A lot of deer hunters find themselves somewhere between depression and despair when the month of December rolls around. The days of November brought fast and furious action in the deer woods. However, it’s as if the switch was flipped when the first week of December arrived. Trail cameras were lighting up, sending a steady stream of photos and intel on deer activity in the month of November. Now, in December, you’re lucky if the cell camera sends a single photo at the end of the day.
What happened?
Welcome to the December Lull. The first several weeks of December can be some of the most difficult days of the season. However, if you’ll stick with it, and make a few adjustments, you just might find the opportunity to punch a tag before the season wraps up.
The Disappearance of Deer
“What happened to all the deer?” I hear the question every year about this time. Hunters seem to be scratching their head, bewildered at the sudden disappearance of their deer herd. But rest easy. Your neighbors and CWD are not to blame – at least not completely. However, there is a major change in deer activity when the month of December arrives, and the rut is behind us.
With the majority of the rutting activity complete, you will not see the widespread deer activity that took place in weeks past. Bucks know better than to chase deer at this time. And with chasing activity being slim to none, overall movement as a whole is greatly diminished. Yes, there will be a few unbred does, or younger does reaching their first estrous cycle in December, creating a raucous of activity for any bucks in the area. But again, these encounters will be few and far between.
There is also a considerable chance that your target bucks, and even doe groups, have been taken by neighboring farms. We all like to think the local deer are faithful to remain on our little 100 acre chunk of woods, but more than likely, they will not. I’ve heard more stories of target bucks being killed by the neighbors this year than ever before. It’s a heartbreaker, but it happens on a regular basis. Hopefully he’s just laying low, but the reality is, shooter bucks making it through rifle season and the rut in high-pressure hunting areas is rare.
Late for Dinner
When the late-season weather finally arrives, putting deer in a feeding frenzy, your chances for consistent feeding patterns and big buck opportunities can escalate once again. At that time, deer will feed hard and heavy in food plots and ag fields. They’ll show up early and stay late. Until then, deer will likely be late for dinner, showing up at last light. They don’t seem to be in a hurry at this time, acting much like they did back in the early season feeding routine.
Make adjustments to your trail cameras, and figure out their current bed-to-feed pattern. Consider staging area stand sets, as well as stand placement further down the trail toward their bed. You have to move closer to the game to buy yourself some time on deer that have made a habit of showing up late.
Go Mobile
Now is also a great time to make a move and find deer that have been running under the radar, dodging hunters in high pressure areas. Chances are, you and other hunters have hunted many of the same locations throughout the season. Deer are quick to pick up on these patterns, making adjustments and finding greater security cover.
Climb down from your normal routine, and go mobile during the December Lull. You’ll spend as much time scouting as you do hunting, and that’s okay. This is where the saddle hunting setup is worth its weight in gold. Stay mobile, find the sign, kill your buck.
The December Lull is tough. It’s often the breaking point for many hunters. It’s the time they throw in the towel and start hunting ducks, or hang out on the couch. However, for those willing to stay in the game, actively pursuing the latest intel on the local deer herd, success can be sweet – even during the December Lull.
