Tough Conditions

The weather is cold and snowy, and deer are being pressured by hunters - making hunting conditions pretty tough. I walked through a few corn fields the other day, taking advantage of the fresh snowfall to determine how many deer were using the fields and at what time. Our last snow ended early Thursday morning (2am central Iowa) and several of the tracks were partially covered in snow indicating that deer were using the field, but they were coming in late at night! Deer are feeling the need to feed, but hunting pressure has pushed many animals nocturnal. It doesn't take much hunting pressure to turn a deer to the darkside, and night-time activity can leave very deceptive tracks and sign in food sources. You will see the sign, set up on the trails, and see nothing. The trick is to be mobile, and don't be afraid to get aggressive. Make a move closer to the bedding areas and thick cover, setting up stalks and drives. If you're a stand hunter, and deer are staying out of range, plan a stalk on deer that you see. Between the harsh weather and hunting pressure, the end of shotgun season can be pretty frustrating. But if you use the conditions to your advantage, you can put the odds in your favor on the final days of shotgun season.