Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: stigalla on November 14, 2020, 11:20:39 PM

Title: whites in deep snow..
Post by: stigalla on November 14, 2020, 11:20:39 PM: so here is the short version of the question.. ive been hunting for 15 years and have always beat the weather but was caught off guard this year with the early snow fall.. anyone have tips tactics or advice for hunting whitetail in 3ft of snow? seems like there is still sign but there is no way they are still feeding/bedding in the area. any help would be sweet
Title: Re: whites in deep snow..
Post by: greenhead_killer on November 14, 2020, 11:47:33 PM: Move lower
Title: Re: whites in deep snow..
Post by: stigalla on November 15, 2020, 12:09:49 AM: Quote from: greenhead_killer on November 14, 2020, 11:47:33 PM
Move lower
agreed but i have only ever hunted my place, so im looking for tactics that would allow someone to hunt in deep snow.
Title: Re: whites in deep snow..
Post by: metlhead on November 15, 2020, 04:22:55 AM: Thats a lot of snow for any deer. Treestand. Might be just animals passing through.
Title: Re: whites in deep snow..
Post by: meatwhack on November 15, 2020, 05:26:01 AM: You’ll have to find a trail they’re using and sit on it. With that much snow they aren’t staying there, they’re passing through.
Title: Re: whites in deep snow..
Post by: huntnnw on November 15, 2020, 05:43:03 AM: I wouldn’t waste my time if it’s 3’ .. 2’ I’d still hunt it if there was lots of activity. I’d be looking for less snow if it were me
Title: Re: whites in deep snow..
Post by: boneaddict on November 15, 2020, 05:56:32 AM: Sit on a trail as mentioned. Generally they will be timbered up. Many of the whitetails don’t migrate out of their haunts in the NE corner. They’ll stay where there’s ten feet of snow. Goodluck.
Title: Re: whites in deep snow..
Post by: Buckhunter24 on November 15, 2020, 06:41:39 AM: What elevation are you at?
Title: Re: whites in deep snow..
Post by: bearpaw on November 15, 2020, 06:48:31 AM: A lot of deer will drop to lower elevation when snow starts getting deep, that means the deer will be moving! Glass open areas and ridges, and watch for busy trails. They will also be up longer eating in this type of weather and the bucks are already rutting now so they will be moving all day long for that reason, this is a whitetail hunters dream weather!
Title: Re: whites in deep snow..
Post by: Doublelunger on November 15, 2020, 07:01:14 AM: Are you already sitting on bait?
Title: Re: whites in deep snow..
Post by: stigalla on November 15, 2020, 09:33:29 AM: sitting about 2500 ft in 117 gmu. going through about a 110 lbs of feed a week between the two tree stands. the trails are beat to heck. cams are showing night activity. im sure i just need to log more hours but im striking out with calling and rattles which is usually my go to right about now
Title: Re: whites in deep snow..
Post by: vandeman17 on November 15, 2020, 10:10:46 AM: Quote from: stigalla on November 15, 2020, 09:33:29 AM
sitting about 2500 ft in 117 gmu. going through about a 110 lbs of feed a week between the two tree stands. the trails are beat to heck. cams are showing night activity. im sure i just need to log more hours but im striking out with calling and rattles which is usually my go to right about now

