When this is your excuse for not hitting the woods, “It’s too hot or it’s too cold”, you’re beginning to sound like Goldilocks. Keep in mind, she did find a porridge that was just right, but she was limited to one serving. Are you a hunter that waits for the weather conditions to be just right for you? If so, you’re limiting yourself, which hey, if I was a neighboring hunter, you’d be my favorite! You may be leaving the big one for me! A change is necessary if you want success.
Game Seasons Vary
Game seasons vary from state to state, sometimes even zone to zone in the same state. South Carolina has one of the longest White Tail seasons. In zones three, five, and six, it begins on August fifteenth and ending January First. The only weapon restrictions are calibers, you can burn powder all season, shoot with air using the Umarex Hammer fifty caliber air rifle, or fling the string on your TenPoint Vengent S440 Crossbow (as far as we’re concerned here, is the best option, right?).
August in the South is like a sauna, if you’ve never been in a sauna, I’ll wait for you while you achieve the experience…You weren’t in there very long, it’s okay I understand and that’s all that matters right?
Hunting In the South
Back to hunting in the South. It’s not only like a sauna, add a few, well, I take that back, swarms of mini vampires to the mix and you’re if not equipped with the proper repellent, like the Bug-A-Salt Shred-ER, (maybe that’s not appropriate for mosquitos, but it was fun thought), you’re not only wiping the fountain of sweat off your nose, you’re swatting mosquitoes without trying to knock yourself out. It takes real fortification to stick it out for that portion of deer season.
Then you’ll have what would be pleasing to Goldilocks, midseason, which, for the most part, the temperatures are perfect and most of the blood sucking vampires have found somewhere else to hang out.
That portion goes by, well, too fast. Before you know it, the last portion of the season comes with freezing temperatures. From most hunters’ perspective it’s too cold and uncomfortable. The most important question is what do the deer think?
Put the Deer First
If your true desire is to be successful, your opinion and feelings really shouldn’t matter. Put the deer first. I know it’s hard to consider another but you can do it, especially for selfish motives like the great harvest of your target game animal.
Studies show the deer move more when it’s cold. Does it mean they like it? I don’t know, you have to ask them. It may mean that they’re trying to stay warm and moving helps. I’m not a deer expert, just a deer hunter.
What type of weapon do you use for hunting? Are you a bowhunter? (I hope so, this is an archery blog), regardless of what weapon you use, gunpowder isn’t gonna keep you warm. Neither is that feather at the end of your arrow. Dress appropriately for each season.
In August, that doesn’t mean you show up to your stand in a towel, really it’s your choice but it may mean you go home itching. Proper protection from biting critters like snakes and mosquitos would be wise, I might suggest the Allen Vanish Camo Balaclava Face Mask, but don’t let the Bow Bully push you around, you do what you want.
I don’t need to say much about midseason, you still need protection against snakes and some mosquitoes, but lightweight clothing is perfect and so comfortable, right? Yes, but remember, that’s not what you’re chasing, you’re chasing success!
Moving Toward Success
Late season with freezing temperatures much of the time, it’s time to layer and bundle. Be sure to have proper covering for your feet, your head, and your hands (well duh, everything else too). Why those specifically? They are ones that allow heat to escape the body, keep those covered, and you’ll keep more heat in. So now, when you’re sitting in your stand with your TenPoint Vengent S440 Crossbow, you can begin to enjoy the deer’s favorite time to move as you move toward success!
TBB,
I’ve studied whitetails for over 5 decades, the last two living in a rural area where close encounters with deer are a daily occurrence.
To deer, weather is what it is. They don’t have the opportunity to shelter indoors when it’s “uncomfortable” for them.
Deer are well equipped to survive and thrive in all conditions and while extreme weather will cause them to seek out sheltered areas they generally just accept it and go about their business.
High winds seems to be only thing that really makes them agitated and anxious. Understandably so as the wind takes away all their defenses – sounds are masked, scenting is disrupted and vision is overwhelmed with all the movement.
As humans we’re obsessed with our comfort and have long since lost our connection to the natural world that animals live in.
At a young age I was fortunate to have been taught about hunting by a native Indian. He explained that to be a successful hunter you have to blend into and be part of the environment that your quarry lives in. Mice are the “most eaten” prey and are understandably cautious, you know that you have succeeded in blending in when you start seeing them around you.
You have to understand and think like your prey to know how setup shooting opportunities. I see my hunting grounds the way a deer would – bedding areas; seasonal feeding spots; walking trails; escape routes and hiding spots; AND where to find does during the rut 😉
I speak “deer”, talking to them and understanding what they are “saying” (verbally and, more importantly, with body language) has played a crucial part of every hunt.
But ultimately, to hunt successfully, you need to be a predator. All else (except safety of course) – appointments, deadlines, and even comfort takes a distant second seat to the hunt.
I hunted on the way home after work. At my permission, I’d get suited up and then lie down on the ground until I could make the mental transformation from high-tech office worker to predator. On days that I couldn’t “go primitive” (as my friends called it), I’d just pack up and go home.
To me, hunting is not a technical or equipment thing, it’s an opportunity to join with nature as the predator that we really are. That’s probably why I preferred hunting with homemade bows and arrows.
Done rambling 😉
Cheers!
Hank
Hi there Hank!
I appreciate your “rambling”, you might call it that, I call it a bank of info. You bring up some really great points. If anyone tells you any different, tell them the Bow Bully’s opinion is the only one that matters I especially like the point about the mice, I haven’t achieved that yet but now I have something to go after. (Do squirrels count?).
It’s amazing to me the perfect gear deer are created with and how adaptable they are. Humans on the other hand, I can’t say the same for them. We do have the perfect gear as well, for all sorts of situations, but when you don’t use it, like the old saying goes, you’ll lose it.
I totally agree, knowing the animal is crucial and a predator mindset again just as crucial. I might try your tactics and lye on the ground to get the better prep myself for the prey I’m hunting.
Thanks again Hank for another fond interaction!
Keep the info flowing my friend!
-The Bow Bully