Survival Mode

Another big storm has plowed right over Iowa and the next few days we'll feel the aftermath. Temperatures have tumbled, the wind is relentlessly chilling, and snowflakes are flying here and there. Conditions are pretty brutal with the coldest air of the season blowing in on strong northwesterly winds. Deer are switching back to survival mode with a bed-to-feed-to-bed pattern. Many deer will move into their out-of-the-wind sanctuary such as cedar thickets, blow downs and steep southeast facing draws close to food sources. These are all attractive options for the winter wary whitetail. While the 20s are nothing compared to the bitter-cold we'll see in a month or so, deer will still seek some additional thermal protection. They'll also be feeding. Burning calories helps the whitetail stay warm, and many herds will feed periodically throughout the day. Evenings should be good in those preferred food sources where the deer haven't seen too much hunting pressure. Typically, corn fields see more action but bean fields are still producing good numbers in the evening. This wind is rough, but it's enough cover noise for a stalk, and if your mobile you'll stand a better chance to see deer. It's not the best hunting weather, but with just a few short days before Iowa's first shotgun season, your time to arrow that trophy is running out. Good luck and stay warm!