the fall will be fine for the winter. However, moving parts get stiff in the cold. A little of whatever the manufacturer suggests as lubricant on critical parts doesn’t hurt. Also, don’t leave your scope lens cap home. A quick snow shower or mist can hamper your ability to get a good sight picture. Checking your scope and the groups you’re shooting in the cold weather is another excellent idea. The only thing you may need to buy, depending on your state, is an archery or muzzleloader permit, and/or firearms license, for the new year.
There is one other bonus. In many states, predators are fair game in the winter. Foxes, coyotes and even feral hogs may visit your gut pile or the bait you set out (where baiting is legal, of course). Don’t miss the opportunity to add a little action to your winter hunting even after you harvest a deer or two.
So, instead of waiting for turkey or trout season, slip into something warm, take a walk through your favorite deer hunting area and put your stand back up. It surely beats sitting at home, just reading about someone else’s hunt.
