2013 Deer Season Final Week Hunt Tips

Friends gather for a last week deer hunt

By now every white-tailed deer in the woods has been educated about the presence of man by the scent left from his forays into the woods. The remainder of the season certainly does not rule out still hunting for deer as this technique will still be effective, but sneaky or aggressive game plans are often the best bet when targeting pressured deer.

It is no secret that one of the surest methods for late season success is to hunt a green food plot. The sneaky part of this equation is that you don’t want to hunt this particular deer stand until the deer are using the area when the crop matures in late fall and early winter. If you want to harvest a deer late in the season you need to stick to the game plan and save that stand – you’ll be glad you did.

While deer tend to stay ‘at home’ when presented with quality habitat, hunters recognize that some deer will simply never be harvested. They are too wary from pressure and may simply go nocturnal for the remainder of the season. However, some deer will retreat to an out of the way woodland pocket or thicket, and won’t stray far for food and water. These type areas offer a chance for the late season deer hunter who is willing to set up a stand on the edge of this area and be patient waiting for an opportunity.

A deer stronghold such as this can be located using a map of the property, looking specifically for an area that has little or no vehicular access. If it is so thick that not even a four-wheeler has been through that area, then that makes it a likely spot where wildlife is seeking refuge. Sometimes a ‘notch’ or outcropping of land on a lease just doesn’t get hunted, but often a scouting trip into the stronghold to look for deer sign, whether its fresh droppings, rubs or older shed antlers, will reveal clues if this is where pressured deer have been laying low.

Lastly, be ready to shoot when you see a deer during the last week in the season.

To view past blog entries about deer season click here.