Well the muzzleloader deer and bear season is upon us and for those who hunt public land with decent pressure things are about to change. No “honey hole” or “special spot” will be immune. Some areas will be spared and others will get hammered.
Before I go any further this isn’t a thread to bash those who participate in it. Nothing but respect for those who partake and I totally get why some enjoy it. Actually looking forward to see how the bear season plays out myself.
With that being said it is another added challenge to archery hunters who rely on low impact hunting and trying not to educate deer. I am actually pretty concerned what’s going to happen on the mountain I hunt when the dust settles. There is definitely potential to have the deer holed up just like rifle season. Actually thinking about not heading up there until it’s over because if there are a lot of guys I may lose my enthusiasm to hunt it. Kind of a out of site out of mind approach.
Anyhow we discuss all sorts of tactics when it comes to archery hunting but I don’t often see much discussion on how the overlapping seasons alter strategy.
Are you concerned what kind of impact the new bear season will have in your hunting area ?
What happens to your area when the muzzleloader deer season starts ? Do you make any adjustments ?
We talk about different phases of the rut and weather when it comes to deer movement but in my mind there is no greater factor than the overlapping seasons if you hunt moderately pressured public land. That’s when a huge separation between hunting lightly pressured public or private land and more moderately to high pressure public land occurs .
In regards to my tactics I am going to have to take it to another level in regards to scouting. Going to go out Sunday and plan on covering at least 6 miles looking for fresh sign and trying to find areas that I feel won’t be that attractive to bear hunters. I can’t sit back and hope that my “honey holes” will be left alone and not driven out or walked through during that week.
So what are some of your thoughts ? Am I the only one who has to adapt to the overlapping seasons and feel its a major thing to take into consideration ? How do you overcome the added challenge on public land ?
Thanks
Before I go any further this isn’t a thread to bash those who participate in it. Nothing but respect for those who partake and I totally get why some enjoy it. Actually looking forward to see how the bear season plays out myself.
With that being said it is another added challenge to archery hunters who rely on low impact hunting and trying not to educate deer. I am actually pretty concerned what’s going to happen on the mountain I hunt when the dust settles. There is definitely potential to have the deer holed up just like rifle season. Actually thinking about not heading up there until it’s over because if there are a lot of guys I may lose my enthusiasm to hunt it. Kind of a out of site out of mind approach.
Anyhow we discuss all sorts of tactics when it comes to archery hunting but I don’t often see much discussion on how the overlapping seasons alter strategy.
Are you concerned what kind of impact the new bear season will have in your hunting area ?
What happens to your area when the muzzleloader deer season starts ? Do you make any adjustments ?
We talk about different phases of the rut and weather when it comes to deer movement but in my mind there is no greater factor than the overlapping seasons if you hunt moderately pressured public land. That’s when a huge separation between hunting lightly pressured public or private land and more moderately to high pressure public land occurs .
In regards to my tactics I am going to have to take it to another level in regards to scouting. Going to go out Sunday and plan on covering at least 6 miles looking for fresh sign and trying to find areas that I feel won’t be that attractive to bear hunters. I can’t sit back and hope that my “honey holes” will be left alone and not driven out or walked through during that week.
So what are some of your thoughts ? Am I the only one who has to adapt to the overlapping seasons and feel its a major thing to take into consideration ? How do you overcome the added challenge on public land ?
Thanks