This year I picked the late season muzzleloader season for my deer season here in Iowa. Since I already have two Nebraska deer in the freezer, the pressure to get venision is off.

Now, this is the latest I have ever hunted deer. Normaly, I hunt the November firearm season in Nebraska, and we typically stand hunt and either use rattles or scent calls.

But that is during the rut, and hunting in late December/early January after the two shotgun seasons out here is (I think) a different game. A guy at work says "Just hunt right at the end of the day, otherwise they won't be moving."

Is that right? Or should I post up and do my usual dawn to dusk tactics?

I would focus on the middle of the day.

quote:

Originally posted by NEJack:
This year I picked the late season muzzleloader season for my deer season here in Iowa. Since I already have two Nebraska deer in the freezer, the pressure to get venision is off.

Now, this is the latest I have ever hunted deer. Normaly, I hunt the November firearm season in Nebraska, and we typically stand hunt and either use rattles or scent calls.

But that is during the rut, and hunting in late December/early January after the two shotgun seasons out here is (I think) a different game. A guy at work says "Just hunt right at the end of the day, otherwise they won't be moving."

Is that right? Or should I post up and do my usual dawn to dusk tactics?

dawn to dusk is only about 8-9 hours this time of year.

mid day food source

Howdy NEJack --

Perhaps after significant hunting pressure, the mid-western whitetails maybe more wary or significantly more 'nocturnal'--

But even this time of year in Iowa, I've seen 'em move AM, Noonish, PM en route to food/ bedding. Of course that was seasons ago--

Only one more day of Doe Season here-- and I'm stuck at work. -Hope to head out with the boys manana.

Happy end of the 2008 Season!

Well, my bride is pretty uncomforable today (she is just shy of 8 months pregnant, and has some false labor at times), so I'm not heading out till next weekend now. Which is ok, as I have till Jan. 10 (late muzzle loader).

You are right about the pressure. I went out for a few days last year, and nothing moved! Of course that was right after second shotgun, and the deer would run after you pulled up in a pick up. Maybe the extra week will give them some time to settle down.

Good call to stay close to the home-front this weekend and help comfort Momma.

My oldest was 5 wks early-- breech-- C-section... no one never knows how things will go...

My wife had to take Breathene to prevent an early delivery of our 2nd... PTL, the timing was just right for her to discontinue the meds on a Friday nite knowing that she would most likely go into labor as soon as 24-48 hours later-- Therefore-- I was able to take a 3 hr. trip to S. Texas to hunt with the fellas [ducks in AM, quail in PM] on Sat.

When I got back on Sun. at noonish, she was standing on the front steps smiling with bags packed-- ready for me to take her straight to the hospital.

These were pre-cell-phone days, mind you.

I hope your gestation [& possible end-of-season hunts] go well.