I killed the biggest buck of my life following everything this guy teaches. 18 points with two broke from fighting. The buck should score 185 plus. Thanks for giving us free knowledge.
I will come help you get your room finished Jeff just for the chance to meet with you and gain some wisdom. I'm a painting contractor in northern Wisconsin. Slim chance I know, but I'm putting it out there to you anyway. Thanks for your wise and humble spirit in which you teach and share. It's a real blessing!
I drive from Ohio through WV into PA everyday for work and WV deer are like rabbits they just don't have the farmland like Ohio and PA does to support large deer.
That crusty snow suddenly softening up with the midday sun has given me some of the best late season hunts. The deer just have no other option but to move in daylight.
I experienced some 2nd rut activity here in southeast Pennsylvania yesterday evening. Saw a spike chasing a doe and behind them came a young 9 pt, which was a decent deer for our property, and I was happy to harvest him. Jeff, just wanted to say thanks for all the videos, advice, and information. You have kept me excited about deer hunting all year long, I couldn't wait to get out this year, can't wait to get back out, and I can't wait to make some more improvements to the property I hunt. Thanks again, you (your content) have (has) made me a better whitetail hunter.
I live in South eastern Ohio. Our gun season started Monday. I saw a buck breeding a doe Sunday November 30. I was heading to work and he was in a field right at first light and there was another buck watching the action. We saw 2 other bucks that morning in fresh cut corn fields eating and they both had does with them and it was well past daylight. It was a short day for us so we headed back home down the same road around 11a.m and we saw 5 or 6 does and 2 other bucks on their feet but they were in the thicker browsing around the field edges. I really wish I could have been in the woods that morning. The day before gun season has always been a good day for me to see bucks moving during the day.
I just want to commend for answering some of comments on your channel. All to often content creators don't answer ( small or large) questions or comments. Keep the great content coming Jeff👍
I was watching some deer while still hunting yesterday. Amazing what they can find to browse on in areas where you think there is nothing to eat. I love hunting in the late season when nobody else is out there and the deer get back to their normal routines
December is a time for us to get a good inventory of the bucks that might just make it another year. Cross our fingers rifle season has ended and the bucks we wanted to protect have all showed up on camera last couple days. Keep up the great work Jeff. These videos have helped us protect some nice deer. But i dont think my neighbors like you
Jeff I went out on Monday after watching your video drop of the other video and during a blizzard coming through with gusts of 30mph in northern WV I went over and hunted over food source with 6 inches of snow.. I was froze to my treestand,gun bolt was frozen,scope caps were froze as well,12 mins left of legal shooting light, and exactly 1 month of just trying to have an encounter of a giant mature deer for my area and finally during the storm and he showed up and I hammered him at 10 yards.. They are guessing 140in and 5 1/2 year old and that's a mega giant in my eyes. Thank you again and again for what you do. Because it helped me make this happen! And not give up!
Bucks here in Mississippi our just now starting to make scraps and young bucks starting to chases some, we had a great acorn crop this year, week ago I was out start lots of acorns on ground, but some nice bucks are starting to get killed, love the videos I hunt Mississippi and Ohio and have learned a lot watching your vids thanks for hard work
I'm looking forward to the 5th it's a good weather day with the right wind to get back on the big buck that got by me in November 8:05ish in the am I think I have him figured out he has to cross the highway to get to me but he only does it when the wind is right hes watching the road hes a smart one I just have to move up 25 to 30yards closer so I can get a shot with a crossbow I hope i can connect this time I'm still kicking myself damn squirrels always distracting me lol thanks for all the info I've seen a lot more deer because of your teachings just up to me to pull the trigger
Glad you make these videos, sir. Been paying attention to your videos and put it all together using weather and wind and more that you say in the videos and this morning I seen every almost every buck i had on camera in an hour. Thanks for sharing your whitetail knowledge sir.
Also, I did get a mountain buck a few days ago. I set up on fresh tracks and saw one before dark, called him in and got it done. Thanks for the past advice.
Unless u live in Alabama. Rut starts mid to late January to the first of February. Yall get to hunt pre rut and post rut. We hunt 60% prerut and end the season during late rut
Jeff, I’m in South Carolina and hunt 60 acres with pasture on 3 sides and another hunter on the 4th. I enjoy your videos and have implemented what I can. Entry and egress are limited but I’m doing much much better with your tips. Your videos have helped me see many more deer and actually got a target buck this year. Thanks for all your help and you can keep the snow.😀
At 20y/o, this is my first year deer hunting and I just shot the first deer of my life last weekend in Texas!! Big doe at 10-15yds, dressed out around 110lbs. Got it done via archery on public land, hunting a cold rainy morning from a pop-up ground blind.
Woke up at 5 pumped, storm passed last night, perfect weather this AM, got out before any light, sunrise is at 7, and as soon as i enter the treeline its just **CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH** Snow froze over all of the dead leaves on the ground lol. No way i was gonna get anywhere close to a deer with that noise. Nature messing with my plans lol. BTW thanks again for posting these videos! Nice to have these, i get back inside from the woods, warm up, watch your vids then go back out lol
December has always been the best time for me in woods. In East Tennessee our November peak rut is all over the place. Maybe one decent week of chasing but 2-3 weeks of bucks locking down makes it tough. December for us brings the 2nd rut which is different from November. Twice as many opportunities. Bucks are not locked down as much as in November. Biggest thing for us in December is like you said. Food source and weather. 10-15 degree below average with 10 mph wind you can forget about anything moving. Love the videos Jeff. I'm actually going to start my own habitat parcel next season. Will be using quite a bit of your tips and experience. Thanks again.
