| Late season hunting can provide some of the | | | | cover. It can be a pain having to constantly look |
| most productive time spent in the woods the | | | | behind you, but once it gets prime time, I like to |
| entire season. Hunters can enjoy tremendous | | | | stand and turn around. |
| success by locating the remaining food sources | | | | |
| and keeping a close tab on the weather. | | | | Once you have the food source and stand |
| The rut is still smoking hot here in Illinois, but | | | | located, keep an eye on the weather. December |
| it’s time to begin thinking about the future of | | | | and January are a time for big northern cold |
| the whitetail season. By now, nearly all of the | | | | fronts that can drop the temperature 20+ |
| crops are out and the acorns have been | | | | degrees in just a few hours. These big systems |
| devoured. In just a few short weeks, a bucks | | | | normally have precipitation associated with them. |
| main objective will move from reproduction to | | | | Hunting just before and just after these systems |
| bulking back up from the rigors of the rut in | | | | can be dynamite! If you hunt in the Midwest, |
| preparation for the winter to come. They will | | | | there’s nothing better than an afternoon in |
| begin to venture back to their predictable late | | | | the stand with snow falling. When the wait for a |
| summer feeding patterns. | | | | big front to arrive is over, make sure to get to |
| By spending just a few evening in the woods, | | | | the stand early especially during sub freezing |
| you can quickly learn where the deer are spending | | | | temperatures. The deer will begin moving in the |
| the majority of their time. The bucks have spent | | | | early afternoon while it’s still warm. |
| weeks on their feet looking for hot does. During | | | | |
| this time, they lose a large percentage of their | | | | I generally don’t like hunting mornings during |
| body weight. They need to put that weight back | | | | the late season. Hunters can be successful |
| on in order to survive the sometimes harsh | | | | during this time, but they risk educating deer and |
| Midwest winter. When you locate these food | | | | the activity will quickly shift to a different location. |
| sources, afternoon setups are the best. Often | | | | Instead of battling the freezing temperature in the |
| time, the deer will bed near the food source so | | | | dark, I like to sleep in, eat breakfast, and head |
| setting up can be a challenge. I like to find a tree | | | | out around mid day. |
| on an edge that provides me with some cover | | | | Hunting during the late season can be miserable |
| (which is hard to find in the bare winter woods) | | | | with freezing temperatures, but hunters who do |
| and allows me to shoot into the field. If a tree | | | | their homework and are patient can capitalize on |
| with cover is hard to find, I like to set my stand | | | | predictable patterns. |
| facing away from the field and utilize the tree for | | | | |