Hunting on 210 acres in mid-missouri, I am the only hunter for the late season bow hunting. Creek runs through the middle, some cattle pasture, healthy amount of thick timber, 50 acres of winter wheat about 4 inches tall. I run into this problem every year. All season I see tons of deer. Killed a nice 137" in late October. However when December hits, the deer disappear. I don't hunt mornings this time of year and I'm aware of all the late season strategies but seems like I have a better chance of winning the lotto than killing a sizable buck in January. Anyone else ever run into the same issue this time of year?
My property was logged 5-6 years ago. They cut everything they could. There isn't a tree over 20 ft tall on the property except fence rows. 100 acres is soybean/corn field. 20+ is basically a thick bedding area. It is tough to hunt. I have seen some monsters on the property. But they love that thick stuff. I've worked my way into the edge of it with some tripod stands. I seem to do better late season. So I think the above advice is valid. They seem to go to the thick out of the wind areas and concentrate on feeding up. They come to the closest food. in my case food isn't far but you never know where they will come out to it. 450 yards + of field edge with tons of trails in and out... yeah they always seem to come out where you aren't. to complacate things for me, most of my bedding area has a big stand of woods around it. So the deer travel in and out of that bedding on the opposite side of the area from me.... So I feel your pain. Late season can be good. But I have put mine down with a shotgun or Muzzleloader this time of year as we have a couple short seasons this time of year.
In Missouri you can kill up to 4 bucks in one season. You get 2 for your archery tag, being able to only use one before gun season, or fill both after gun season. You get your 1 gun tag that can be used either during rifle season or alternative methods season around Christmas. And if you apply for management hunts and are chosen, you get an additional tag that can be used during a set time frame in a specific location.
I've had my camera up all season and here recently I only get a few does every week. Early season it's not rare at all to get over a thousand photos a week. Just seems to me the herd has left their home range in order to find a better food source. Saturday night we're supposed to get 5-8" of snow here in Calloway county, Sunday is my last day to hunt. I suppose I'll go out early and do some tracking
This usually happens to me as well. I put in 3 half acre food plots this fall and the deer are sticking around and tearing them up. I sat between bedding and one of the food plots last weekend and shot a nice 8 pointer. Had 8 deer come in before I shot the buck. Wont help you this year but desirable food is key.
Here is the rub with a food plot. You say your the only person for late season bow hunts...until you put in the food plot and have a bunch of bucks showing up... LOL I put in a food plot this year. Haven't seen anything in it but I did get it in a little late. Its still green so I imagine it will be better later this month into Feb. Of course I am probably done now that I shot my buck. However the neighbor is still needing one so I may take the kids out and see if we can tag one for him. I'm hoping to get the food plot in earlier next year.
They are digging up the purple top turnips right now. Planted Honey Hole in one , Horny Buck in another and a blend my local Co op put together. All three are getting hit hard
I live west of you. I actually prefer the late season. I had a shot the other night at a 170 class buck that I've been chasing since the end of November. We have a plot with 6 different brassica, sugar beets, oats, wheat, and pass in it. It is a nightly show in the food plot. I hunt pretty close to plots this time of year or pretty close to their travel route. Food is the biggest key this time of year. This is at my in-laws. Our place has standing beans. Those are a magnet as well.
