We're at that point in time, once again, when the whitetail seasons are coming to a close in most of the northern states. Still don't have that buck? Don't worry, the late season can be one of the best times of the year to get it done.
The most important aspect in late season hunting is food sources. All of those bucks that were rutting hard and chasing does throughout October and November are now trying to regain all of that lost energy before the hardest part of winter hits. Basically their whole daily routine will consist of bedding and feeding. Standing corn and bean fields act as deer magnets this time of year. If there is a standing bean field in your area in late December, you could make a safe bet that the deer will be in that field feeding before dark every night.
However, hunting pressure throughout the season is going to determine how often and when the deer will be in this field. If your area has high hunter presence during gun season, chances are the deer will hit the food sources in the middle of the night, and you'll never catch them in the fields during shooting hours. If you are one of the lucky hunters that hunts a large area with minimal pressure, you will likely find deer using the standing bean and corn fields during daylight, and often times during the middle of the day.
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| Food plots work great in the late season |
If you fall into the high hunting pressure category, all hope is not lost. There are still ways for you to shoot that last minute buck. One sure-fire way to increase deer activity around your stand in the late season is by baiting. I know that some hunters see baiting as unethical and wrong, but you'd be surprised at how well it works when the deer are in need of food.
In these high hunter presence areas, your best bet is to bait a ways back into a wooded area. The thicker the woods, the safer the deer will feel using that bait during daylight. Often times it is best to set up a well brushed-in ground blind within range of your bait "pile". This will help you to keep out of the elements on those cold, snowy days, and will allow you to hunt longer without feeling uncomfortable.
Another proven way to successfully hunt a high pressure area in the late season in to hunt in between the bedding area and the food source. If the deer are using that food source just after dark, then you know that they are traveling from their bed in daylight to reach that food. These may be hard areas to hunt, as they are often times very thick. Most of your shots are going to be less than 30 yards in these thick areas, so find the most heavily used trails and set up somewhat close to them. An ideal spot would be where several major trails intersect.
Just like during the rest of deer season, don't forget to play the wind and keep your clothing and body as scent-free as possible. I have found that deer are very weary during this time of year, especially when they are in the open during daylight. One whiff of human scent and they'll be out of there. Good luck hunting and hopefully you can bag that last minute late season buck!
