Youth Season Part Deux
Posted By
Rick Knochel
at
1/1/2010 12:00:00 AM
Youth Season Part Deux
By: Andy Yost
Here we go again. That’s right it’s the late youth firearms season. The primary rut is in the past now and the deer are tired and hungry. Deer build layers of fat during the summer and fall to prepare for winter. But they do not need fat in the diet to do that. They convert the energy in carbohydrates to saturated fat and then use that fat during hard times. However, if you want to find deer this time of year then you need to look no further than the food sources. I personally don’t like to hunt in the mornings this time of year because the deer are not as active. The deer are going to be where there is good food, cover and water. Deer spend winter looking for such food sources as moss, twigs, bark and even leaves to get by the harsh winter months.
Here in Missouri there are a lot of crop fields and that is where you will find the deer in the evenings. We have gotten a lot of snow recently in most parts of the state and it is still covering the ground. If you can find any standing crops this time of year with snow on the ground you will think you own a gold mine when you see the deer pile into these spots. Deer will eat what is most convenient or easiest for them to get to. If you don’t have standing crops or are having trouble finding the deer then use the snow to your advantage. Get out there and scout the tracks they are leaving behind and find out where they are coming and going. If the conditions are really harsh then you will see less movement this time of year. Be careful coming and going to your stand because the deer will bed closer to the food sources to use less energy coming and going. Deer are not going to burn precious calories to go feed unless it’s to their advantage to do so.
In closing, make sure you bundle up and stay hydrated out there. Those kiddos need hand warmers, toe warmers and lots of warm layers to keep comfortable to be able to sit in the cold weather for a few hours. You can never have too many hand warmers. Remember,
if there is one thing you can do to help our wonderful past time then it is introducing someone new to the outdoors. There is no antler restriction for the youth season so your number one priority should be to get a child involved out there, be safe and have fun.
Happy New Year from Midwest Whitetail Missouri!