Thanks to huntcast and a year of watching your videos I’ve finally having success on our land! Next year we add screening and radishes. Couldn’t be more excited! Seems like this year has us scraped clean with the deer moved on. I’m hoping their food source becomes apparent.
Jeff....great info. The deer are still hitting the greens, and have not switched over to the standing corn and beans as yet. Our bow season is extended this year through Jan. No shooter bucks on cameras, but we did pass a nice buck with great potential a few times and took a doe with the bow earlier this week. Best of luck to all, Bob
Hopeful for the second rut here in Mineral County WV. The rut this year was compact and was fast and furious for 10 days from November 10-20. Muzzleloader comes in December 14 which should be right smack dab in the middle of the second rut. Now, if we could just get some cold shots and a little snow, I'd be in heaven :) Good luck this December Jeff!
Great video Jeff. And a big thanks for what you do. Put in my 1st food plots this year following your tips. Had 3 great encounters with one of my target bucks during bow season and was fortunate enough to kill my 2nd target this past Monday - a 5.5yo 8pt that dressed 210lbs! All these encounters centered around my plots. Good stuff!
So awesome Josh and so happy for you!! Exciting isn't it? Hard work rewarded for sure. I hear folks complaining about deer season that didn't do anything to prepare. Imlive experiences like yours because it proves that hard work in the right direction will be rewarded. CONGRATS!!
Jeff...muzzleloader opens Friday here in Michigan, still holding a buck tag and a doe tag.looking to punch one. excited for 2nd rut..wish we had a snow base...se..off work till sunday.hunting hard this next 4 days. Going to hunt my lease in the evenings coming off of bedding and food source. Going to visit a piece of state land for muzzle loader in the mornings, Typically every year a couple days.damn that nw wind!
All of my big deer have been taken in December. My area sees hunting pressure. I let everyone tag out on small bucks, then it’s my time to play. I am a local food source, last year I shot a 160 on December 15th as I was changing the oil on my tractor. Year before I shot about same on December 5th. I was going to check my trail cam and looked at my feeder doe started filing in, there he was behind them. I firmly believe in a second rut. The deer go nocturnal here for the most part in November. Bow season isn’t much better either, does and coat rack bucks during the day. December is underrated!!
hoping i can nail my first buck ever watching your videos. this is mike i left a comment on another video. this december will be first winter hunt with crossbow. i hope my first deer is a mature buck seems like theres alot of doe around so im in no hurry plus no tags, was late getting licence. been doin alot of studying on whitetail and hooked. thank you for all the videos. ill defenitly send the pictures of my first deer
Then in the thirties and mid-twenties down here South Carolina the last few days 17 mile an hour winds I was up a tree for 5 hours I did not see if thing I'm going to hunt that midday warm section you're talking about
Can't wait until after Christmas into January. That's PA's flintlock season. There's something about it. Shooting a doe is difficult and that pressure we put on ourselves to get on a mature buck is gone. It's just fun to be out there in what feels like a bonus season.
I too love December I shout my biggest buck of my life first season with my brand new muzzleloader I’m hooked on December hunting. This profile picture is him definitely saving this video in my favorites thanks for this video and thanks for all you do to help us strangers out. Now I just need to learn what there food sources look like in December.
Im hunting my Wisconsin 10 acre creek bottom. Late cruising bucks have to come through my creek bottom to reach anywhere else in the area. Pinch points are the best for the second rut because bucks are trying to cover big distances right now.
Right on the money Jeff.Saw a 2 year old chasing a doe this morning.47 yards.Just couldnt drop the hammer on him.Saw a 3 year old 2 days ago on private.He was with 2 fawns.Told the owner and his sister shot him yesterday morning .I see a lot of activity around the 10th.Not giving up yet??
John here in ILLINOIS. Nice video with good knowledge on the season of deer hunting. Mostly I like peak rut because of o many bucks looking for does for me Nov 8 to 14 is super. I have hunted by bow late looking for the top buck in area.
Jeff..idk what clothes you wear but im curious . I cant sit in a stand for more than 2 hrs sometimes when its 25-30 degrees. Lol..do you have any advice on how to keep warmer in my stand. I appologize if you've covered this in prior videos..Just curious id like to actually see what your wearing for a Minnesota winter all day hunt..dont get me wrong I understand the importance of layers and good quality gear. Just curious on what will keep me warmer longer..thank you..god bless I got my 8 point in rifle here on the first Sunday hunt in PA in 200 years..love the videos very inspiring...thank you..
Thanks Jeff looking forward to December bow hunting. The early November hunt didn’t go as planned and I imagine a lot of hunters say that but it was especially true for me. I lost both of my parents due to Covid pneumonia, dad on the 4th and mom on the 11th. Never thought there was anything more important that hunting late October early November but I was wrong! Was fortunate to take a nice buck with the gun and I’m always emotional after I take something but I just couldn’t stop crying this time. Wasn’t even able to watch your channel for awhile and you mentioned that you had Covid. Please take care of yourself it’s nothing to mess around with.
I hunt central Virginia both public land and urban archery, so far as the rut is concerned in my neck of the woods peak 1st rut is between November 10-18. You will start to see seeking, some breeding and pre rut movement before then. Trickle rut going into December. First 10-12 days of December the bucks are recharging, back in bachelor groups before second rut kicks off around Dec 12 for all the unbred does and fawns. This especially holds true for urban archery where there is a high concentration of deer. I bet more areas will start experiencing stronger second ruts due to winters being less severe in many states as the years go. Before naysayers jump in, my buddies and I have literally pulled fetuses out of dead doe and measured them with a QDMA ruler to get the dates as close as possible.
