the late season- "Hate" or "Great"

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How optimistic are you for the upcoming late season?

I'm a late season specialist with multiple successes
12
3%
I've taken more than one good late season buck
37
9%
Only one good, mature buck in the late season
48
11%
I haven't been successful on mature bucks in the late season
323
77%
 
Total votes: 420
BuffaloBill
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Re: the late season- "Hate" or "Great"

Unread postby BuffaloBill » Sun Nov 29, 2020 7:24 am

BuffaloBill wrote:Hoping for some late season success. Our firearms season ended Sunday. Muzzleloader comes in this Saturday. Got a doe opening day of firearms with my Accura V2 but would like a buck and/or some more meat. Hoping public land will be less crowded. Just gotta tough it out in the cold. From my experience, there are a lot of hunters that hunt the two weeks of firearm season and then hang it up for the year. It was kind of a soggy gun season so I'm hoping that means there are still some big boys alive.


Looks like i'll be out during late archery and muzzleloader again this season trying to fill the freezer. Between work, school, COVID, and a baby I haven't been out much this season. Fortunately once the orange army fills their one buck tag the public spots around me should be less crowded.


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BJ99Robinson
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Re: the late season- "Hate" or "Great"

Unread postby BJ99Robinson » Sun Nov 29, 2020 11:47 am

Seems like the deer heard up in the late season. If you can find them and gain access then you're in the chips!
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tgreeno
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Re: the late season- "Hate" or "Great"

Unread postby tgreeno » Mon Nov 30, 2020 9:57 am

I have never connected on a mature buck late season, my entire life. Plenty of doe though.
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fishlips
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Re: the late season- "Hate" or "Great"

Unread postby fishlips » Tue Dec 01, 2020 2:16 am

I haven't hunted the late season much but plan to get out a bit this year. I have a few spots in mind that I suspect will be good.
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Singing Bridge
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Re: the late season- "Hate" or "Great"

Unread postby Singing Bridge » Tue Dec 01, 2020 1:22 pm

My first hunt of the 2020 season was yesterday afternoon... long overdue and it was great to be out there. I’ve definitely got some late season hunting coming up.
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headgear
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Re: the late season- "Hate" or "Great"

Unread postby headgear » Wed Dec 02, 2020 8:16 am

Fore sure seeing more big deer late season, snow on the ground just makes the bucks that much easier to find. I think years ago I would be a little burned out by late season so now I have learned to pace myself a little more. Hunting less hard early season and saving it for the snow way up north.
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Re: the late season- "Hate" or "Great"

Unread postby Usi05 » Thu Dec 03, 2020 2:09 pm

going crazy waiting for my weekend to hit the bedding areas out in the cat tails!!
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Abishai
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Re: the late season- "Hate" or "Great"

Unread postby Abishai » Thu Dec 03, 2020 2:30 pm

I'm a pre-rut and rut guy. Last week of October til gun season opens the 2nd week of November. I haven't killed many deer outside of that 3 week window. Late season is usually pretty uninspiring and unforgiving.
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Re: the late season- "Hate" or "Great"

Unread postby Maverick1 » Thu Dec 03, 2020 3:50 pm

Singing Bridge wrote:My first hunt of the 2020 season was yesterday afternoon... long overdue and it was great to be out there. I’ve definitely got some late season hunting coming up.


Why no early season hunts?
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No sponsors. No camera crew. No team. Just me and my bow. And that’s the way I prefer it.
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Singing Bridge
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Re: the late season- "Hate" or "Great"

Unread postby Singing Bridge » Fri Dec 04, 2020 10:12 am

Maverick1 wrote:
Singing Bridge wrote:My first hunt of the 2020 season was yesterday afternoon... long overdue and it was great to be out there. I’ve definitely got some late season hunting coming up.


Why no early season hunts?


Surgery. Started PT a few days ago, hunting with my right arm only for now.
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Re: the late season- "Hate" or "Great"

Unread postby Maverick1 » Fri Dec 04, 2020 12:47 pm

Singing Bridge wrote:
Maverick1 wrote:
Singing Bridge wrote:My first hunt of the 2020 season was yesterday afternoon... long overdue and it was great to be out there. I’ve definitely got some late season hunting coming up.


Why no early season hunts?


Surgery. Started PT a few days ago, hunting with my right arm only for now.


I’m sorry to hear that. Heal quickly, good luck with the PT!
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No sponsors. No camera crew. No team. Just me and my bow. And that’s the way I prefer it.
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Singing Bridge
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Re: the late season- "Hate" or "Great"

Unread postby Singing Bridge » Fri Dec 04, 2020 1:10 pm

Thank you sir, it’s been a long haul.
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Re: the late season- "Hate" or "Great"

Unread postby Usi05 » Sat Dec 05, 2020 12:42 pm

Bailed from work at 1 and crawled into marsh. Was an absolute doe parade! 10 total moving around last hour of light. Trying another one tomorrow.
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Matt Gill
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Re: the late season- "Hate" or "Great"

Unread postby Matt Gill » Mon Dec 07, 2020 3:08 pm

Haven’t read all the comments but in my opinion super briefly,

Crop country/ag country- great time to hunt
Hill country/big woods- extremely tough
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Lockdown
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Re: the late season- "Hate" or "Great"

Unread postby Lockdown » Tue Dec 08, 2020 6:45 am

Great thread 8-)

I LOVE late season. I’m not going to count my December 2017 buck as a big late season buck because he was killed because of a hot doe. I helped Tyler kill a late season bow buck years ago but that was a 2 yr old.

Late season is one of my favorite times to hunt. In my opinion, the deer are never as predictable as they are when there is deep snow and cold temps. If you find the right situation, some food sources can have deer on it through out the day. I’ve had more than one late season hunt where I head in early and there’s already does on the food.

IMO they’re more confined with deep snow and they just aren’t likely to relocate to a new property a couple miles away. They yard up to conserve energy. The more deer there are, the more beaten the trails are and the easier they can get around.

I have had many big buck sightings during the late season, but close encounters are hard to come by. The big ones are too smart to hit the food up during daylight. Sound issues like crunchy snow are often a problem and for some reason when there’s snow on the ground I seem to get picked out of trees easier too.

Ground hunting can be a little tricky depending on the situation. I’ve killed some late season does and one little buck back in the day, literally last minute of the season. Killed one doe in SD in January hiding in cattails with my tan carhartt jacket and bibs on. That was an awesome hunt... passed a 2 yr old 8 right before her.

So far our forecast for 2020 isn’t looking good. Cold with no snow is NOT GOOD... no way to cut tracks. And they won’t yard up much without snow. Hopefully things change soon.


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