Spooky Deer.

[loneranger]

This is first time tried hunting after the shotgun season. Missed the gun season . Was unable to be down on my land so not sure if alot of shooting, but week before Special season was out with bow by my rye and food spots, tracks all over but obviously after dark. Never saw movement, on snow or in fog. Went down to land thinking would help out dnr taking a doe but doe,,no-show. Figure gun season must have been more than I thot, to spook them so. Full moon not help either. Went out this eve, saw doe out at sunset up on ridge feeding so, maybe they are calming down. Also neighbor kid was out on 4-wheeler, at dusk near my rye,,IDIOT! Suddenly very large buck ran past me. Obviosly scared up out of his day bed somewhere near. Probably waithing for dark to eat. From reading on here guess all deer in different areas not as spooky as mine. I have read here cold gets them up before dark, and time away from gun season calms them down. Was not much shooting during special season. Will they show more with time? Here cold is going to kick in next week. Maybe time to get out there again?

 

[nannyslayer]

They will calm down, and if we keep getting the snow and ice, they are going to go into "survival mode", mostly sturring during the heat of the day and bedding up and saving energy through the nights.

 

[loneranger]

I hope they get more day active,,but latest long range forecast now says milder and calming mid next week and beyond,,so weather may not help,,on other hand easier to sit for bow hunters.

 

[loneranger]

One more qwestion? I saw this nice buck, spooked from bed, by afore mentioned idiot-4wheeler, near food plot. At this late season is there ever a chance of seeing a large buck at a food source in daylight? I know tactic is to set up down trail from food source but too many trails to choose from in my area, and too late to make new stands now. Just wondering if large bucks ever show up at food before safety of darkness? Anyone had experiences?

 

[muddy]

Like every late season deer are on pins and needles in some places, fairly releaxed in others. I think you'll be fine if you have an unpressured area to hunt, just take it slow and don't cut any corners in trying to fill your tag. Last night I had a stinking doe pick me off at 100 yards through a pine tree (nervous old hag) but then 30 minutes later I had a mature doe and fawn walk literally 10 feet from me and they went out to feed right under my nose.

Nanny hit it pretty well, they'll calm down after another week and get back into a little more normal feeding patterns. Pay close attention to weather forcasts, if your area is expecting to get pounded by a storm you'd best be out on the food plots, or tails to the plots, plenty early because they will move.

Enjoy a reasonably cold late season, it's fun and challenging.

 

[LoessHillsArcher]

We've got the same response as you, last week tracks all over but all night time movement. We did see a few deer but they were just moving in the timber, not showing themselves in the open fields.