Deer Hunting in January - What to Expect
As hunting season starts to come to an end, many hunters have all but given up by the month of January. While some have already filled their tags, others who were not so lucky will quit during this late season. They may not know how to properly hunt this time of year, or they might just have no motivation. Hunting deer in January is no easy feat, but luckily you have come to the right place
There are a few simple tricks that will significantly help you increase your success during this late season. The number one thing to remember, however, is that most deer will start to shift back into their pre-rut patterns during this later season. Because the rut is now over, the deer have shifted their focus back to replenish their bodies. This means food sources are now the center of their attention.
During January, if you can find the food sources, then you will surely find the deer. Likewise, if you can find their bedding areas, then you will have a very productive hunt during this time of year. Just like before the rut, pressured deer will not enter their food sources until after dark. They spend the rest of their time in their bedding areas. If you can set up your stand in-between active food sources and favorite bedding areas, then you will be ready to take advantage of the opportunities that will surely come your way.
Another important tip for hunting during this difficult time of year is to plan on staying in your treestand, ground blind, or deer stand all day long. While this may be challenging at times and often a little boring, staying put for the duration of the day will ensure that you don’t miss the deer when they inevitably make a mistake and pass by. Deer move very little during this time of year, so it is important to spend as much time as you possibly can out in the deer woods.
If all else fails, however, do not be afraid of ditching the treestand all together if you spot some deer that are out of range. Hunters who get a little aggressive during this time of year will often be rewarded if they take a risk. Sometimes the deer will just not cooperate during January, so if you spot them or know where they are, it can sometimes pay off to go straight to them instead of waiting it out in the stand.
January is not an easy time to kill a deer, no matter how good of a hunter you might be. If you put into practice a few simple techniques that we discussed, however, you can significantly increase your odds of filling that late-season tag. No matter what, do not give up just yet as there are plenty of opportunities to be had during the month of January!
