January Hunting Tips
Now that it’s the dead of winter, most of the deer season is over and hunters are packing up all their gear. It’s a good time to go through your hunting stuff, take note of what went wrong, what needs to be replaced, wash and store your camo, and reflect on what went right and what went wrong last season. I also check my notes to see where I saw deer as I drove through the area so I can find a new hunting spot for next year. It’s also a time to thank all the farmers and landowners who allow you to hunt on their land.
Every January I will start putting away all my hunting gear. I’ll have to take some time to check the nuts and bolts and touch up the paint on all the tree and ladder supports before I put them away.
Camo hunting clothing will be washed with baking soda and checked for rips or holes and any new camo needs will be noted on my list to buy for next season, then all camo will be hung and stored in the closet from the basement.
Looking back at my notes from last season, I saw that we passed just two different yearling males very early in the bow season. This year we didn’t have many deer coming to the Food Plots that we did. I really don’t know why. Here in southeastern Wisconsin, hunting pressure is extreme, especially during deer hunting season. I think the DNR overestimates the number of deer. I talked to many hunters from around the state and everyone I talked to said the same thing; “Not many deer around.” The farm we hunted had soybeans in the field surrounding the forest this year just like it did two years ago. We put a ladder bracket on a fence that overlooks the field and the forest. In August of 2004, I observed 23 different deer from that tree and caught a nice two-year-old buck on the second day of bow season. In 2006, I didn’t see a deer from that same stairway in August. We only saw two different males and one doe and two fawns during bow season. I did not fill out my label.
We drew Iowa deer tags this year, which saved our season. We made our first trip there on October 6th. I managed to fill out my old tag that weekend.
In the first week of November I had to travel abroad for work, but my two partners made the trip to Iowa without me. They were successful; John saw quite a few P&Y dollars but he couldn’t bring one home. AWH co-owner Randy Platz did everything right and took his first P&Y dollar. We were all happy for him. Finally all the planning and work paid off. (See the image above). I joined John and Randy for the last few days of the hunt and had a chance to fill my tag with a good male, but he was smarter than me and dodged my arrow. Randy recorded the entire scene on video so he can relive the moment over and over again. My only hope is to meet him next fall. We will request labels again in May and pray that we draw labels again.
Now that the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is over, we will thank the land owners and offer venison sausage and other goodies for their generosity in allowing us to hunt on their land. And I hope they do it again next fall.
Keep checking http://www.advanced-whitetail-hunting.com for updates on hunting permit deadlines, new gear, and new information for your upcoming food plots and mineral licks. Also, send me pictures of you or your friends’ deer and let me know how your season turned out.
enjoy winter,
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