Deer season is over : time to get ready for next year

Well Arkansas hunters, the seasons are over as of February 28. We need to start thinking about next year. There are many ways to get ahead of the elusive big buck. The most productive way is to start chasing him early. Like right after the season ends!
I like to start by updating my food plots, keeping food there all year will keep the deer moseying around. Plant seed that will grow through the summer and the cold of winter. Or do as we do around here plant summer plots in early spring and winter plots in late fall. I like to stalk deer year around so I always know what they are doing. Monitoring the deer lets me now the number I have and the best place to put my stand for the big opening day of Deer season. Being in the woods all year lets you know how the deer are moving and where they bed down.

Food Plots
Food plots are very effective way to harvest a big buck because he is comfortable there. The best place to put food plots is in a natural clearing and if possible near the water. This is a place in the woods that the trees do not grow but the grass does. You need to plant grass that grows well in the summer like Bermuda or lespedeza. Then around September or October plant winter wheat and clover. That will give you protean all year round. If it is possible, you should try to put you food plot by water. When a deer eats, he has to drink.

Placing Your Stand

After watching the deer you will find a pattern to their behavior. You should put your stand on a well-used trail preferably were two or three join. If it is possible to put it by the trail and water, this is much better. You should put you stand on the East end of your food plot because the wind generally blows from west to east. You want the wind to hit you in the face to carry your sent away from the plot. Otherwise you will be dependent on scent covers and other tricks to keep from spooking the deer.

Stalking Deer Year Around
Stalking deer is really simple. All you have to do is go to the woods and watch the deer. Watching them tells you a lot about their habits. Like where they bed down, how they move, where they drink and when, plus much more. Watching deer in the spring and summer may be a bit more difficult than in the fall and winter. In the summer, they tend to spread out whereas in the winter they run more in herds. The reason for this is the buck’s tendency to herd the doe for breeding purposes.