Late Archery TIps and Techniques

[Butchmeathook]

Finally going to get out and Archery hunt for the 1st time!!!  I live in the Kitsap county area and I was looking through the maps in the Regulations and it looks like a few spots are still going to be open around me, so hope to find me a deer!  One question though, what is the best technique during late season hunting for deer?  Thanks for any help that you can give!!  Have a great day!!!  Butch M Hook!!

[scotsman]

Find a clear cut with 4-6 year old reprod growth. *censored*foot through the reprod With the wind in your face. I'll say that again.... with the wind in your face. Blacktails also like  to bed down  down a few feet inside dark timber adjacent to the clearcut.

Look sharp! Blacktails, if they think you haven't seen them will freeze and let you walk past.

[jimmy z]

Find a clear cut with 4-6 year old reprod growth. *censored*foot through the reprod With the wind in your face. I'll say that again.... with the wind in your face. Blacktails also like  to bed down  down a few feet inside dark timber adjacent to the clearcut.

Look sharp! Blacktails, if they think you haven't seen them will freeze and let you walk past.

And you won't see any until 5 minutes too pitch black.

[bowtechian]

If you bump a deer just wait it out they will most likely circle back around& scent control is a big must! Most times you only have to get 200yrds off the road to not see any other hunters   

Sent from my C811 4G using Tapatalk

[cryder]

If i had any worthwhile advice for a new bow hunter after 7 seasons ,it wood be two words E V E R. C A L M. This stuff is insane throw any other stupid cococktions you were swindled into buying at some missle launcher and see what im saying for yourself.Scent cover is #2 keeping your self scent free is number one !! Get to your stand without sweating if possible ,spread some ever calm around and dont bother with hanging yuor bow on a limb just dont forget a knife you will need it to0 ! And see them first and its game on !! Best of luck to you and welcome to real hunting !!   GET OUT THERE !! PERZACHLY !!

[AKBowman]

Avoid having to hunt it (late season) if possible. It's a tough deal. Especially if you want to kill a buck. Kill one during early archery or general gun and get back to work!

[Butchmeathook]

Cryder...Thanks for the tips!!!
It's really no biggie if I do not get one!!  It's just being out there...Yeah it sucks getting g wet and cold but really being out there taking it all in and enjoying the beautiful and peacefulness that is out there!!  Nothing more eerily beautiful than the fog coming in over the trees, it just gets the blood flowing!!!  But I will definitely be going early archery next year!!!  I am hooed even if I don't get one!!!  Thank you everyone for the tips!!!! Hope everyone has a great Holiday season!!!  SHOOT STRAIGHT!!!!

[davk]

Ive only been hunting for blacktails 2.5 years, so I am by no means an expert.  I spent a lot of time ambush hunting with very little traffic.  Sitting day after day not seeing anything and failing rain gear with dropping temperatures pushed me to start still hunting.  Was seeing 5-15 deer a day for the 4 days I still hunted till I shot my buck.  I guess I wouldnt just suggest still hunting as it will depend on your area.  I would never still hunt with a bow in some of my areas.  I might see deer but there would be a .0001% of ever having a shot.  I guess my suggestion would be to not get stuck in a routine that isn't working.  Dont be afraid to change up your strategy.  I always seem to get in a routine and a thought process similar to gambling.  I put in so much time in a spot I feel like the next day something has to show up during daylight, then the next day, then the next day.  And soon the season has burned away.

As far as general tips partially from my F ups this year ...
- Be alert, all the time.  I often ran into deer where I least expected to, and when my head was down bummed out on the day.
- If you can, walk slow in and out and glass.  Same thing as above.
- Glassing clear cut benches was really productive this past week for me.
- Hunt all day.  I shot my buck at 11.  He was with at least one other buck, if not 2.  2 days prior I had a buck moving at 1:30.  My trail cam pictures show the most daytime movement between ~11-3.
- Carry a call.  I seemed to be able to hold deer longer while moving in if I did a doe for fawn bleat after they knew I was there but probably didnt know what I was yet.  I used it on a few does and ended up using it on the buck I shot. Moved probably another 30 yards closer after he spotted me moving.  I wasnt being real quite after, he just didnt have a good sight of me.
- Know your area well.  2 days before I shot my buck I did what I thought at the time was a extremely stupid move.  I dropped down off a ridge through a clear cut into a horribly thick creek bottom.  Besides not being able see far or be quite, I was sweating my #$@ off, getting soaked by brush and not being able to sit where I was going to with the cold, and completely draining me of energy.  But with that said I killed my buck with the knowledge of the land I got that day.  I saw them moving through the clear cut down into some timber.  I knew that it was lhighly likely based on the terrain they were going to be popping back out into a different clear cut.  So I quietly moved a few hundred yards into position.

[huntingbaldguy]

If you bump a blacktail, 9 times out of 10 based on experience they will bolt, but stop and turn broadside and look at you.  Seen it too many times to count.  If you're still hunting, knock an arrow and when you see a deer bolt, draw and follow.  Even if you don't get a shot you're prepared to shoot.  They may stop and turn at 30 yards or 70 yards, you don't really know, but they could potentially give you a good 10 to 20 seconds to get a shot off when they do.

Disclaimer:  this takes practice in the preseason judging distances by eyeball in your shooting practice.

[Butchmeathook]

Thank you gentleman!!!  Going out this weekend and gonna hopefully get me one!!!  All of your advice will be put into use!!!  Thank you!!!  Andy