Found your channel a half year ago. Using your information down here in South Carolina. Plan on using the corridor on a 30 acre parcel I just bought. Thanks for the info
I wish there was a way you could help out us east coast guys. Hunting suburban coastal Massachusetts is extremely difficult. Utilizing the small pockets of woods trickled between and throughout neighborhoods is difficult enough. But finding the food sources is even harder. You talk about ag fields as part of deer movement but what if the food sources are the lawns and arborvitaes of every house in these neighborhoods? I know it might be outside your area of expertise, but for us every hunting show/ youtube channel is always big rural areas and it’s difficult to apply some of the movement theories to our situation here.
Im on a large river bottom. The deer have just started to move in heavy. The truth is most years the only deer that come home to winter are spikes three's and 4s. And any nice 8s that made the gun season are our next season bucks . the muzzle loading use to be great. Michigan opened it up to shotgun too. Really pisses me off.
Thanks again for a another great video. I always forget to hunt over browse areas. Did you ever do a comparison video of your use of plot boost vs non-use in your food plots? Glad to see you are feeling better and can get after them again. Take care and shoot straight.
Hi Bj...no comparison video yet, but pictures fornsure...it has been awesome the difference!! I will share those at some point before planting season. And thank You! Really hope that you can enjoy December too!
I just want to say I love your videos and I enjoy your advise .The thing is I hunt in South Carolina and it’s obvious the deer are way different down here compared to the places you talk about.we don’t have people like you discussing how our deer herds our in the different months of the year and giving us EXPERT advice....Do you have anyone you can suggest that does cover South Carolina or you yourself have any advice...Once again thanks for all you do ..
Jeff, I asked you about PA mountain hunting a few years back and you replied, I appreciate it. I'm in the mountains near state college, I see fresh rubs EVERYWHERE. but I havent seen a deer, bear, or a fresh track. Where do these deer go?
I shot my first ever buck this year last wednesday of rifle season. Jeff might not have shot it but for where we are it is on the line of a really nice one.
Bucks around me in northern, WI near a large national forest seem to completely disappear after gun season even when there is not a ton of hunting pressure, no clue where they go - see tons of does but zero Bucks... it's a mystery to me.
Jeff, I have some pockets of BIG Aspens on a property I just bought in Maine. Not sure if it's better to hinge-cut cut these or is there a way to remove them and assure suckers will grow? I can burn the wood but it's not the best firewood. I'm just not sure if I cut them down and remove them whether they will regenerate for sure. Thanks
I have one tag left I’m trying to save on a nice mature buck been passing up a few 2 year olds (all I been seeing) I been seeing cruising hoping I can tag out when my vacation starts in the next 2 weeks after.. I know there’s a nice mature 10 in the area I seen late October but I haven’t seen since.. so hopefully he’s still out there
I hear Jeff often mention "Briars". I've been looking into what that might be without much success. I've lived and hunted in SE Wisconsin my entire life and have not heard others refer to briars... other than Disney's Uncle Remus. :) Maybe it's a regional thing. Are briars things such as wild raspberry and wild blackberry? Do they feed on the stems?
With temps well above average for late season in MN I haven’t seen much for movement. I hunt central MN any suggestions? Hunted food (not seeing much in person or on cam) bedding area seems to be used differently by the heard now. I’m stumped and don’t want to tromp around finding where any new sign is and kick them out. TIA good luck everyone!
Hi Levi theybare hitting our greens pretty hard now, just lightly hitting the corn. Greens are incredible...they love them right now. But the plots have to be completely unpressured - meaning if you spook the deer on the plots one time they will move to feeding after dark. There also has to be good high stem count cover near by.
Up here in Northeastern Ontario, December consists on everything you talked about but we also have an added bonus of the migrations to wintering areas where food sources are easier to access and/or temperatures are slightly milder. Depth of snow is a huge trigger that dictates when deer decide to make the journey to their yards. I believe it’s 8”. Like turning on a light switch. When they decide to go they move in huge heards . Now this can happen very early in the season or much later and sometimes even after our season closes. The area that I hunt, has not received any accumulations of snow so my efforts at the moment are based on food sources. That being said, previous seasons, snow came very early with deep accumulations to where I wasn’t able to access the migration routes. My question. What are your thoughts when snow accumulations come early. What takes precedence. Secondary rut or migrations?Should I still rattle antlers assuming the bucks are still chasing does?
Hi Shawn! Migration definitely takes precedent over 2nd rut...but they will then just do both at the same time. The earliest of obsessed deer being finished with migration was Dec 12th...the latest mid February in the UP of MI. I have also seen the same doe herd migrate 3 times beginning in early Dec with accumulating and then melting snow. They also have migration staging areas where they will stop and hold until more snow comes...or go back to their Fall homes if the snow melts. Bottom line...great time to rattle if your downwind is completely covered...in particular mid morning or mid afternoon.
Question about browse? Last year I setup 30ft from soybean field in behind some blackberry briars that frost had turned the leaves purple. The deer were within feet of me eating the those leaves. What makes them choose that over a soybean?
Hello Jim..I have a question. Is it okay to feed deer peanuts and sunflower seeds during the winter. The last two weeks of November I have been putting out feed for deer. It drew in at least 5bucks and 15to 20 does. I've been told deer need woody brouse.
Hello Jeff, I just finished two of your books. For doe bedding do you find they also bed along 10’ strips of food in addition to bigger plots? Trying to locate does.
How is deer hunting affected as you move more north/south/east/west??? I’m in Canada, watch lots of your videos but I’m not sure exactly how relative all of this information is.
