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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: macksdad on December 09, 2010, 11:17:00 AM

Title: Hunting in the snow
Post by: macksdad on December 09, 2010, 11:17:00 AM
We get spoiled hunting the early season and the temps stay above 40. Now gun season is gone ( thank god thats over) and I can get back to my stands and its low 20's and snow. I talked myself into going to my stand yesterday afternoon and man that snow is awesome you can see deer movement so much clearer in the snow. Not only tracks but actually seeing the deer in the woods before they are right on top of you. It's amazing how you dont get cold when you can actually see deer.
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: Kenneth on December 09, 2010, 11:21:00 AM
Hunting in the snow has always been my favorite no matter what weapon I'm carrying.  I love to track deer and bear in the snow.  To me following and observing the tracks is like reading a book, if you really pay attention you can learn a lot and you will become a better hunter with each outing.
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: bornagainbowhunter on December 09, 2010, 11:22:00 AM
I love it.  Killed a deer in the snow last year. First one I ever killed in the snow, but we don't get just a whole lot of snow in AR.  I had wanted to kill one in the snow so I could track it by myself (I am color blind), but the critter died just feet from where I shot it.  No tracking, but I could see the blood!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: mcgroundstalker on December 09, 2010, 11:34:00 AM
Hunting in the snow is soooooo cool. Can't wait to get back in The Catskills again for some late season archery action! And yes... It's gonna be COLD! But we do what it takes. Right? Right!

... mike ...
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: lovethehunt on December 09, 2010, 11:36:00 AM
In Michigan we get a chance to hunt in the snow most every year. I love it. The late bow season is my favorite time. The late season open Dec. 1, I have been out 4 times now and seen 2 bucks already, one a biggie! The snow has helped me learn deer behavior and what they really do.
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: hockey7 on December 09, 2010, 11:47:00 AM
I was planning on going this week-end, but my area got dumped on...4 feet of fresh snow. How do you hunt in that! How can deer survive with that amount of snow? I imagine trails would be pretty darn easy to locate!
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: Fischman on December 09, 2010, 11:47:00 AM
Send some snow our way ! Its so dry here in SW Nebraska, gonna be in the 50's today! So hard to spot and stalk mule deer when everything is as dry as tinder! Ya I agree hunting in the snow is as good as it gets, hope to get some before the end of season.
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: Huntschool on December 09, 2010, 11:54:00 AM
Southernmost IL may get some on Saturday.  Dont know if I'll go out yet.  Need to see what the temps will be.

Grew up hunting in it back east.  It was the way we hunted.  Seemed pretty cool then, as a kid.  Now I am a bit more picky...  Its an age thing.
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: LITTLEBIGMAN on December 09, 2010, 11:56:00 AM
yesterday eve's hunt.  Was a perfect night to sit  (http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5085/5245145885_a6543c028a.jpg)
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: longbowben on December 09, 2010, 12:26:00 PM
Love hunting in the snow.
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: bad arrow on December 09, 2010, 12:27:00 PM
Seems we used to get alot more snow than the past 10 yrs. I miss it. Now the ice is a little different story. Nice deer!....Phil
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: coachA on December 09, 2010, 12:36:00 PM
I have been hunting for 20 years and have yet to hunt in the snow. There is something about the climate in Alabama, it rarely gets cold before Febuary. All of the snow we do have is usually way after hunting season. Maybe one day I will be able to hunt in the snow.
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: on December 09, 2010, 03:11:00 PM
We've been getting merciless lake effect snow for a week, 4-5" a day----about 16" on the ground at this point> Can't wait for the weekend to get out there!
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: TDHunter on December 09, 2010, 04:10:00 PM
nothing better than snowy silence
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: bendbig on December 09, 2010, 04:13:00 PM
Can't wait for this weekend we are supposed to get some snow here in N.Ky.
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: greyghost on December 09, 2010, 05:02:00 PM
Love the snow. Send some of it down here.


Earl
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: Terry Lightle on December 09, 2010, 05:25:00 PM
Love the snow.Easy to spot em and easy to track em
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: ripforce56 on December 09, 2010, 05:46:00 PM
The snow is great and it is easy to spot deer movement, but lately the wind is out of the NW and very strong! we have  maybe 2inches on the ground so the temps feel much colder! Chill factor today was in single digits and there has been very little fresh sign since the high winds started over the weekend! In fact I have not seen any fresh tracks since last Saturday! Its like the deer have just vanished!
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: Burnsie on December 09, 2010, 10:59:00 PM
Well we have plenty of the white stuff here, planning to head out this weekend if I don't end up at work.
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: Friends call me Pac on December 09, 2010, 11:23:00 PM
QuoteOriginally posted by bornagainbowhunter:
I love it.  Killed a deer in the snow last year. First one I ever killed in the snow, but we don't get just a whole lot of snow in AR.  I had wanted to kill one in the snow so I could track it by myself (I am color blind), but the critter died just feet from where I shot it.  No tracking, but I could see the blood!      :thumbsup:    
You have got to be kidding about not much snow  in Arkansas?  Last year we had tons of snow here in Beebe.  It was so deep I couldn't get a good shot on this one.  I had to sit up in that tree and watch him causually feed away.     :banghead:      

 http://i214.photobucket.com/albums/cc157/pactac/snowbuck1_opt.jpg
To Big Please Re-size
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: Ken Taylor on December 09, 2010, 11:31:00 PM
This is what hunting some parts of Canada  looked like in mid November.

