Deer season may be over, but if you’re like me, the itch to be in the woods hasn’t gone away. Instead of sitting around waiting for next fall, though, this time of year is perfect for knocking out some key tasks that will help improve your odds of success next season. Whether you own land, lease property, or hunt public ground, there’s plenty you can do right now to stay active and set yourself up for success.
For Better Habitat
If you have access to land, improving habitat now can pay dividends when deer season rolls around. Here are four important tasks you can work on this time of year:
1. Take a Soil Sample
Before you plant food plots this spring or fall, taking soil samples is one of the best things you can do. It’s a simple and inexpensive process, and the results will give you a clear understanding of your soil’s pH and nutrient levels, so you can apply the right amounts of lime and fertilizer.
Too often, hunters broadcast food plot seed without properly amending the soil, leading to poor results and wasted money. By taking a soil sample now and following the recommendations you receive, you’ll help ensure your food plots thrive when the growing season begins.
2. Cut or Kill Some Trees
While food plots are great, to maximize your property’s potential for producing big, healthy deer, you have to manage your woodlands as well. Far too many deer hunters have properties with mature, closed-canopy forests and no understory, providing no cover and very little food for deer outside of when oaks may be dropping acorns.
And the best way to improve those types of areas is with a chainsaw and/or herbicide to cut or kill enough trees to allow sunlight to reach the forest floor and stimulate understory growth. You will not only provide deer with excellent year-round forage, but you’ll also provide important cover that will make the deer more likely to use those areas during daylight hours.
Which trees you ultimately take out and how many should be based on your long-term goals for the property and how much of your focus is on timber revenue versus deer habitat. If you’re counting on the property to generate future timber revenue, then you should consult with a professional forester prior to your forest stand improvement (FSI) efforts. Be sure to find one who knows both timber management AND wildlife habitat and be clear with them what your goals are for both.
If you really want to get the most from your FSI work, though, you will want to incorporate prescribed burning into your management plans. Which brings us to our next two tasks!
3. Create Some Firebreaks
If you plan to use prescribed fire as a management tool, now is the perfect time to prepare. Firebreaks are essential for controlling burns and ensuring the fire doesn’t spread beyond your intended burn units. A firebreak can be a natural barrier like a creek or river, existing roads, or as simple as a tilled strip of ground.
Winter is the best time to create these barriers because vegetation is dormant, making it easier to clear paths and establish control lines. Even if you don’t plan to burn this year, having firebreaks in place will make it easier when the time comes, and if you’re using disked lanes, you can always plant them in a cereal grain or clover to serve double duty as a food plot.
4. Prescribed Fire
Once you have firebreaks in place, prescribed fire can be one of the most effective habitat management tools available. No other habitat management technique can impact as many acres as quickly and often as cheaply as a prescribed fire. A well-planned burn can help rejuvenate native grasses, clear out invasive species or unwanted woody encroachment, and create nutrient-rich regrowth that benefits deer and other wildlife.
Many states offer assistance programs for prescribed burning, and it’s always best to consult professionals if you’re new to the practice. When combined with timber thinning, a well-timed burn can drastically improve the quality of deer habitat on your property, providing better food sources and security cover in the coming seasons.
For Better Hunting
Even if you don’t have land to manage, there’s plenty you can do now to help tip the odds in your favor this fall.
1. Hunting Equipment Maintenance
Don’t be that guy or gal who takes their bow into the local archery shop two weeks before opening day to get it tuned or have a string replaced. Not only do you risk the shop not being able to get your bow ready in time, but you’re also limiting your opportunity to practice with your equipment enough to ensure you are completely ready when a shot opportunity presents itself.
Now is a great time to go through all your hunting equipment to get it cleaned up, maintained, and ready for next season. First, with this past season still fresh on your mind, you are more likely to remember any issues you had with your equipment so you don’t forget to address them. Also, archery shops or gunsmiths are not typically as busy this time of year, so you can probably get the work done quickly, but at the same time, you won’t have to worry about the person doing the work rushing the job because they’re covered up.
Start by thoroughly cleaning and oiling your firearms, checking for any rust or wear that might affect performance. If you hunt with a bow, inspect your strings, cables, and limbs for damage and replace anything that looks worn. Tree stands and saddles should also be checked—tighten bolts, replace straps, and ensure everything is safe before storing it for the offseason. Don’t wait until next fall to find out something is broken when it’s too late to fix it.
By getting it done now, you’ll have all season to work on the next task: shooting practice.
2. Practice Shooting
By far, the deer seasons when I’ve had the most success are the ones I spent the most time preparing for, and that’s especially true when it comes to shooting practice. Whether you hunt with a rifle, muzzleloader, or bow, consistent practice now will make you a more lethal hunter next season. Not only does it make you a better shot, but just as important is the confidence you’ll carry into the season.
That doesn’t mean you have to spend countless hours shooting your bow each week. The quality of your practice is probably more important than the quantity. Try incorporating real-life hunting scenarios into your routine—shooting from an elevated position, kneeling, or even in low-light conditions. If you shoot a bow, focus on perfecting your form and consider practicing with broadheads to ensure accuracy.
Shooting leagues and 3D archery courses can also be great ways to stay sharp while making practice fun and more of a social activity.
3. Scout a New Area
The other side of that preseason preparation is scouting to get to know your hunting areas intimately and how deer use them — and winter is a great time to start. With the leaves off the trees and deer sign still fresh, now is the best time to locate new hunting spots. Look for rub lines, old scrapes, bedding areas, and travel routes. Take notes on your findings, drop pins on your onX Hunt app, and consider hanging trail-cameras to monitor activity leading into spring. Scouting now can put you ahead of the game when opening day rolls around, giving you a much clearer picture of where to set up when the time comes.
4. Shed Hunt
And while you’re out there getting to know your hunting areas better, you can always keep an eye out for any antlers that may have been recently dropped. Shed hunting is a great way to get into the woods and learn more about the bucks in your area. Not only is it exciting to find antlers, but sheds can give you valuable insight into a buck’s travel patterns and late-season habits, as well as the physical condition of bucks in the area.
When looking for sheds, focus on bedding areas, food sources, and travel corridors. It’s also a great excuse to take the family out for a hike and introduce kids to the outdoors. Plus, finding a matching set of sheds from a big buck you’ve been chasing can be just as rewarding as seeing him on camera.
Final Thoughts
The offseason doesn’t have to be a time of boredom and waiting—it’s an opportunity to get ahead and improve your hunting success. Whether you’re working on habitat improvements or refining your hunting skills, every effort you put in now will pay off when the season opens again. So, instead of sitting around waiting for deer season to return, get out there and tackle these tasks. When opening day arrives, you’ll be glad you did.