Late Season Bowhunting?

[fulldraw]

I am new to this sight but my girlfreind is not, I need any advice from those bowhunters out their who adventure into the winter wounder land for late bow season. My Brother and I are going out next week for three days. Any advice or pointers to make it a successful one.

Thanks Alot,

Fulldraw

[Trushot_Archer]

A. Dress warm!:D
B. It's ALL about the food sources now. Find where there feeding and your golden.
C. Place your stands a little higher than normal. If they've had any pressure at all they may be tree shy. This coupled with lack of foilage on the trees means it's harder to go undetected so I usually boost my stands 5-10 feet farther up depnding on other variables.
D. Scent control. Again the lack of foilage ups the ante as the wind cuts straight through the trees now. This can be a plus if you hunt the wind properly, you don't have nearly the swirls and eddies of air of the early season ...or detrimental as deer can wind you 200 yards away!
E. Make triple sure of your target. Some bucks will be shedding horns now and you don't want to take " that big doe" only to find it may have been a nice 8 or 10 that's just shed.

Good Luck and have fun!

[TrailFndr]

Another tip....take the time to Draw your bow every little while to keep the muscles warm, Cold muscles will stop you cold when you try to draw, you won't be able to do it.

[pmtiny]

Good point trailfndr. I found out the hard way that muscles cramp up in the cold. Had a shot earlier this year after a few hours up in the tree stand, and it was a bear pulling the string back. When I did, my arms were shaking like a leaf.

[Whit1]

If at all possible set up in a pine, spruce, cedar, or other evergreen tree. If you have time do some scouting before setting your stand. Ground blinds can be excellent, however their construction takes time and adds disturbance to the woods. They are also readily notices by the deer.

Keep in mind that deer use the wind and their noses as primary defense mechanisms. Set up downwind of bedding areas and near the food source.

The tip about staying loose is excellent, but first take a good look around before doing a practice draw. Deer are notorious for sneaking in, unannounced by the crunching of forest floor litter under their hooves, and standing to observe their surroundings to see if everything is safe for their passage. Despite having four hooves they can ghost their way through the woods with the best of any carnivorous preditor.

By the way, welcome to the site and do come back.

[fatboy]

If you can tell us a little about the area and terrain you will be hunting ther may be more that we can add.(up north ? farm ? crops ? swamp w/hardwoods ? )

[Little Bow Huntin Gal]

Hey guys thanks for the great tips. I am fulldraw's girlfriend so ya know. He is going to be hunting public land with alot of hardwoods in them. I think that he is going uo into a pine but i am not sure. Hopefully he will come back with some meat so the freezer can get full again! :D I would be joining him in hunting this week but I have to work and I have a final at school. :mad: College can stinl at times!
Happy Holidays everyone.
April