Early or Late Season?

[USMC_Bowhunter]

So I just moved up from Texas and was wondering which season is usually best (early or late) for whitetail, I am leaning toward late because my thoughts are heat and hopefully less hunters. Anyhow another question if you hunt early and stalk how do you keep your scent down, I know especially with whitetail scent is a big deal.

[vandeman17]

I prefer the late season but that is just me. It really depends on the spot you are hunting and the weather that year. For me, you can't beat a nice cold morning with a fresh skiff of fluffy snow. 

[Gringo31]

I suggest trying out both... 

[Fishhunt223]

So I just moved up from Texas and was wondering which season is usually best (early or late) for whitetail, I am leaning toward late because my thoughts are heat and hopefully less hunters. Anyhow another question if you hunt early and stalk how do you keep your scent down, I know especially with whitetail scent is a big deal.

Either season can produce good deer. Early season is nice because they usually have not been chased by the modern guys as much. Late season rocks cuz it is usually in the rut. 

As for scent control, the only way is to hunt the wind IMO.

[Oneshot1Kill]

Last year I hunted late season in the rut and it was so cold where I live my fingers would barely release my string! But this year i'm trying for a buck in velvet and so far it's been kinda easy. Scout out a field for a couple days than go sit on the edge of the field(I don't hunt too big of fields) where the deer are mostly at. I had a shooter buck at 10 yards the day before yesterday who had no idea I was there. Till I stood to take a shot which made too much noise and he ran like mad. But I had no camo, just wearing shorts and a black t-shirt, I had sprayed some sent killer on at 4pm but at 6 30pm I'm sure my sweat was pretty powerful. Personally, i'll sweat some rather than try dealing with winter clothes.

[GoPlayOutside]

Welcome to Washington!  Now get over the Whitetail thing!

[Did I Miss?]

I usually get in the stand a couple times in the early season cuz I am feelin the itch.  But in the places I hunt, it seems that mature bucks dont move much during the daylight hours until the late season.

[UptheCreek]

My vote is the late season as well.  You can't beat hunting the rut.  You can beat hunting in extremely cold weather though and go the early season..

[buckfvr]

Ill take late season with some snow.......

[starr]

I am fond of late season, no birds or chipmunks makin noise, and you definately know when an animal is comming cause you hear the crunch on the snow. It has an absolutely peaceful serenity to it.

That said i seem to never find the right combination of clothing before I hit the stand, so by the time i climb my tree im usually already freezing or sweating like Custor during his last stand (which results in me opening or removing layers, and freezing).

I am born bread in Eastern Montana, I have seen some cold times in the last 30 yrs, it is just my preferance not to anymore, I try to hunt early season and fill my tag first, looking for an ok leagal buck, but the later in the year it gets the lower my standards go, late season in the right GMU I will fill it with a doe if it means I dont have to trudge through thigh high snow in the dark, tripping over branches that i knew "were around there" but are so burried under snow i didnt see them. Just so I can sit in a tree and listen to the absolute silence (other than my teeth chattering). HOPING to see a trophy walk within 50yds just so i dont have to come back and do it all again the next day.  Not for me, I will fill my tag with a nice buck in the next few days, or the first legal animal i come across when november comes.