How to Hunt Whitetail Deer in Late Season

The final days of deer season offer a great opportunity to bag a trophy whitetail.

Whitetail deer are wily creatures no matter what time of year it is, but they seem to become downright invisible during the waning days of the hunting season. This, however, should not stop you from giving it one last try. In fact, those deer that have survived are not only the smartest but also the largest. Don't be intimidated. If successful, your late-season deer hunt will prove to be not only the most challenging, but also the most thrilling and satisfying.

Things You'll Need

• Climbing tree stand (optional)
• Lightweight, waterproof clothing
• Short-barrel rifle with low-power scope (for maneuvering and aiming in dense cover)

Instructions

1. Choose your hunting spot wisely. Late-season whitetail will seek out safe shelter. This means you'll have to hunt areas that haven't seen any human activity all season long. Go to the deepest thickets, thickest pine forests or slopes covered with heavy brush.

2. Find a suitable tree that gives you a good vantage point over the dense cover and set up your climbing tree stand. Make sure you pick a tree that gives you the best possible shooting lanes and wait. Deer will move at some point during the day, whether it's to eat, drink, or simply examine their surroundings.

3. Attempt what is known as "still-hunting." This technique is for those hunters who don't wish to play the waiting game. Simply put, you prowl the thick cover as slowly and silently as possible. Covering as little space as a dozen feet in an hour's time; you have to examine every inch of your surroundings for deer in hiding.

4. Organize a deer drive. Once again, choose a location such as a thicket or dense pine forest that hasn't been heavily hunted and gather two friends. Have your friends spread out at equal distances and slowly still-hunt through the cover. Meanwhile, you should find a good vantage point overlooking the cover and wait for the deer to be moved in your direction. Late-season deer usually won't come into the open unless they're nearly stepped on and startled out of their hiding places.

5. Use the weather to your advantage. The final days of deer season often coincide with the worst weather. Heavy snow or rain can mask your scent and sound as you move through the heavy brush. This means you are more likely to sneak up on an unsuspecting deer. Bad weather also means you will likely face less competition from other desperate, late-season hunters.

6. Use calls, scents and decoys if they are legal in your area. While these tools are most useful during the whitetail's rutting season, they can provide results later in the season as well. They may just be enough to lure a deer out of hiding.

References

• Game and Fish: It's Never Too Late
• Outdoor Life: Late-season Deer Tips
• Hunt Only: Late Season Whitetail Deer Tactics