I live in Indiana. I’m in school and my finals are in Dec 15th and I work that whole weekend. After that I’m free to hunt! Is it too late by then to hunt for a nice buck?
Love hunting in the snow, hopefully it will actually stay on the long enough for me to hunt it this year. By the time i was done salting and plowing the snow was already gone the next day👎
Hey Jeff, I'm hunting Public Land in Texas. I'm coming across a few patches of young pines surrounded by beautyberry thickets, I'm also running into scrapes dispersed in these pines. Would this be an all-day opportunity? I'm seeing plenty of browse as well as scrapes...
i went up for my first time hunting deer last weekend and i had my back against a small tree so i could look 360°. i was sitting down without a chair so it wasn’t the easiest to fully turn around and shoot. i look behind me and there was a massive buck 10-12 pointer, but it was behind me about 30 yards away. if i turned around it would’ve spooked the deer and the deer was behind some brush. is there any way i could’ve gotten it somehow? what should i do if there’s a buck behind me or behind a lot of bushes?
I live in gogebic county in the u.p. I've hunted for past 14 years .during archery season I'm in my tree stand and right before dark all I hear is gun shots to the north ,east , west south..I've checked the rule book and there were no gun hunts at that time.im furious that people are out here road killing and it happens every year.us ethical hunters who obey the times and rules get screwed out of of alot of good bucks taken illegally..just had to get this off my chest....
I hunt by people who only rifle hunt...they cant stand that I'm out there archery hunting...up here a good buck is a 6- 8 point...I was able to harvest an 8 point with my bow..
That’s the local Tribe road hunting.It is what it is.Mild muzzleloader season weather here in Houghton Co..Usually deer are starting to migrate.No chance of that right now.I will be hunting around fresh logging areas.2 inches of snow ..perfect !
That's a bummer to hear. I'm from Marquette county. I've been surprised by the CO presence in the woods the past few years. Seems like half the time I'm in my huge, pretty remote patch of public land, I run into one and that always makes me happy. Probably not a good strategy, but I just skip all of gun season. I can't stand the irresponsible people out that time of year. I prefer the peace and quiet, even if it means missing out on a prime opportunity.
What is high quality browse exactly. I'm just curious, I have a section on cedars mixed with hardwoods. Elderberry thickets, open hardwoods, etc. Also lots of wild berry that are gone by November. What's the best browse?
Thanks for the video Jeff! I have a question for you or anyone else who has some insight into this. I hunt in North and South Carolina. Is my area more of a trickle rut or a blocked off rut? I am still a new hunter with this being my third deer season and trying to figure out which kind it is. This year has been crazy down here especially hunting in the east toward the coast in regards to the weather. The weather keeps swinging from dressing to the 9's some mornings and others just throwing on a light jacket like a hoodie and light pants. Thanks!
So I have a question I have a 40 acre parcel in southern Minnesota along a lake so I like to duck hunt there but I also like to bow hunt will duck hunting spook the bucks off my land?
I killed the biggest buck of my life following everything this guy teaches. 18 points with two broke from fighting. The buck should score 185 plus. Thanks for giving us free knowledge.
Man I love to hear that...thank you so much for the feedback but most importantly, congrats!! So happy for you!
I will come help you get your room finished Jeff just for the chance to meet with you and gain some wisdom. I'm a painting contractor in northern Wisconsin.
Slim chance I know, but I'm putting it out there to you anyway.
Thanks for your wise and humble spirit in which you teach and share.
It's a real blessing!
I just killed my first buck yesterday it was a nice eight point I want to thank you for the advice jeff. He's going on the wall!!
Congrats 👏. Me too mine was a nice 9pt but I'd have been pleased to shoot a six.
Congrats!
congratulation!
+
I had to stop him with a "meh". Then after I shot, I went to retrieve him. When I got to him, a doe ran out infront of me. Lol
Not only did Jeff say Mississippi, he said WEST VIRGINIA! My life is complete. Love the videos man I just subscribed.
I got my southern Illinois too!
He’s been throwing in WV for several videos now. Giving the Mountain State some love!
Well hey Jon! Tomorrow's gonna be the day for me, I can feel it...
I drive from Ohio through WV into PA everyday for work and WV deer are like rabbits they just don't have the farmland like Ohio and PA does to support large deer.
That crusty snow suddenly softening up with the midday sun has given me some of the best late season hunts. The deer just have no other option but to move in daylight.
I experienced some 2nd rut activity here in southeast Pennsylvania yesterday evening. Saw a spike chasing a doe and behind them came a young 9 pt, which was a decent deer for our property, and I was happy to harvest him. Jeff, just wanted to say thanks for all the videos, advice, and information. You have kept me excited about deer hunting all year long, I couldn't wait to get out this year, can't wait to get back out, and I can't wait to make some more improvements to the property I hunt. Thanks again, you (your content) have (has) made me a better whitetail hunter.
I live in South eastern Ohio. Our gun season started Monday. I saw a buck breeding a doe Sunday November 30. I was heading to work and he was in a field right at first light and there was another buck watching the action. We saw 2 other bucks that morning in fresh cut corn fields eating and they both had does with them and it was well past daylight. It was a short day for us so we headed back home down the same road around 11a.m and we saw 5 or 6 does and 2 other bucks on their feet but they were in the thicker browsing around the field edges. I really wish I could have been in the woods that morning. The day before gun season has always been a good day for me to see bucks moving during the day.
