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Post by THE DEER HUNTER on Dec 5, 2006 15:20:08 GMT -5
Let's hear what you think. I know what the answer is for me......
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Post by Bartman on Dec 5, 2006 15:46:33 GMT -5
I spend more time, b/c that's when I have vacation. However, I'd rather spend more time earlier in the season like during the rut. Be nice if I could count Sundays as well.
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Post by treehugger on Dec 5, 2006 19:14:28 GMT -5
I usually spend more time goose hunting but if things don't pick up on the farm I hunt I guess I'll be deer hunting in some of my urban spots
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Post by cduke69 on Dec 5, 2006 20:22:14 GMT -5
I spend more time in the woods after the shotgun season, I think it's the second best time of the year other then pre-rut because the deer go back to a hard feeding pattern and it's easier to pattern them. I also think that's when you have a good chance of seeing the big boy's. The pressure is off, the woods calm down and all there thinking about is bulking up for the harsh winter. I just had a baby about three months ago and have been spending a lot of time with her and the wife, last year I think I spent about 40 days hunting so far this year only about 25. So I've got some catching up to do. So far though I've gotten a 8 and 9 pointer and several doe.
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Post by THE DEER HUNTER on Dec 5, 2006 21:06:30 GMT -5
That is an interesting point. Deer do have to bulk up for winter after the rut. Eating & eating is the only way for them to do this. Could lead to easier patterning as you mentioned.
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Post by Bartman on Dec 5, 2006 21:42:27 GMT -5
I'm not so sure about late season. I hunt it alot, but hunter sitings and buck kills go way down. One reason is there are less hunters in the field, but another reason is the deer have become nocturnal or stay in the thick stuff from all the pressure. If it gets real cold you may be able to pattern them on a food source, but most of the activity is after dark. I think, it is by far the toughest time to kill a mature buck.
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Post by THE DEER HUNTER on Dec 5, 2006 22:15:35 GMT -5
I think the major obstacle with hunting after shotgun season is the nocturnal lifestyle that the deer, at least in my hunting areas, seem to take. In a less pressured environment, the deer would be more active during legal hunting hours.
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Post by cduke69 on Dec 5, 2006 22:28:30 GMT -5
I agree it is a tough time, I Guess by patterning I mean they seem to go back into a pattern of using the same bedding area's (Thick stuff no doubt) in there home range, if they've survived the gun season. Nocturnal no doubt!! I tend to hunt between there historical bedding area's on our property and the food source (My bait piles). four of the six buck's I've harvested have been shot around December 5th through early January. Without question this is the time to fill the freezer and finish your managment of your herd.
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Post by Hardcorehunter on Dec 5, 2006 22:28:31 GMT -5
I hunt about the same as I do during the rest of the year. Which is all that I can. I too have a three month old and a two year old so I schedule my hunts. Usually one afternoon a week and sat mornings. Took my two best deer in dec. The 5th 2002 and 23rd 2004. So until I take a nice buck I'll freeze my butt off until the last day of the season.
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Post by THE DEER HUNTER on Dec 5, 2006 22:34:01 GMT -5
Good idea hunting between the food and the beds. That gives you at least some opportunity to get them at the edge of light.
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Post by WranglerBowman on Dec 7, 2006 14:10:31 GMT -5
Since I go to college in Frostburg I don't get much time to hunt until I come home. It ain't nothin for me to be out in the woods Christmas morning, before everyone wakes up. I like hunting the late season, because it's colder, less people are hunting, and you get to see what has survived, and if you don't kill that you know it's gonna be bigger next year.
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Post by THE DEER HUNTER on Dec 7, 2006 14:21:03 GMT -5
I went there too. Graduated in '02. I've actually never been out on Christmas morning, but thinking about trying it this year. Gotta go to my Mom's house & she lives on 20 acres, so I may slip in the woods in the morning. There are plenty places to hunt up in Frostburg if you can find the time. There is a 55,000 acre state forest & many other areas that you could go.
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Post by brettgerhart on Dec 7, 2006 15:26:13 GMT -5
I grew up in Meyersdale PA. 30 minutes from Frostburg! Parents still live there! There are tons of great places to hunt up there! I love that neck of the woods!
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Post by reed on Dec 7, 2006 15:50:07 GMT -5
If you don't hunt much before shotgun, and don't hunt much after shotgun, does that mean I hunt about the same? That is what I replied!
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Post by THE DEER HUNTER on Dec 8, 2006 10:14:30 GMT -5
Glad to see all of the votes. From the looks of things, it's a split so far & depends on the hunter's situation.
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