BY CY WEICHERT - Whitetail Slam
BY CY WEICHERT - Whitetail Slam
BY CY WEICHERT - Whitetail Slam
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A<br />
deer manager from New York once explained gun<br />
season to me this way: “Ever wonder where all the<br />
deer go after the guns start going off on opening<br />
day? They are hiding ... right in everyone’s freezers!” That<br />
quote caught my attention then, and it reminds me each<br />
season that for late-season success I need to plan better to<br />
make my days afield more successful.<br />
Statistics on the percentage of bucks killed on opening<br />
day and opening week are staggeringly high in my<br />
home state of New York. We shoot approximately 75<br />
percent of all the bucks on the land each season, and<br />
nearly 70 percent of those will be killed by the end of the<br />
first week of gun season. Couple that with the increasing<br />
reclusiveness of those remaining bucks, and it often<br />
seems like there are no bucks left going into the second<br />
week of gun season.<br />
Every hunter knows bucks seem to disappear late<br />
in the season. Whether they are shuddering in fear in<br />
thickets or indeed are in your neighbors’ freezers is<br />
irrelevant. The net result when you get past the rut and<br />
into late season is the same — your chance of success is<br />
greatly diminished the later it gets.<br />
Many hunters spend numerous days in the stand<br />
during the late season, often with limited success despite<br />
their efforts, specialty food plots and other strategies.<br />
It’s a tough game, especially in northern states where<br />
late November and early December cold can temper<br />
even the heartiest desire to hunt.<br />
Where<br />
Do They<br />
Go? <strong>BY</strong> <strong>CY</strong> <strong>WEICHERT</strong><br />
www.deeranddeerhunting.com ADVERTISEMENT<br />
December 2012 | 65
Prime time for my favorite practice<br />
of mouth-calling bucks into bow range<br />
is the pre-rut. In New York and many<br />
other northern states, that means the<br />
end of October through about Nov.<br />
7. After the rut hits its second week<br />
— when bucks are chasing hard and<br />
breeding does — calling becomes less<br />
effective. Then, after gun season starts<br />
in late November, I might as well take a<br />
throat lozenge and stay in bed.<br />
For decades, I wasted time hanging<br />
to the hope of that remnant buck stepping<br />
out in daylight in the late season.<br />
Last season, I devised a plan to get<br />
myself back in the game in a better way.<br />
I stopped trying to strategize how to<br />
find bucks that didn’t exist, and refocused<br />
on a foolproof plan for success:<br />
Get out of the Northeast and travel to<br />
states that have late ruts and season<br />
structures that ensure more bucks on<br />
the land after the seasons are diminished<br />
up North.<br />
I can hunt the pre-rut in New York<br />
in early November, and then pack my<br />
truck and drive to visit my brother-inlaw<br />
in Georgia. There, I hunt the rut<br />
after Thanksgiving. Or, I can hunt sparingly<br />
through the late season and save<br />
my time and money for a Christmas<br />
present of a reasonably-priced guided<br />
hunt in Alabama in January. That far<br />
south, I can still get peak rut thrills and<br />
enjoy one of the greatest deer populations<br />
in the country, with plenty of<br />
bucks on the land and harvest opportunities.<br />
Few hunters realize or ever consider<br />
the differences between whitetails from<br />
region to region, but the eight recognized<br />
whitetail sub-groups in North<br />
America showcase variances in rut<br />
times that allow you to plan to hunt the<br />
peak rut in your area, and one or more<br />
extra peak ruts in another area before<br />
or after the rut in your home state.<br />
This year, I used the HuntSwap<br />
concept of <strong>Whitetail</strong><strong>Slam</strong>.com to<br />
discuss trading a hunt with a fellow<br />
<strong>Slam</strong>mer from Alabama. If the stars<br />
align, I’ll be hunting in the Yellowhammer<br />
State in mid-January while my<br />
buddies are shoveling snow back home.<br />
Savvy buck hunters know there is<br />
a whitetail rut somewhere in North<br />
America every month from August to<br />
February. This allows traveling hunters<br />
unique opportunities to witness deer<br />
behavior and hunt during the best part<br />
of the season, for a much longer period<br />
than they would find in just their own<br />
back yards.<br />
Getting into these areas is the only<br />
foolproof method of being able to<br />
