Peak breeding is over in most of the country, but I’m not discouraged. In many states, the firearm season opens the Saturday after Thanksgiving or a few days before, allowing a precious few days to bowhunt before it’s boom time in the big woods. Jeff Sturgis, of Whitetail Habitat Solutions, suggests that as bucks end their restless mating jaunts, they will focus again on food, which means that a cut corn field, unharvested beans, winter wheat, and other ag crops will be whitetail buck draws.
Family Time
I am especially thankful for this time of year because my three grandsons hunt with me and have for the past several years. The two youngest still use crossbows, but the oldest loves the challenge of a Bear compound, and he has been practicing and hunting when his busy work schedule allows. Since they only have a short window of hunting opportunity, I try to save certain spots with high deer traffic specifically for them.
Hunting with a Youngster
My middle grandson, shown above, has special respiratory problems, which means he doesn’t handle cold temperatures well. Whenever hunting with youngsters, it’s essential to put their needs above the quest for a deer. In his case, we make sure that he’s bundled up, take warm drinks with us, and when he says that he is cold, we pause the hunt, warm up with a snack, and then resume. Ironically, this exact scenario played out two years ago when frigid November temperatures settled in. We took a break, headed to a nearby fast-food stop for a hot sandwich and hot chocolate, and returned. Twenty minutes later, this seven-pointer came cruising along.
Round Up the Pumpkins
If baiting is legal, round up your neighbor’s leftovers and bust them in the woods. It may take a day or two for deer to get used to the new food source, yet they will eventually consume them. Plus, smashing pumpkins is always fun for youngsters.
Don’t Forget the Calls
Although the rut may be winding down, bucks will still respond to estrous bleats and grunt calls. Even if they ignore your efforts, they rarely spook or avoid the area. Deer calling takes patience and persistence, but it only has to work once.