I just want to commend for answering some of comments on your channel. All to often content creators don't answer ( small or large) questions or comments. Keep the great content coming Jeff👍
I was watching some deer while still hunting yesterday. Amazing what they can find to browse on in areas where you think there is nothing to eat. I love hunting in the late season when nobody else is out there and the deer get back to their normal routines
December is a time for us to get a good inventory of the bucks that might just make it another year. Cross our fingers rifle season has ended and the bucks we wanted to protect have all showed up on camera last couple days. Keep up the great work Jeff. These videos have helped us protect some nice deer. But i dont think my neighbors like you
Ha, I don't think my neighbors like me 😬 These bucks have made it so long at this point! Love seeing some beautiful survivors...
Jeff I went out on Monday after watching your video drop of the other video and during a blizzard coming through with gusts of 30mph in northern WV I went over and hunted over food source with 6 inches of snow..
I was froze to my treestand,gun bolt was frozen,scope caps were froze as well,12 mins left of legal shooting light, and exactly 1 month of just trying to have an encounter of a giant mature deer for my area and finally during the storm and he showed up and I hammered him at 10 yards..
They are guessing 140in and 5 1/2 year old and that's a mega giant in my eyes.
Thank you again and again for what you do.
Because it helped me make this happen!
And not give up!
So awesome to hear...what a hunt!! I love snow bucks 🙂 Congrats and great job keeping after it!!
I'd like to hear your thoughts on when and how to hunt in Western North Carolina in the mountains.
Me too!!
I make 3
When he refers to Tennessee or southern Kentucky you can include NC
He has public land hunting videos in mountains of west PA. Maybe 1 or 2 years ago. Look them up a lot of that info would help you.
Down here in TN. I enjoy hearing your knowledge and understanding of deer.
What part? I am near sweetwater. I am new to hunting,
@@drdwgmd14 Jackson county
Bucks here in Mississippi our just now starting to make scraps and young bucks starting to chases some, we had a great acorn crop this year, week ago I was out start lots of acorns on ground, but some nice bucks are starting to get killed, love the videos I hunt Mississippi and Ohio and have learned a lot watching your vids thanks for hard work
Nothing better than a cold day near a good food source,plus its usually a quiet time compared to late Oct, early Nov.Gotta love it Jeff!!
I'm looking forward to the 5th it's a good weather day with the right wind to get back on the big buck that got by me in November 8:05ish in the am I think I have him figured out he has to cross the highway to get to me but he only does it when the wind is right hes watching the road hes a smart one I just have to move up 25 to 30yards closer so I can get a shot with a crossbow I hope i can connect this time I'm still kicking myself damn squirrels always distracting me lol thanks for all the info I've seen a lot more deer because of your teachings just up to me to pull the trigger
Glad you make these videos, sir. Been paying attention to your videos and put it all together using weather and wind and more that you say in the videos and this morning I seen every almost every buck i had on camera in an hour. Thanks for sharing your whitetail knowledge sir.
Also, I did get a mountain buck a few days ago. I set up on fresh tracks and saw one before dark, called him in and got it done. Thanks for the past advice.
Unless u live in Alabama. Rut starts mid to late January to the first of February. Yall get to hunt pre rut and post rut. We hunt 60% prerut and end the season during late rut
Jeff, I’m in South Carolina and hunt 60 acres with pasture on 3 sides and another hunter on the 4th. I enjoy your videos and have implemented what I can. Entry and egress are limited but I’m doing much much better with your tips. Your videos have helped me see many more deer and actually got a target buck this year. Thanks for all your help and you can keep the snow.😀
Thanks Jeff! Can’t wait to see the Hunting Room!
At 20y/o, this is my first year deer hunting and I just shot the first deer of my life last weekend in Texas!!
Big doe at 10-15yds, dressed out around 110lbs.
Got it done via archery on public land, hunting a cold rainy morning from a pop-up ground blind.
Woke up at 5 pumped, storm passed last night, perfect weather this AM, got out before any light, sunrise is at 7, and as soon as i enter the treeline its just **CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH**
Snow froze over all of the dead leaves on the ground lol. No way i was gonna get anywhere close to a deer with that noise. Nature messing with my plans lol.
BTW thanks again for posting these videos! Nice to have these, i get back inside from the woods, warm up, watch your vids then go back out lol
December has always been the best time for me in woods. In East Tennessee our November peak rut is all over the place. Maybe one decent week of chasing but 2-3 weeks of bucks locking down makes it tough. December for us brings the 2nd rut which is different from November. Twice as many opportunities. Bucks are not locked down as much as in November. Biggest thing for us in December is like you said. Food source and weather. 10-15 degree below average with 10 mph wind you can forget about anything moving. Love the videos Jeff. I'm actually going to start my own habitat parcel next season. Will be using quite a bit of your tips and experience. Thanks again.
Thanks to huntcast and a year of watching your videos I’ve finally having success on our land! Next year we add screening and radishes. Couldn’t be more excited! Seems like this year has us scraped clean with the deer moved on. I’m hoping their food source becomes apparent.
Jeff....great info. The deer are still hitting the greens, and have not switched over to the standing corn and beans as yet. Our bow season is extended this year through Jan. No shooter bucks on cameras, but we did pass a nice buck with great potential a few times and took a doe with the bow earlier this week. Best of luck to all, Bob
Great advice again Jeff what I like about your videos so much details thanks again
Thanks a lot Ralph...really appreciate it!!
Thanks for all your videos, arrowed a 5 1/2 yr old 8 pt in NY your videos are awesome. Yes arrowed during gun season, love bow hunting.
Hopeful for the second rut here in Mineral County WV. The rut this year was compact and was fast and furious for 10 days from November 10-20. Muzzleloader comes in December 14 which should be right smack dab in the middle of the second rut. Now, if we could just get some cold shots and a little snow, I'd be in heaven :) Good luck this December Jeff!