increase your odds on late season<br />
bucks.<br />
Here are some notes on Rut Timing<br />
for great late season hunts with high<br />
numbers of deer and tremendous hunting<br />
heritage and traditions:<br />
South-Central Plains <strong>Whitetail</strong>s<br />
Texas Late Rut: The Texas Parks and<br />
Wildlife Department has published<br />
peak breeding dates online for the<br />
state’s eight ecological zones. Breeding<br />
peaks range from as early as Nov. 7 to as<br />
late as Dec. 24 for Central Plains deer.<br />
The latest breeding peak was in South<br />
Texas. Definitely check the site when<br />
making plans for a Texas trip.<br />
Southeastern <strong>Whitetail</strong>s Mid- to<br />
Late Rut: Average breeding dates begin<br />
the second and third weeks of November.<br />
West Virginia begins as early as<br />
Nov. 8 and Georgia as late as Dec. 15,<br />
with heavy activity around Thanksgiving.<br />
In Alabama and Mississippi,<br />
breeding varies depending on specific<br />
geographic regions. Depending on the<br />
area, breeding peaks anywhere from<br />
late November through mid-January.<br />
Northern hunters can hunt the full<br />
season back home, and then enjoy a<br />
second rut and extended season in the<br />
South.<br />
Desert <strong>Whitetail</strong>s (Coues) Southwest<br />
Late Rut: Arizona and Mexico<br />
offer the most hunting opportunities<br />
where you can hunt public land without<br />
a guide. Arizona Coues deer hunts<br />
are “draw” hunts and Mexico’s private<br />
ranches require a guide. In New Mexico,<br />
resident and non-resident hunters can<br />
purchase tags online from New Mexico<br />
Fish and Game. Breeding occurs from<br />
December to February with the rut<br />
peak in January. They are much the<br />
same as other whitetails across North<br />
America with bucks becoming more<br />
vulnerable to hunters from the increase<br />
in daylight rut activity.<br />
Seminole <strong>Whitetail</strong>s Florida Variable<br />
Rut: Florida is a fascinating study<br />
of how deer have evolved to maximize<br />
survival. In states north of Florida, rut<br />
behavior of males is highly synchronized.<br />
In Florida and other tropical<br />
regions, breeding is not as synchronized<br />
and occurs in all months. Breeding<br />
dates for Seminole deer peak in<br />
August and September. This variability<br />
indicates the reproductive patterns of<br />
Florida’s deer have evolved to unique<br />
environmental pressures. For instance,<br />
peak periods of fawning in the Everglades<br />
in south Florida have been found<br />
to occur during the January-March dry<br />
season. Fawns from northern states are<br />
typically born during June, a period of<br />
heavy rainfall and seasonal flooding in<br />
south Florida.<br />
Gulf Coast <strong>Whitetail</strong>s Coastal Variable<br />
Rut: Perhaps the most striking<br />
differences among coastal deer are the<br />
variations in rut timing — which ultimately<br />
result in amazing opportunity<br />
for hunters to capitalize on peak ruts<br />
while only traveling short distances.<br />
Hunters can pursue bucks in southern<br />
parts of coastal Florida and catch the<br />
peak rut in August or September, then<br />
in other parts of the state through October<br />
or November, and in the Panhandle<br />
in February. Or, they can take a short<br />
ride to Alabama or Mississippi and<br />
catch the January Rut.<br />
<strong>Slam</strong>mers can hunt this area in<br />
steps. The Osceola subspecies in the<br />
Florida panhandle breeds in February<br />
and March with a peak of Feb. 21. The<br />
Osceola subspecies in coastal Alabama<br />
breeds from late December through<br />
February with a peak between Jan.<br />
18 and 23. In coastal Mississippi the<br />
coastal subspecies breeds from Jan. 16<br />
to Feb. 6 with a peak date of Jan. 24.<br />
The peak of coastal breeding in Louisiana<br />
is Dec. 14 to 29.<br />
IT’S NOT ALL<br />
ABOUT INCHES<br />
<strong>Whitetail</strong> <strong>Slam</strong> allows bucks of<br />
all sizes to qualify as part of your<br />
<strong>Whitetail</strong> <strong>Slam</strong>. We also aim to<br />
educate people on how to manage<br />
for increased buck age structure.<br />
Most hunters dream of harvesting<br />
a whitetail buck with giant antlers<br />
— a monster buck. Yet today, deer<br />
hunting goals are changing. Quality<br />
deer management has led more<br />
hunters to realize that hunting is<br />
not really all about the rack. It’s<br />
about enjoying our resource and<br />
managing the herd for a more natural<br />
buck age structure by protecting<br />
