Well after an uneventful 2010 WI gun season. I was itching for some cold and snow for alot less crowded muzzleloader season. Well I got my wish with a fresh blanket of 6-8 inches of snow and a dropping thermometer it had the makings of a great season.Now you don’t have to be crazy to sit for 3-4 hours at a time with temperatures in the single digits and windchills below zero but it may help. Food sources are the primary places to hunt when the cold and snow hits and this was no different.
Biologic Maximum Plot
After some close encounters with does fawns and small bucks. I began to wonder where the big boys went. In fact I’m still wondering that.Well with a doe tag burning a hole in my pocket it was time to punch that ticket.
A Couple Lookers
My 1st chance to punch that ticket would come Saturday evening as a group of 7 does and fawns snuck up on me. caught off guard I rushed a shot only to miss. Sunday evening put 2 small bucks under my stand that I chose to let walk in hopes of seeing them again in a few years.
Otter Sleds Have Many Uses
That brings us to Monday. I headed to my stand at 2 thinking I was plenty early but was proven wrong by the 2 buck fawns that were under my stand waiting.They weren’t spooked too badly as I climbed up to wait. it didn’t take long for the parade to start as the 2 buck fawns came in to eat almost before I could even sit down. It was about an hour later when they put their heads up and stared off into the woods to warn me of more deer coming. Sure enough a mature doe and another fawn were coming down the trail. I slowly raised the muzzleloader and waited for her to walk into my shooting lane then as she slowly stepped in I centered the crosshairs on her shoulder and squeezed the trigger luckily the wind was strong enough to blow the smoke away so I could see her jump 3 feet in the air and donkey kick then run off stumbling as she went out of sight. So now it’s only 320 what to do now ? ? Well I still have my buck tag so I reloaded and sat back down. The next hour and a half was incredible I was covered up with deer but no bucks ever showed up. I climbed down at dark to claim my prize after a little searching and a very weak blood trail I found her and my Dad helped me load her in the Otter sled hooked behind the 4-wheeler for the ride back to the cabin.
Late season hunts over food sources can be very deadly. The colder and snowier the better. The cold can be brutal but there are alot of great clothing products out there to keep you warm. Face masks, hand warmers, and toe warmers are all important parts of a late season hunt. Being covered up with deer helps stay warm also.