Great video Jeff. And a big thanks for what you do. Put in my 1st food plots this year following your tips. Had 3 great encounters with one of my target bucks during bow season and was fortunate enough to kill my 2nd target this past Monday - a 5.5yo 8pt that dressed 210lbs! All these encounters centered around my plots. Good stuff!
So awesome Josh and so happy for you!! Exciting isn't it? Hard work rewarded for sure. I hear folks complaining about deer season that didn't do anything to prepare. Imlive experiences like yours because it proves that hard work in the right direction will be rewarded. CONGRATS!!
Jeff...muzzleloader opens Friday here in Michigan, still holding a buck tag and a doe tag.looking to punch one. excited for 2nd rut..wish we had a snow base...se..off work till sunday.hunting hard this next 4 days. Going to hunt my lease in the evenings coming off of bedding and food source. Going to visit a piece of state land for muzzle loader in the mornings, Typically every year a couple days.damn that nw wind!
Thanks Jeff👍 Excited to get back out into the woods! They have an extended Doe to 1/31 here in Oakland County also.
You are welcome Mike...good luck! Such and enjoyable time to be in the woods...
Hoping that everything you are teaching can help me put a public land buck on the ground in north Missouri
All of my big deer have been taken in December. My area sees hunting pressure. I let everyone tag out on small bucks, then it’s my time to play. I am a local food source, last year I shot a 160 on December 15th as I was changing the oil on my tractor. Year before I shot about same on December 5th. I was going to check my trail cam and looked at my feeder doe started filing in, there he was behind them. I firmly believe in a second rut. The deer go nocturnal here for the most part in November. Bow season isn’t much better either, does and coat rack bucks during the day. December is underrated!!
hoping i can nail my first buck ever watching your videos. this is mike i left a comment on another video. this december will be first winter hunt with crossbow. i hope my first deer is a mature buck seems like theres alot of doe around so im in no hurry plus no tags, was late getting licence. been doin alot of studying on whitetail and hooked. thank you for all the videos. ill defenitly send the pictures of my first deer
Then in the thirties and mid-twenties down here South Carolina the last few days 17 mile an hour winds I was up a tree for 5 hours I did not see if thing I'm going to hunt that midday warm section you're talking about
Can't wait until after Christmas into January. That's PA's flintlock season. There's something about it. Shooting a doe is difficult and that pressure we put on ourselves to get on a mature buck is gone. It's just fun to be out there in what feels like a bonus season.
What a beautiful time to enjoy the woods too!! I love it...good luck!
I too love December I shout my biggest buck of my life first season with my brand new muzzleloader I’m hooked on December hunting. This profile picture is him definitely saving this video in my favorites thanks for this video and thanks for all you do to help us strangers out. Now I just need to learn what there food sources look like in December.
Down here in southwest Wisconsin if you’re on a food source right now you will see bucks.
Definitely...and if you hunt mornings starting soon near bedding, you can connect with the biggest bucks in the area...searching for does and cruising
Im hunting my Wisconsin 10 acre creek bottom. Late cruising bucks have to come through my creek bottom to reach anywhere else in the area. Pinch points are the best for the second rut because bucks are trying to cover big distances right now.
Right on the money Jeff.Saw a 2 year old chasing a doe this morning.47 yards.Just couldnt drop the hammer on him.Saw a 3 year old 2 days ago on private.He was with 2 fawns.Told the owner and his sister shot him yesterday morning .I see a lot of activity around the 10th.Not giving up yet??
John here in ILLINOIS. Nice video with good knowledge on the season of deer hunting. Mostly I like peak rut because of o many bucks looking for does for me Nov 8 to 14 is super. I have hunted by bow late looking for the top buck in area.
Jeff..idk what clothes you wear but im curious . I cant sit in a stand for more than 2 hrs sometimes when its 25-30 degrees. Lol..do you have any advice on how to keep warmer in my stand. I appologize if you've covered this in prior videos..Just curious id like to actually see what your wearing for a Minnesota winter all day hunt..dont get me wrong I understand the importance of layers and good quality gear. Just curious on what will keep me warmer longer..thank you..god bless I got my 8 point in rifle here on the first Sunday hunt in PA in 200 years..love the videos very inspiring...thank you..
Here in Florida there werent much of any cold days before december started so I think the hunting is just getting good now
Second rut is real, took 40 years of bowhunting & one of your videos last season- & of course success hunting on December 21 before I learned.
Thanks Jeff looking forward to December bow hunting. The early November hunt didn’t go as planned and I imagine a lot of hunters say that but it was especially true for me. I lost both of my parents due to Covid pneumonia, dad on the 4th and mom on the 11th. Never thought there was anything more important that hunting late October early November but I was wrong! Was fortunate to take a nice buck with the gun and I’m always emotional after I take something but I just couldn’t stop crying this time. Wasn’t even able to watch your channel for awhile and you mentioned that you had Covid. Please take care of yourself it’s nothing to mess around with.
Praying for strength and comfort during these difficult times!!!
@@willietownsend3547 thanks Willie
Hey Man sorry to hear your story but just remember that your parents would want you to be out doing what you Love. So go out and enjoy Mother Nature
Great information. You think moderate rattling would work on the 2nd rut?
I hunt central Virginia both public land and urban archery, so far as the rut is concerned in my neck of the woods peak 1st rut is between November 10-18. You will start to see seeking, some breeding and pre rut movement before then. Trickle rut going into December. First 10-12 days of December the bucks are recharging, back in bachelor groups before second rut kicks off around Dec 12 for all the unbred does and fawns. This especially holds true for urban archery where there is a high concentration of deer. I bet more areas will start experiencing stronger second ruts due to winters being less severe in many states as the years go. Before naysayers jump in, my buddies and I have literally pulled fetuses out of dead doe and measured them with a QDMA ruler to get the dates as close as possible.
