Adapt tactics to end of deer season

The deer season is coming to an end.

Where did autumn go? Where did deer season go? The deer hunting season which opened with high hopes and promise a few weeks is coming to an end. For most people it will bring disappointment since as usual the majority of hunters will not get a deer. Normally about 1 hunter out of 10 or 12 get a deer, either buck or doe. It may well statistically be that way when the actual kill is tallied, but it isn’t much consolation to those who did not get a deer or even see very many.

Both Northern and Southern Zone regular seasons close this Sunday, Dec. 8. There will be a one week post season hunt with muzzleloader or archery in the southern zone.

For hunters who have not gotten their deer yet, the last weekend can be tough but we need to adapt our tactics. Forget about the areas where you sat and saw deer during the end of bow season or the first few days of gun season. Hunting pressure, the end of the rut, and weather changes have created a new ballgame.

Deer will be preoccupied with feeding heavily to replenish weight lost during the rut and to bulk up for the coming winter. Most crops are harvested but those that are still standing or other natural browse will be targeted by deer in the coming week. As the weather gets colder the deer will feed heavily and may even appear in the middle of the day in some secluded or unpressured areas.

However since deer in many areas have been pressured by heavy hunting activity they will be spooky and are more likely to feed at night or during very early morning and just before sundown. If you can hunt these periods of low light you are more likely to see deer.

Secluded areas or places that have not received much pressure are your best bets but that doesn’t guarantee that you will see deer. You may need to still hunt or use small drives to ‘bump” deer to your hunting party on watch.

Hunt the most remote, inaccessible, or thickest places you can find. Even if you have “sanctuaries” that you have left undisturbed to keep the deer feeling safe, now is the time to hunt them. After all the deer will have almost a year to adjust and forget the intrusion into their safe haven.

You might also take the time to review your approach or tactics. Maybe there is a reason for lack of success in addi

tion to scarcity of deer or bad luck. Were you careful about your approach or scent? Did you overhunt or pressure an area too much? Maybe it is time to try a new technique or area for the final few days of the season? We will discuss several of these factors in the coming weeks.

Good luck to all. Even though there may be less deer around and they are harder to hunt, there are still some nice bucks out there. Plus, statistics show that a surprising percentage of trophy bucks are taken on the last weekend.

Books make for great Christmas gifts

They help pass the long winter evenings and are great to re-read at any time. Even if you are a snowbird, these books make reading on the beach more enjoyable. Here are some by local authors that I recommend.

Bob Elinskas has written many books on wild Adirondack adventures, with the focus on deer hunters or sportsmen or hunters of by-gone days. His books are well illustrated with photographs and features some wellknown hunters and trapper’s tales and biographies. These are not ‘how to book’, but make very interesting reading for anyone who loves tales of Adirondack hunting, trapping, and sportsmen’s camps.

Prolific local author William J. (Jay) O’Hern has produced a variety of books about the Adirondacks and the people who live there. His special interest is a focus on the people who lived there, in-depth looks at Adirondack logging and the lives of loggers in the early 20th century. Books by Jay O’Hern are available at www.adkwilds.com, at local bookstores, and at North Country Books, Inc. 1-800-342-7409.

Todd Mead is both a skilled Adirondack deer hunter and a skilled writer. His books such as “Back Country Bucks” and “A Lifetime of Big Woods Hunting Memories” are excellent combinations of adventure, hunting tips, and observations on the experience of challenging the Adirondacks in hunting season. His newest one is “Public Land Bucks.” Check www.toddmead. com.

Spider Rybaak is a local writer and expert angler who has authored many guidebooks that give anglers the information on where and how to fish the many waters of New York State. “Fishing the Salmon River,” “Fishing the Oneida Lake”, “Fishing the Great Lakes”, and “Fishing the Adirondacks” are all available at local book outlets or burfordbooks.com.

Mike Kelly is the former outdoor editor for the Syracuse Post Standard and award-winning author. His books give specific streams, seasonal tactics and tips, best methods to use, and specific hotspots. His books, including “Trout Streams of Western New York”, “Fishing the Finger Lakes” and “Trout Streams of Central New York” are available at local bookstores, tackle shops, or from the publisher at burfordbooks.com.

Spencer Morrissey is an Adirondack guide and hiker who often takes the seldom-used route by bushwhacking. His new book “Bushwhacking Your Way To Great Landscape Photography” focuses on teaching the reader to explore hidden aspects of the landscape by getting off the beaten path. The book helps the reader learn to identify unexpected images and bold compositions. It is available on Amazon or by contacting the publisher at www.AmherstMedia.com.

“Adirondack Deer Trackers” by DiNitto, Grabowski, Massett, and Williams is a collection of tales of adventures by individuals who take the ultimate challenge in deer hunting. The book is definitely for anyone who loves deer hunting, can relate to the big woods, and enjoys the experience. See the website www.adktrackers.com for more information.

Mark Bowie’s photography books “Adirondacks, a Celebration of the Seasons” and “Adirondack Waters” (www.northcountrybooks.com) have stunning photography and give inspiration and advice on seeing familiar scenes in a different light.

Short Casts

Remember Landowner: At any time of year, but especially now with the end of hunting season coming and the onset of the holiday season it is appropriate to remember the landowners who let you use their property with some gift. Some small gift will show your appreciation for them letting you hunt or fish on their property. It also helps mark you as a considerate and responsible sportsman and may go a long way towards getting permission to hunt or fish there again next year.

Christmas Bird Count: Join the Christmas Bird Count. You can add to a century of citizen science by signing up for a count near you. Audubon’s 118th Christmas Bird Count will be conducted this coming season with all counts held between the dates of Dec. 14, 2019 through Jan. 5, 2020. See www.audobon.org/join-christmasbird-count for more information.

Bird Photos Contest: Cornell University Lab of Ornithology is sponsoring a contest for photos of birds taken at the feeder from now until March 12. There are different categories every two weeks and entry is free. See wwww. feederwatch.org for more information.

Successful Hunters: Among the local hunters who got nice bucks this season was Gary Bush (a.k.a. “the deer magnet”) who took a nice 10 pointer early in the season on the same day that he saw two other nice bucks. Pete O’Brien also got a big 10 pointer with a wide rack in the Chittenango area. Scott Terrier got a buck recently. I haven’t seen the pictures yet but I’m sure it was a big one since Scott has been one of the leaders of Quality Deer Management in this area!