GUN SEASON A SUCCESS - WHAT NOW?
Posted By
Ohio
at
12/8/2009 12:00:00 AM
The 2009 Ohio Shotgun Season has come and gone. Many Ohio hunters filled their tags and their freezers with some great bucks and does. Several of us, including yours truly, still have a buck tag in our wallets. So what now?
Well, don't get discouraged because some of the best hunting just might be yet to come. Late season archery hunting can provide some outstanding opportunities to harvest a good buck. Here's why.
The orange army has left the woods, at least for now, and the deer seem to always know that. It's surprising how quickly the intense pressure of gun season fades from a whitetail's mind and food becomes a priority. The deer have been bumped around from one hollow to another for a week and some have been continually on the move, while others have been holding tight in thick cover during daylight hours. Gun season is a stressful time for whitetails and now it's time for them to slow down and rebuild their fat supplies for the winter. Remember, the rut occurred immediately before gun season so the bucks have been going hard for over a month now.
The bucks will begin feeding again on somewhat of a pattern. If you can find a good food source such as corn, soybeans and brassicas you could be sitting pretty. Concentrate on these places during the evening and the trails that lead to and from the bedding areas in the morning.
As the snow falls and the temperatures drop, the deer will stick to somewhat of regular pattern, AS LONG AS THE FOOD IS THERE. The food source is the key. Now is when all of your hard work planting those late season food plots can pay off big.
In my experiences, I've found that during the colder temperatures and nasty weather, the bucks will often bed closer to the food source than they usually would in order to conserve energy. Keep this in mind while deciding your stand location and the best entrance and exit routes. If you don't pressure the bucks at this time of year, they should stick to a fairly predictable pattern.
Don't forget that some of the does did not get bred in November and could be in heat right now. I've heard several reports of bucks chasing does this weekend with total disregard to the pressure of gun season.
If you haven't filled your tag, grab the Hoyt and get out there. You still have an opportunity to tag a great buck before the next two day gun season which is December 19-20.
BE SAFE & GOD BLESS,
Jason Huntsman Midwest Whitetail - OH