You said it right there, log more hours. If they are eating that much weekly and with daytime activity increasing daily, its just a matter of time.
Title: Re: whites in deep snow..
Post by: lewy on November 15, 2020, 10:40:05 AM: We aren’t seeing much movement the last few days up here higher in the 121, been super slow
Title: Re: whites in deep snow..
Post by: meatwhack on November 15, 2020, 11:12:37 AM: I can’t believe you’ve got 3’ of snow at 2,500’ that’s crazy.
Title: Re: whites in deep snow..
Post by: hunter399 on November 15, 2020, 11:16:45 AM: Quote from: stigalla on November 15, 2020, 09:33:29 AM
sitting about 2500 ft in 117 gmu. going through about a 110 lbs of feed a week between the two tree stands. the trails are beat to heck. cams are showing night activity. im sure i just need to log more hours but im striking out with calling and rattles which is usually my go to right about now
Cut the food off to them.
Why would they come in the day when they just ate 10 pounds of food during the nite.
Slow the food down
Feed in the mourning that way food is sitting out all day long.
Title: Re: whites in deep snow..
Post by: Buckhunter24 on November 15, 2020, 11:18:11 AM: On a hard north face? Try moving to the closest west or south aspect. How far is your stand from your bait? You may need to let it rest for a day or 2 anyways if you're in close. Ive noticed doe activity drops at my stands if I sit too many consecutive days..
Title: Re: whites in deep snow..
Post by: hunter399 on November 15, 2020, 11:34:21 AM: I'm just saying from experience
Had a bait site ,week before season started ,I pounded the grain,apples,deer block,corn I mean just let them have it.
Season started
I didn't see a deer in the day for three days
Only at nite on cam.
Then I slowed down the food but still had a little bit and they would come in the daytime.
Title: Re: whites in deep snow..
Post by: Dan-o on November 15, 2020, 11:37:11 AM: Quote from: hunter399 on November 15, 2020, 11:34:21 AM
I'm just saying from experience
Had a bait site ,week before season started ,I pounded the grain,apples,deer block,corn I mean just let them have it.
Season started
I didn't see a deer in the day for three days
Only at nite on cam.
Then I slowed down the food but still had a little bit and they where coming in the day.

Seems like a really sold piece of advice.
Title: Re: whites in deep snow..
Post by: buckfvr on November 15, 2020, 11:38:45 AM: Quote from: stigalla on November 15, 2020, 09:33:29 AM
sitting about 2500 ft in 117 gmu. going through about a 110 lbs of feed a week between the two tree stands. the trails are beat to heck. cams are showing night activity. im sure i just need to log more hours but im striking out with calling and rattles which is usually my go to right about now

How far are you sitting from your bait, what kind of bait, is it spread out to slow them down or is it piled up so it goes too fast ? Should be watching for bucks down wind of bait as they hold up waiting for something to move or make a bad noise. Spread it out so they cant hoover it up so fast and get away from it if rifle hunting. Low impact in and out and not on the same trails the deer use, actually find spots where you enter from a different direction than the deer. Hunt the wind, no noise is thee best noise.
Title: Re: whites in deep snow..
Post by: hunter399 on November 15, 2020, 11:41:30 AM: Quote from: Dan-o on November 15, 2020, 11:37:11 AM
Quote from: hunter399 on November 15, 2020, 11:34:21 AM
I'm just saying from experience
Had a bait site ,week before season started ,I pounded the grain,apples,deer block,corn I mean just let them have it.
Season started
I didn't see a deer in the day for three days
Only at nite on cam.
Then I slowed down the food but still had a little bit and they where coming in the day.

Seems like a really sold piece of advice.
It was a bait I had set up all summer long for my son's first deer ,thought I was doing the right thing and all.Had a few nice bucks on cams,We sat there all opening weekend and didn't even see a Doe .I just over Fed them a week before the season.
Title: Re: whites in deep snow..
Post by: stigalla on November 15, 2020, 12:04:16 PM: one stand and bait sits about 40 yards apart its a very timbered area with a small clearing where i dump 55lbs of sweet cob along with apples, carrots, pears pretty much whatever is on sale when im getting supplies for my trip.. the other stand is about 100 yards out from the food site but its pretty much the only tree big enough to hang from in that meadow. both typically produce yearly and this year ive had a bunch of great beast on cams. bucks does two bull moose a cow a cougar and at least 5 different bear. i like the idea of letting the food dry up a bit. maybe next cam check i wont resupply and see what happens
Title: Re: whites in deep snow..
Post by: Miles on November 15, 2020, 12:06:22 PM: Find where they winter and you’ll find deer if there’s 3+ Feet of snow. South facing slopes with buck brush would be a good place to start watching.
Title: Re: whites in deep snow..
Post by: stigalla on November 15, 2020, 12:14:11 PM: also im pretty much on the north north-west face of a 3500ft hill