And it was very, very cold to sit still for about ten hours straight with lows sometimes reaching as low as -29 F (not counting wind chill).

  (http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab16/Mehikan/Deer%20hunting%202010/DSC_1444_2.jpg)

  (http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab16/Mehikan/DSC_1438_2.jpg)
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: Friends call me Pac on December 09, 2010, 11:35:00 PM
Ken that gave me the shivers just looking at the photos.  I was stationed at Fairbanks AK for 3 years but that was 23 years ago and my blood has thinned since then.
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: Doug in MN on December 09, 2010, 11:38:00 PM
I have always enjoyed hunting in the cold and the snow.

Might be a bit chilly this weekend up here 1 degree for the high. It is supposed to snow most of the day Saturday, perfect for still hunting.

Then it will be good and cold and clear Sunday morning, they will get up and move later and feed off and on all day.

Perfect hunting weather.
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: Mike Theis on December 10, 2010, 12:04:00 AM
We are forecast to get 8-10" Friday night into Saturday, then 15 to 25 MPH winds. Then into the deep freeze on Sunday. Sunday once the weather breaks should be a good day to get out, but that much snow with drifts can be a struggle to get around in. Might have to break out the snowshoes to get to my stand. A bit more than I'd like all at once.
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: 30coupe on December 10, 2010, 12:51:00 AM
We are shut out until December 20 due to shotgun season. We can't bow hunt at all until after shotgun.    :banghead:  

It'll be kind of chilly when I get back at it. I guess I should have shot a young one back in Oct./Nov. but I just couldn't do it.
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: on December 10, 2010, 01:10:00 AM
If we get a storm like we had last year at this time, I will need to burn bows and cedar arrows just to survive.  I for one would rather it all melt and leave us alone.  The last two years have been too much.
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: ti-guy on December 10, 2010, 06:35:00 AM
You do see deer better and all the critters in the forest leave their tracks,it's amazing to notice all the movement in the woods when you would think of dead calm place.
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: wollelybugger on December 10, 2010, 07:34:00 AM
We got over a foot of snow on the ground where I'm at. You get pretty tired fast walking in that much. You got to remember that you see them better but they see you better to. A few deer will leave an amazing amout of tracks in a few days in a feeding and bedding area.
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: longbowman on December 10, 2010, 10:30:00 AM
I'll be going out tomorrow to fight with the gun hunters but we have 50+ inches on the ground so the snowshoes will get a good workout!
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: joe ashton on December 10, 2010, 10:45:00 AM
Colo's bow season is in sept so we don't hunt in the snow much.  I do love a good blood trail in snow, when I get one...
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: DV of WI on December 10, 2010, 05:18:00 PM
I might just have to sit in on Saturday. 6-10 in. snow 30-50 MPH winds NW temps <0 windshield
-40ish. Yep going to be a wuss and stay in and wait until Sunday.  -15 on Sunday after the storm. Will need the snow shoes, they don't plow the access roads to the WMA's. Keeps most people out, which is good.
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: guspup on December 12, 2010, 06:51:00 PM
Today was the best.... snow on the ground for visibilty, rain to quiet everthing, and fog to make you less visible,.........
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: w8n4rut on December 12, 2010, 07:05:00 PM
We had a big storm come through central Wisconsin yesterday and today. Anywhere from 10" to 18". Now the bitter cold is on the way!
Here's my view out of the blind tonight. Beautiful out but the deer wouldn't cooperate!
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c226/w8n4rut/DSCN0634-1.jpg?t=1292196586
The best part is walking back to the house to a hot dinner and the woodstove! 16 degrees right now....makes you appreciate the comforts of home:^)
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c226/w8n4rut/DSCN0646.jpg?t=1292196586
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: w8n4rut on December 12, 2010, 07:27:00 PM
Thought I had those last to pics pasted right. Ill try this again. Blind in the snow...
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c226/w8n4rut/DSCN0634-1.jpg)
Home sweet home...
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c226/w8n4rut/DSCN0646.jpg)
Title: Re: Hunting in the snow
Post by: hightop_hunter on December 12, 2010, 07:28:00 PM
9 months out of the year we have snow its just some thing you get used to also in my area it helps keep the deer active.