Deer season down time to do list

[Covelo-NdN]

Anyone miss deer season? So what do you do when it's not deer season I mean I guess I am exercising reading some literature and trying to update my knowledge about hunting as much as possible during the Christmas season I also picked up a Matthews bow so flat I can hit the deer season earlier this year because here in California the hunting season opens to bow prior to rifle so. Thus far I have.

1. Excercised
2. Re sighted M70 feather 270 win
3. Double checked 130 grain accubond accuracy
4. Purchased a Browning Trail Cam (have 2 now I bushnell)
5. Reading and got some salt licks lol

The only thing I'd like get some new Camo and chrono 150 grain partitions.

What are u doing

 

[jmr40]

Lots of range time in the winter experimenting with loads and practice. The place is empty at this time of the year and I can get a lot done.

 

[TEAM101]

Gearing up to shoot some coyotes.

 

[jrdolall]

Deer season ends today. It started on October 15th. I think I will rest for a month and do some squirrel and rabbit hunting, maybe pick up a few quail and release them in the pines. I plan to make a few changes to gun/scope combinations by April. At the end of February I will till under a couple of food plots and plant the Spring crop for the deer and turkey to much on. Before May I have at least two post oaks that were hit by lightning that I plan to drop and work on splitting for next year. I actually have to work some in the Spring and Summer...bummer.

 

[Covelo-NdN]

Great

Hey when do u guys hang trail cams. I left the one I own out just curious I guess.

 

[another pake]

Although it's darn cold in Minnesota right now it's also a great time to go out scouting. You can learn a lot by walking around your hunting land.

Many Minnesota deer move and "yard up" in the winter but many stay near home too, if circumstances and habitat allow it. A walk around shows you travel routes, bedding areas and food sources, plus you might come upon some nice sheds!

Also a great time to evaluate stand locations and do habitat maintenance such as creating or improving bedding areas.

 

[BudgetBucks1]

I agree with the prior post. You should be scouting. I scout at least a half day per week from January to March. Then I go turkey hunting and scout then after the Gobblers hush up. It's also a good time to give your equipment a thorough cleansing, change out batteries in your equipment and fix torn equipment(clothing, bags, etc). I also take my stands down and update them if they need it. I also cut shooting lanes now for next season. Lastly, I kiss up to my wife and spend extra time with her and the kids so that she likes me enough not to divorce me during the rut this year.

 

[jrdolall]

I leave out trail cams all year over feeders and major trails just to see what new might be wandering around. I have been able to prove to stubborn neighbors that their Lab WAS running the woods during deer season as well as confirm which kids were riding three wheelers on my land. I don't really mind but prefer that they ask permission or at least tell me they were in there so I know it isn't poachers. I have seen bucks once and then never see them again on any camera at any time.

 

[gspn]

Untitled by scarfam, on Flickr

First on the list now that I have time is turning the deer and elk into tasty stuff. Summer sausage is always hugely popular. I took the last batch off the smoker last night around 1 AM.

Salami is up next. After that, some elk jerky.

I probably won't do much gun stuff until it warms up.

 

[horsemen61]

Let's see shoot shoot shoot

Scout check the cameras

Coyote hunt
Load development

 

[FL-NC]

For me Jan-Feb-March are recreational shooting/television season. There's nothing to do outdoors where I live- too cold/wet, but no mountains or snow. Then its Harley Davidson/beach/ gear up for deer season. Then, deer season!

 

[Captcurt]

Look.

Our bow season runs through February so I still crawl up into a tree when the weather permits. I have a camera out on a feeder and have 8 bucks coming in everyday. The 4 nice 8 pointers are there at 7:30 A.M. like clockwork. Unfortunately I have tagged out on bucks so I am waiting for a yearling doe.

This is the time of year that I like to cover a lot of ground and see where the rubs, scrapes, and trails are. Then I check them again just before season. If the deer are still using that area I will set stands. Sometimes they are still there, sometime not. Just depends on the feed or changes in the land use.

All of my stands get inspected at the end of the season. Some get new ratchet straps or cables. Now is the time to repaint them that need it.

 

[Sniper66]

I hunt coyotes and late season squirrels. Also do lots of reloading. Shot a deer this year with my newly acquired Rem 700 BDL .270 using factory ammo. Having accumulated enough brass, I need to develop .270 loads. Was gifted a bunch of .204 bullets, so also need to develop loads for them. Also need to disassemble and clean some pistols. Having new carpet paid in my home next week, so need to move and temporarily store all my gun stuff...yikes, I hate that job. Moving everything in the house to put down new carpet, then move everything back in will take most of a week. Then it will take another year to find the stuff you misplaced when you moved it. Notice I list the movement and storage of gun stuff first.....I gots my priorities.

 

[redneck2]

Have a friend that has a big hunting area. This guy is a real game manager. Knows all the deer on his land, how old, etc.

Anyway, he puts our Lucy Buck mineral blocks. Gets 1 1/2 year old bucks in the 130 class using it. You need to put it out this time of year so that the fawns have plenty of bone growth when born.

Bucks replenish the nutrients lost growing their antlers.