From the Thumb myself! Sebewaing to be exact! Awesome to hear, sir!
Just want to say I’ve learned a lot from you this year and your app is spot on less is more
I've had a slow season in Maryland. Great content to give me some ideas to get things picked up
Found your channel a half year ago. Using your information down here in South Carolina. Plan on using the corridor on a 30 acre parcel I just bought. Thanks for the info
I wish there was a way you could help out us east coast guys. Hunting suburban coastal Massachusetts is extremely difficult. Utilizing the small pockets of woods trickled between and throughout neighborhoods is difficult enough. But finding the food sources is even harder. You talk about ag fields as part of deer movement but what if the food sources are the lawns and arborvitaes of every house in these neighborhoods? I know it might be outside your area of expertise, but for us every hunting show/ youtube channel is always big rural areas and it’s difficult to apply some of the movement theories to our situation here.
Im on a large river bottom. The deer have just started to move in heavy. The truth is most years the only deer that come home to winter are spikes three's and 4s. And any nice 8s that made the gun season are our next season bucks . the muzzle loading use to be great. Michigan opened it up to shotgun too. Really pisses me off.
Thanks Jeff, as always, perfect excellent information. Thank you for sharing and God bless!
Thanks again for a another great video. I always forget to hunt over browse areas. Did you ever do a comparison video of your use of plot boost vs non-use in your food plots? Glad to see you are feeling better and can get after them again. Take care and shoot straight.
Hi Bj...no comparison video yet, but pictures fornsure...it has been awesome the difference!! I will share those at some point before planting season.
And thank You! Really hope that you can enjoy December too!
I just want to say I love your videos and I enjoy your advise .The thing is I hunt in South Carolina and it’s obvious the deer are way different down here compared to the places you talk about.we don’t have people like you discussing how our deer herds our in the different months of the year and giving us EXPERT advice....Do you have anyone you can suggest that does cover South Carolina or you yourself have any advice...Once again thanks for all you do ..
Thank you for Mentioning GEORGIA
Jeff, I asked you about PA mountain hunting a few years back and you replied, I appreciate it. I'm in the mountains near state college, I see fresh rubs EVERYWHERE. but I havent seen a deer, bear, or a fresh track. Where do these deer go?
I shot my first ever buck this year last wednesday of rifle season. Jeff might not have shot it but for where we are it is on the line of a really nice one.
What about Canada?? Specially ontario🤔
Bucks around me in northern, WI near a large national forest seem to completely disappear after gun season even when there is not a ton of hunting pressure, no clue where they go - see tons of does but zero Bucks... it's a mystery to me.
Jeff, I have some pockets of BIG Aspens on a property I just bought in Maine. Not sure if it's better to hinge-cut cut these or is there a way to remove them and assure suckers will grow? I can burn the wood but it's not the best firewood. I'm just not sure if I cut them down and remove them whether they will regenerate for sure. Thanks
Great tips. Can’t wait for the next class
Thank you very much Brian!
I have one tag left I’m trying to save on a nice mature buck been passing up a few 2 year olds (all I been seeing) I been seeing cruising hoping I can tag out when my vacation starts in the next 2 weeks after.. I know there’s a nice mature 10 in the area I seen late October but I haven’t seen since.. so hopefully he’s still out there
Love that u have videos for all of my question
I hear Jeff often mention "Briars". I've been looking into what that might be without much success. I've lived and hunted in SE Wisconsin my entire life and have not heard others refer to briars... other than Disney's Uncle Remus. :) Maybe it's a regional thing. Are briars things such as wild raspberry and wild blackberry? Do they feed on the stems?
I wish we had a December hunt in northern Ontario I know southern Ontario has but it all farm private property
I bet a beautiful time to hunt there!! I truly missed Ontario this year...hope to be up there to fish and write next year!
With temps well above average for late season in MN I haven’t seen much for movement. I hunt central MN any suggestions? Hunted food (not seeing much in person or on cam) bedding area seems to be used differently by the heard now. I’m stumped and don’t want to tromp around finding where any new sign is and kick them out. TIA good luck everyone!
Hi Levi theybare hitting our greens pretty hard now, just lightly hitting the corn. Greens are incredible...they love them right now. But the plots have to be completely unpressured - meaning if you spook the deer on the plots one time they will move to feeding after dark. There also has to be good high stem count cover near by.
Definitely getting out for late season archery.
I'm in central Missouri and I shot my two biggest bucks (both in the160's) 2nd and 3rd week of December
Thats awesome Doug...hope you have a tag left! I love this time of year 👍
Shot a small buck this morning on exactly the same food set up u talked about and high ground
Are those the Solitude or Sanctuary bibs? And how do you like them?
Can you talk about VA please it would mean a lot
Up here in Northeastern Ontario, December consists on everything you talked about but we also have an added bonus of the migrations to wintering areas where food sources are easier to access and/or temperatures are slightly milder. Depth of snow is a huge trigger that dictates when deer decide to make the journey to their yards. I believe it’s 8”. Like turning on a light switch. When they decide to go they move in huge heards . Now this can happen very early in the season or much later and sometimes even after our season closes. The area that I hunt, has not received any accumulations of snow so my efforts at the moment are based on food sources. That being said, previous seasons, snow came very early with deep accumulations to where I wasn’t able to access the migration routes. My question. What are your thoughts when snow accumulations come early. What takes precedence. Secondary rut or migrations?Should I still rattle antlers assuming the bucks are still chasing does?