immature bucks and balancing sex<br />
ratios.<br />
This modern understanding of<br />
deer has started a new wave of<br />
hunting and collecting mature<br />
whitetails, rather than those with<br />
the biggest racks.<br />
66 | December 2012 www.deeranddeerhunting.com
Full<br />
Swing<br />
<strong>BY</strong> TOM MIRANDA<br />
ScoutLook Weather DeerLog<br />
The Ultimate Weather + Log System<br />
I<br />
have been blessed to have a successful<br />
career doing what I love most, bowhunting<br />
and making television shows.<br />
Last year I successfully completed the harvest<br />
of all 29 North American big game animals, all<br />
with a bow and all on camera. It was a challenge<br />
for sure, taking 13 years to complete. It<br />
was filled with excitement, thrills and travels,<br />
but I remain just as passionate about my first<br />
love of hunting whitetails, whether in my home<br />
state of Ohio, or across the continent.<br />
Deer season is in full swing throughout<br />
North America and <strong>Whitetail</strong> <strong>Slam</strong> TV season<br />
is midway through its fall run. Each season,<br />
approximately 12 million hunters take to the<br />
woods in one of our most cherished and exhilarating<br />
outdoor activities. Collectively, we are<br />
the men, women and children who are the<br />
stewards of the future of the wilderness, wild<br />
game, and our heritage.<br />
<strong>Whitetail</strong> <strong>Slam</strong> TV chronicles the adventures<br />
of the average hunter across North<br />
America in pursuit of their favorite game<br />
animal. It is not about guys like me who<br />
hunt professionally, or other big name celebrity<br />
hunters. It is about fellows like Jim Sisley<br />
(shown below) from western Pennsylvania<br />
who registered four<br />
bucks for a <strong>Whitetail</strong><br />
<strong>Slam</strong> last spring and<br />
is now featured in the<br />
opening segment of<br />
every show standing<br />
proudly with his four<br />
bucks surrounding<br />
him. It is about every<br />
hunter, their passion,<br />
their skills and their<br />
accomplishments.<br />
<strong>Whitetail</strong> <strong>Slam</strong><br />
is about educating,<br />
inspiring and honoring<br />
hunters for their<br />
achievements afield.<br />
It is the only big<br />
game <strong>Slam</strong> attainable<br />
by anyone. Any<br />
legal buck from the<br />
past qualifies, and<br />
it’s simple to register<br />
on <strong>Whitetail</strong><strong>Slam</strong>.<br />
com.<br />
SCAN FOR iOS<br />
& ANDROID<br />
ScoutLook Weather<br />
DEERLOG<br />
“Hunting & Fishing Weather<br />
Like You’ve Never Seen It”<br />
www.deeranddeerhunting.com December 2012 | 67
Watch<br />
<strong>Whitetail</strong><br />
<strong>Slam</strong> TV<br />
Watch <strong>Whitetail</strong> <strong>Slam</strong> TV,<br />
by award winning producer Tom<br />
Miranda, and experience the stunning<br />
imagery and action, featuring<br />
hunters who have registered their<br />
bucks on <strong>Whitetail</strong> <strong>Slam</strong> while<br />
traveling the country in pursuit of<br />
the <strong>Whitetail</strong> <strong>Slam</strong>!<br />
This fall, <strong>Whitetail</strong> <strong>Slam</strong> is filming<br />
2013 shows, with some hunters<br />
who have registered their bucks<br />
on whitetailslam.com and won<br />
our monthly hunt giveaways being<br />
featured on the show. Thousands<br />
of hunters who have seen <strong>Whitetail</strong><br />
<strong>Slam</strong> TV have immediately<br />
gone to the website and registered<br />
their buck(s), and entered<br />
the monthly hunt giveaways<br />
with world class outfitters. Hunt<br />
winners will be screened for filming<br />
for <strong>Whitetail</strong> <strong>Slam</strong> TV! There<br />
are also weekly gear giveaways<br />
for Mathews bows, Cuddeback<br />
cameras and more. All drawings<br />
are completely free. All you<br />
have to do is register on the site<br />
and return each week or month to<br />
enter, using your email address.<br />
Tune in to <strong>Whitetail</strong> <strong>Slam</strong> TV<br />
to learn strategies for all eight<br />
subgroups of bucks, and also visit<br />
www.whitetailslam.com to register<br />
your bucks today for a chance<br />
to be featured on the show!<br />
Be a part of the ultimate deer<br />
hunting challenge! Create your<br />
personal <strong>Slam</strong> Page to showcase<br />
your favorite bucks, hunting methods<br />
or products. Post a Classified<br />
ad for a HuntSwap and trade for<br />
hunts with <strong>Slam</strong>mers from other<br />
regions.<br />
68 | December 2012 www.deeranddeerhunting.com