For those who continue to hunt after the gun seasons are over... What are your legitimate odds of scoring on a buck? Do you still get reasonable opportunities or would killing (or even seeing) a buck after the gun season take a small miracle? Please be honest
I've gotten bucks in the late season before. In my areas I believe that it can be at least 50% harder to kill a buck than before gun season.
If I get cold weather and good snow, I can pattern a buck again, if it stays above normal temps its very difficult. Cold weather is here, was 14 this morning.. snow is coming Sat! Late season is looking good. I have 4 stands that I hung in bedding areas ... one stand I hunted twice only...and I missed a stud (155-160 6x5) from it in SEPT.. I will be hunting know buck bedding areas.. I have another stand I have hunted twice all season.. Hosses bedding area where I saw him in early Nov.. Then 2 more stands I havent even touched, saved them for late season.. I got tons of trail cams in these bedding areas up till I pulled the cams in Sept. I have never been so prepaired for late season spots.. I am stoked..
I have very little time to pattern them after the gun season. My best shot is hunting a well know property, that I know had decent bucks patterned before the gun season, and hoping he's still alive. I'll be at it in PA. I've never killed ANY deer in the late season, but I'm gonna give it hell this year. It's been a looooooong time since I ate all of my buck tags, and with any luck it wont' happen this year either.
Matt not sure how bucks behave out there after gun season but here the old bucks will almost always go back to their Sept bedding areas unless snow levels push them out.. which rarely happens by Christmas when my late season is over..
In VA where I am, our gun seasons don't end until the last day of the season in early Jan (9 weeks of gun season sucks!) In WV....same thing, guns bang for 5 weeks straight, till the end. That said, it gets very tough Dec....but I still go for it!
Here in MN it is tough to say the least. As the season rolls on the movement gets less and less. Almost to the point that the bedding area is the feeding area and once bumped they dont come back. So Gregs number of 50% I would say is even tougher. That beeing said you cant shoot one from the couch. I will hunt untill the close of season on New Years eve.
I have never killed a deer in late season, but I will surely try again this year. I have one doe down for the year and still a buck tag and another doe tag waiting to be used. My buddy spotted three different bucks last Saturday and we will be after them this weekend.
That's pretty much my philosophy. I hunt very close to (or in) where I know a bucks bedding area "was" hoping he's not dead! A And that's the flipside to it. You can bump them out of there for good in a heartbeat. I've left areas alone that I know bucks use just for late season purposes. I let them get pushed and driven to these areas and sneak in there hoping to catch one feeling somewhat safe in their honey hole during daylight hours. Luckily I have a bunch of these areas to hunt (if they haven't been trespassed on). Tough deal for sure, but that's what makes it fun
I would say it becomes 75% harder in the late season, especially if temps stay above normal. Now, if it gets cold and we get a decent amount of snow, the odds double or tripple in my favor.
I agree allot with what TJ said. Never have I killed a mature buck In December, hell I've only saw one mature buck In 24 years In December. The gun seasons here are huge with pressure, that right there Is In my opinion what makes It so tough for late season. Even the doe's are very tough to hunt. One thing I'll add to this too, more and more people are putting In food plots and I believe that's making It even tougher to keep the big guys around on the land I hunt this time of year when the snow hits.
Steve those bucks will hit your scrapes again checking for the yearling does coming in.. I bet you get a crack at your big boy if hes still a live.. He will still make his rounds if he feels safe in there where you have encountered him.. either that or he will be posted up near a good feeding area.. Another TWIST to late season, do you guys lower your standards a bit in regards to the age/size of buck you would take in the Post rut?
My odds of killing a buck I'd be happy shooting are pretty low before the gun season starts, so... ....it would take a small miracle.
No ... I would get no satisfaction from it whether it was pre rut, rut or post rut. I'd get more satisfaction knowing he'll be a year older and more headgear next year.
No, but there really isn't much room to lower them. I'd shoot any whitetail 2.5 or older which is a rare animal where I hunt.
I've killed 2 bow bucks in the late season, one a nice 3.5 year old 129" in mid December and my largest bow buck to date a 4.5 year old or older 165" on Jan 2nd. It can be done and around my area this year could be a good possibility. The crops are just now being harvested with some still in the fields. Once they are all gone I have 5 acres of food plots for them to use. If it gets cold and nasty they just might come out to eat in the daylight. (I hope) Plus not many bucks have been killed in the area this year, so they are still around.
I am going to be hunting smart again come this Saturday. I want to at least SEE a good buck in December. That is my goal, see one. I have some ideas on how to tilt the odds in my favor this December. I will go back to much of the philosophy I used in October. Hunt terrain, hunt in remote spots, and make sure the wind is correct on every single hunt. That is about all I can do.
I have I'm not going to lie. With the year I had I am just about willing to take a fork. Ma nature and myself are in a huge fight. After falling, missing, getting rained out for almost all of October. Brown is down mentality comes in.
Thats the biggest issue. I see on average, around 15 1.5 bucks and maybe one 2.5+ before gun season. I can only think of one antlered deer I have seen in the last 7 years after gun season. I see lots of does though!