Hi Shawn! Migration definitely takes precedent over 2nd rut...but they will then just do both at the same time. The earliest of obsessed deer being finished with migration was Dec 12th...the latest mid February in the UP of MI. I have also seen the same doe herd migrate 3 times beginning in early Dec with accumulating and then melting snow. They also have migration staging areas where they will stop and hold until more snow comes...or go back to their Fall homes if the snow melts.
Bottom line...great time to rattle if your downwind is completely covered...in particular mid morning or mid afternoon.
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 Wow, very good to know and interesting. Thanks for your reply. Good luck in late season.
Question about browse? Last year I setup 30ft from soybean field in behind some blackberry briars that frost had turned the leaves purple.
The deer were within feet of me eating the those leaves. What makes them choose that over a soybean?
Hello Jim..I have a question. Is it okay to feed deer peanuts and sunflower seeds during the winter. The last two weeks of November I have been putting out feed for deer. It drew in at least 5bucks and 15to 20 does. I've been told deer need woody brouse.
Hello Jeff, I just finished two of your books. For doe bedding do you find they also bed along 10’ strips of food in addition to bigger plots? Trying to locate does.
How is deer hunting affected as you move more north/south/east/west???
I’m in Canada, watch lots of your videos but I’m not sure exactly how relative all of this information is.
What is the best way to go about getting my state to start horn restrictions like Pennsylvania Ohio and others have to grow those larger bucks?
I live in Indiana. I’m in school and my finals are in Dec 15th and I work that whole weekend. After that I’m free to hunt! Is it too late by then to hunt for a nice buck?
Love hunting in the snow, hopefully it will actually stay on the long enough for me to hunt it this year. By the time i was done salting and plowing the snow was already gone the next day👎
Hey Jeff, I'm hunting Public Land in Texas. I'm coming across a few patches of young pines surrounded by beautyberry thickets, I'm also running into scrapes dispersed in these pines. Would this be an all-day opportunity? I'm seeing plenty of browse as well as scrapes...
now what are your thoughts on corn plots? i don't have enough room for a plant plot so i only can use corn, is that good. also i'm in north carolina
Would it be to big of a risk to move a ladder stand right now? Here in Southeastern Tennessee.
Great vid,thanks! Happy holidays to you and yours!🦌
i went up for my first time hunting deer last weekend and i had my back against a small tree so i could look 360°. i was sitting down without a chair so it wasn’t the easiest to fully turn around and shoot. i look behind me and there was a massive buck 10-12 pointer, but it was behind me about 30 yards away. if i turned around it would’ve spooked the deer and the deer was behind some brush. is there any way i could’ve gotten it somehow? what should i do if there’s a buck behind me or behind a lot of bushes?
I live in gogebic county in the u.p. I've hunted for past 14 years .during archery season I'm in my tree stand and right before dark all I hear is gun shots to the north ,east , west south..I've checked the rule book and there were no gun hunts at that time.im furious that people are out here road killing and it happens every year.us ethical hunters who obey the times and rules get screwed out of of alot of good bucks taken illegally..just had to get this off my chest....
I hunt by people who only rifle hunt...they cant stand that I'm out there archery hunting...up here a good buck is a 6- 8 point...I was able to harvest an 8 point with my bow..
Dang not good...very, very uncommon nowadays! Which is a good thing. I know a LOT of grouse hunters during that time of year up there. Hopefully them?
Michigan for ya
That’s the local Tribe road hunting.It is what it is.Mild muzzleloader season weather here in Houghton Co..Usually deer are starting to migrate.No chance of that right now.I will be hunting around fresh logging areas.2 inches of snow ..perfect !
That's a bummer to hear. I'm from Marquette county. I've been surprised by the CO presence in the woods the past few years. Seems like half the time I'm in my huge, pretty remote patch of public land, I run into one and that always makes me happy. Probably not a good strategy, but I just skip all of gun season. I can't stand the irresponsible people out that time of year. I prefer the peace and quiet, even if it means missing out on a prime opportunity.
What is high quality browse exactly. I'm just curious, I have a section on cedars mixed with hardwoods. Elderberry thickets, open hardwoods, etc. Also lots of wild berry that are gone by November. What's the best browse?
I really enjoy ur channel! Thank you!
Thank YOU Tommy, I really appreciate that!
What does it mean when a bunch of new rubs showed up at one of my stands
Are cut corn/bean fields good food sources this time of year?
Ring the bell for round two,EXCITEMENT!!!!!!
Thanks for the video Jeff! I have a question for you or anyone else who has some insight into this. I hunt in North and South Carolina. Is my area more of a trickle rut or a blocked off rut? I am still a new hunter with this being my third deer season and trying to figure out which kind it is. This year has been crazy down here especially hunting in the east toward the coast in regards to the weather. The weather keeps swinging from dressing to the 9's some mornings and others just throwing on a light jacket like a hoodie and light pants. Thanks!
I've been watching you videos and even read you book. How about mentioning NJ and even Maryland, eastern shore deer.
Love your videos, very informative Any Ideas where someone in ontario Canada can get switchgrass
What about middle tn I ain’t seen a rut at all
So I have a question I have a 40 acre parcel in southern Minnesota along a lake so I like to duck hunt there but I also like to bow hunt will duck hunting spook the bucks off my land?
What about Tennessee? Any advice on December
Another awesome video! Wish it would snow here in south jersey!
Wish you would mention ontario haha. Love your content.
Ha, will do that soon Josh! Thank you very much!