mmcdonough
Lil-Rokslider
Looking for advice. It's been a weird season in Northern MN this year. The majority of people I've talked to have not even seen a buck this year during the rifle season. I myself haven't seen any horns in over a month now and now it's officially late season. All the bucks I caught on camera in October and early November are no where to be found. Most everyone has given up at this point but I've still got my archery tag burning a hole in my pocket. I don't want to spend the money on a muzzle loader and tag this late in the year so I've decided to go all in on still hunting with my bow.
After a quick scout on Saturday, I determined that the deer are bedding and feeding in the same spots, all under oak trees with a few acorns still clinging on. These beds are almost all off the trails I use to get around the property. I moved through quickly on my scout and did push a couple deer out but hopefully not far. We got a lot of snow last night on top of the 5 inches or so that was already on the ground. Now the bitter cold and negative temps are here for the week. Stand hunting seems almost a waste of time now.
Does anyone have any tips for still hunting in these conditions? The snow has been awesome for protecting me from noise but I can't seem to get close enough before they spot me. I've been using the wind but it didn't seem to matter on Saturday. They run off before I can even see them. I also haven't cut ANY buck tracks near these beds. They seem to be all doe's in the area. Are the bucks just completely isolating themselves right now? I'm still a bit of rookie when it comes to white tail. Still learning a lot about their patterns and tendencies.
There's a big group of mature pines on the neighbors property on the other side of a ravine on the property I hunt. I'm wondering if the bucks in the area are using that as a sanctuary. It would make sense with the low amount of snow accumulation in that spot.
After a quick scout on Saturday, I determined that the deer are bedding and feeding in the same spots, all under oak trees with a few acorns still clinging on. These beds are almost all off the trails I use to get around the property. I moved through quickly on my scout and did push a couple deer out but hopefully not far. We got a lot of snow last night on top of the 5 inches or so that was already on the ground. Now the bitter cold and negative temps are here for the week. Stand hunting seems almost a waste of time now.
Does anyone have any tips for still hunting in these conditions? The snow has been awesome for protecting me from noise but I can't seem to get close enough before they spot me. I've been using the wind but it didn't seem to matter on Saturday. They run off before I can even see them. I also haven't cut ANY buck tracks near these beds. They seem to be all doe's in the area. Are the bucks just completely isolating themselves right now? I'm still a bit of rookie when it comes to white tail. Still learning a lot about their patterns and tendencies.
There's a big group of mature pines on the neighbors property on the other side of a ravine on the property I hunt. I'm wondering if the bucks in the area are using that as a sanctuary. It would make sense with the low amount of snow accumulation in that spot.