“food plot”

Hunt long enough and you’ll encounter the need to move a deer stand during the season. Here are some tips for the best ways to do so.

To be successful in late-season muzzleloader seasons, it’s best to focus on feed available this time of year, the whitetails’ need to rest, and the fact that as much as 10 percent of the doe population will come into estrus in December.

A bowhunt with any bow is still a hunt, same as it was many years ago. An inability to pull back a vertical bow will teach you that.

There may be fewer bucks moving at this time, but don’t forget there also are fewer hunters in the woods. Look for buck patterns to re-emerge around food sources first.

You don’t need a high fence—you can keep deer on your hunting tract through a variety of measures. Consider managing the number of hunters and their locations and days hunting, setting aside sanctuary or planting preferred foods.

Hunting properties vary in size and habitat but on every one of them you can create a plan to optimize the tract with shelter, food and water. Thinking about these essentials now pays later when deer perceive their reliance on the cornerstones of life.

Contributor Mike Roux reveals some shed-hunting tips he picked up in the field.

Late-season success in Plains states like Iowa hinges on learning to hunt dwindling food sources, extreme weather and odd deer behavior.

Knowing all you can about the habitat the local deer herd calls home is critical to understanding their patterns, knowing where to place stands and how to plan and adjust for the coming hunting seasons.