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Post Season Activities
Posted By Clifford Neames at 3/9/2010 12:00:00 AM

Post Season Activities

 

Once the deer season closes, many hunters suddenly find themselves in a “rut”, so to speak, with a lot of free time on their hands. Spring is still far away, but you can get out in the woods, and make good use of it.

 

Post-season scouting might give you great insight on what your herd was doing when they weren’t near your regular stands. And, you can bust up into bedding areas, which were totally off limits before, without fear of ruining anything. While doing this, you might want to note where deer run to, if you jump any up. Knowing those escapes routes might come in handy later.

 

Sheds are there for the taking too, so keep your eyes open! Nothing gets my heart beating faster at this time of year, than locating a big side, or if I’m really lucky a matched pair. Look in food plots, along trails, or near rubs, and you might score big! And, when you find those cast antlers, it’s a good indicator that bucks have survived the hunting season, and might still be around for the next one.

 

I usually try to prep a few new stands sites right after deer season too, especially if they will require a lot of cutting. This allows the maximum amount of time for things to settle back down, and cuts way back on the amount of trimming that might have to be done next Fall.

Instead of dragging everything off, let nature help you by letting it rot out.

You might want to position bigger limbs, or small trees that you cut, so that they actually create a funnel effect for the new stand. While you are at it, trim anything along the path you will use later to access the stand, so that you can make a quiet entry.

 

If you have a camp, or a cabin, you can clean it up, so you don’t face a mess when you return. This is also a good time to get all those little things on the maintenance list done, or do the remodeling you always talk about, but don’t ever get to. Plus, the time there helps to knock a few more days off the long wait till you can chase Mr. Big Horns again!

 

So, what else can you do to at this time of year? I saved the best for last!

I have found something that will keep you in the game, is a ton of fun, and also provide another way to fill the freezer with prime vittles. HOG HUNTING!

 

Yes sir, it’s the real deal. And the good news is, this is prime time to get out after them, and in many cases there is no bag limit! You may not have a hunt able population of wild hogs in your woods. But, there are plenty of them available, if you are willing to travel.

Wild hogs area a serious pest, and directly compete with whitetail deer. So, its not only fun to hunt them, but a good conservation practice.

 

If you look around, you can probably find a good place to hunt them on public land, or private land, without a fee. If not, there are plenty of outfitters who offer hog hunting. Use the same gun, or bow, that you use for deer hunting, and don’t be afraid to try stalking them, if it’s allowed.

Respect that big nose, and you can probably creep in tight for an exciting up close encounter. If you haven’t tried this before, I promise it is well worth checking out!

 

So, there you have plenty of things to carry you over till Turkey season.

Get out and enjoy them, and keep checking back with us here.

You just never know what we might come up with next!

 

Pro Tip: Keep a tree close that you can get into, in case a big boar decides to charge. They usually run the other way, but not always!