Deer season is over. So, now what? Twiddle thumbs and eat bonbons until fall? No. There are plenty of productive things we can do to prepare for next season. Here are some of those.
Post-Season Scout
Summertime scouting is great for early season preparation. But post-season scouting is necessary for understanding how deer use a property during the pre-rut, rut, and late season. Right after the season ends, you’re still able to see tracks, trails, rubs, scrapes, and sheds. These things provide valuable information. I do this for every tract of land I have access to.
My Goal: Chart all trail networks on HuntStand app/map to better understand how deer maneuver the landscape.
Scour New Public Ground
Each year, it’s my goal to scout at least one new piece of public land. It’s almost always out of state, and it’s my goal to improve my non-resident success odds by doing this. Not all of these properties are created equal. Make a plan to add new ground to your options each year by scouting new ground. Again, the hunt app on your phone is a priceless tool for scouring these new public lands and planning out a roadtrip to a neighboring state.
My Goal: Find a great piece of public land in a state that I’ve never killed a deer in.
Find Hard-to-Reach Hotspots
The harder it is for hunters to access, the more I like it, simply because I’m willing to do what it takes to reach those areas no hunter gets to. Sometimes, that might be a mile or more hike in. Other times, it might require water access via boat, canoe, or kayak. Whatever the challenge, find these underappreciated honey holes, and get it done.
My Goal: Be truly alone on a piece of public land.
Gain New Access
Another thing I like to do is ask for permission on new pieces of private land. I don’t achieve this goal every year, but I almost always try. You never know when the effort will pay off. Most hunters are scared at the idea of knocking on a door. It’s intimidating. But for those who suck it up and make the walk to the front door, opportunity abounds.
My Goal: Find a piece of private land that costs me nothing other than volunteering to help the landowner.
Last Card Pull
Now that the season is over, I pull the trail cameras that have been soaking all season long. Some cameras were checked periodically throughout the season. Others weren’t checked at all. The latter are generally in bedding areas and sanctuaries and had one purpose — acquire historical information on how, when, and why deer use these areas.
My Goal: Not forgetting cameras in the field. Accomplish this by marking cams on HuntStand.
Study Trail Cam Metadata
At the very least, I save every daylight trail camera photo I get of mature bucks. Then, after the season ends, I study all the available information surrounding the time stamp of each daylight sighting. These things include date, time, where it came from, where it went, wind direction, weather conditions, and more. These things help me understand how specific bucks use the landscape, and on what conditions they might prefer certain bedding areas, travel routes, etc.
My Goal: Pull together game plans on returning target bucks.
Treestand and Ground Blind Maintenance
It’s good practice to pull treestands and soft-sided hunting blinds during the off-season. Check them for maintenance. Make any safety repairs needed. Replace treestands that can’t be safely fixed. Always wear a safety harness and lineman’s belt while hanging or pulling treestands.
My Goal: Not forgetting stands in the field. Accomplish this by marking these on HuntStand.
Shed Hunt
I love shed hunting. It’s something that I really love to do. But it’s also part of my post-season scouting. I conduct these two activities simultaneously, so I don’t have to cover properties more than once. This allows me to see more ground before green up.
I begin the process in mid-February when antlers begin falling, and I start with the properties I care least about. I also start with open areas where I won’t pressure as many deer. Then, once March arrives, I dive into bedding areas, staging areas, and travel routes. This helps save the best areas for last, which pressures deer less during a time when they’re physically vulnerable and maximizes the number of sheds I find.
My Goal: Find as many antlers as possible. Hopefully bedding area finds will reveal where specific bucks like to bed during the late season.
Shoot Your Bow
One of the best things we can do to ensure we make ethical shots is to improve our shooting skills. We do that by following a responsible practice regimen. Doing this will make you more ethical. Regardless of how much time you put into practicing, there’s probably more that can be done. Make it a goal to practice more, and to put a more realistic practice regimen in place so you’re better prepared when deer season rolls around.
My Goal: Get better with my compound for upcoming hunts for the new year.
Join the Trad Fad
Traditional archery is more than a fad. It’s rich with heritage. But it’s incredible to see the renewed interest by bowhunters around the globe.
I’m one of the latest to join ranks. I just ordered a Satori (https://hoyt.com/recurve-bows/satori-limbs), and I can’t wait to start shooting it. My goal is to get proficient enough with it this off-season to arrow my first traditional whitetail this fall, and maybe a turkey next spring. Picking up a trad bow is one of the best possible ways to reignite the passion for archery and bowhunting.
My Goal: Get deadly with my new recurve bows for upcoming hunting seasons.
Get in Shape
One of the best things we can do to improve the next hunting season, and our lives in general, is to get in shape. The type of hunting you do will influence what areas you need to improve, but it’s important to assess your hunting life and choose a workout plan that benefits it.
For example, those who must drag or pack deer out a long distance should improve their body strength. Hunters who cover a lot of miles should improve their endurance. But in most cases, it’s best if hunters better themselves in both ways, among others.
My Goal: Get ripped, son!
With deer season behind us, now is the time to knock out the chores mentioned above to prepare for the hunting seasons that lie ahead. It’ll keep you in the game and on top of the off-season maintenance that can quickly pile up if neglected. Make it happen now, and avoid the hassle and stress of the pre-season scramble.
