Being a part-time whitetail taxidermist for the past few years has really been an eye opener for me on just how truly accurate the saying is that whitetail deer are indeed slaves to their stomachs. I can honestly say that the vast majority of the big mature 4.5+ year old bucks that I take in and mount for clients are taken during the month of December. The past few years, I have focused a lot more of my attention to planting food plots on my Nebraska whitetail property strictly for late-season attractiveness because of one simple reason. Rut-stressed whitetails that have lost up to 1/3 of their body weight cannot resist the urge to fill up on high-quality foodsources such as corn and soybeans to replenish lost body weight in anticipation of winter. Reading back on some of my older hunting notes from my journal that I took from years past also holds true that I documented more mature bucks up on their feet during daylight hours and in my Nebraska food plots during the month of December than any other month of the year, even November!
With the Nebraska muzzleloader season just days away from opening, reminds me of last years late season hunting and how great it was. Last winter was a tough winter with very cold temps and snowy weather that started out brutally cold right from the start of the month of December. As I recall the first week to ten days of the month had several days that struggled to even get above 10 degrees. Luckily for me, everything was starting to fall into place. Earlier that spring I added several more acres of food plots on my Nebraska property that would be planted strictly to high-fat/high-energy food plots that included a mixture of eagle soybeans, corn, and I also added several acres of Antler King Honey Hole which was planted in late summer. I might also add that the vast majority of the food plots that I plant for myself and on custom planted food plots in the state of Nebraska, will very rarely be planted with just one type of seed in each food plot. Deer are browsers just as we humans are and prefer to sample a variety of different foods whenever possible. I find it very beneficial to include at least 2 and preferably 3 different types of food plot seed planted in strategically placed strips or rows. By strategically planting your food plot, I mean by planting your Nebraska food plot in such a way to actually decipher or trick deer into walking within close shooting range. Let me explain a bit deeper. Just as I mentioned above about how well my newly added spring planted food plots for late season hunting were about to pay off big time with the onset of cold weather, I think the layout of my food plot had a lot to do with my success also. The particular Nebraska food plot that I was hunting that December evening, was not much more than 6 acres in total size but had an abundant supply of standing eagle soybeans, a small amount of standing corn for an added visual barrier, and some lush green Antler King honey hole to complete the perfect food plot lineup. To break it down a bit further, of the total 6 acre Nebraska food plot, 4 acres consisted of standing eagle soybeans that was planted in the middle of the food plot. I added several rows of standing corn that totaled about an acre to the south side of the food plot to act as a visual barrier to not only distract would be poachers, but also aid in the overall effect of a secure food plot where mature bucks would feel safe about feeding in my food plot during legal shooting time. The remaining 1 acre left in my Nebraska food plot, was planted with Antler King honey hole in a narrow 30yd wide strip that ran along the timberline where deer entered the field close by one of my stands and actually funneled them within easy bow range. One of the reasons why I prefer to add a food plot planting of Antler King honey hole in my late season Nebraska food plots consisting of corn and beans is because in December when small creeks and puddles freeze over, the green plants such as the leaves in Antler King’s honey hole mix provide the whitetails with an excellent source of moisture. Over the past few years, I have found that green leaves such as those found in Antler King’s honey hole mix which includes large brassica leaves hold a high content of moisture and can be a huge magnet for whitetails during the late season.
As my hunt unfolded that bitterly cold December night, as usual does and small bucks poured into my food plot passing right by my stand, nibbling on the brassica leaves before gorging themselves on the high-fat eagle soybeans. At one time I counted over 40 deer feeding in my Nebraska food plot. As the sun was just about to set I caught movement of the mature buck that I was trying to kill. Like mature bucks do he slowly made his way down the trail and paused just inside the tree line scoping things out for several seconds before stepping out of the cover. I had a close encounter with this mature 140 class buck several weeks ago while hunting over an Antler King trophy clover food plot but as it often happens, he had his mind made up where he was heading and nothing would change his mind. As precious sunlight burned away, the buck was a mere 60yds away slowly working towards me. While he was munching on the standing soybeans, I couldn’t help but notice just how much body mass he had lost compared to just a few short weeks ago. It was very evident that he was trying to put on the lost pounds from the rigors of stressful rut. Eventually the buck closed the distance to 35yds and as soon as he buried his head in the standing soybeans, I came to full draw and let my arrow fly. The shot was perfect and the buck piled up a mere 70yds away.
Cold brutal temperatures coupled with several inches of snow in the month of December results in increased sightings of mature bucks. Two inches of snow is ok but 6in or more is preferred, which buries all leftover acorns and other food, which causes hungry whitetails to pour into your standing corn or soybean food plots. The most remarkable thing about planting food plots geared towards late season hunting is that if you plant enough seed in your food plots and do it right, not only will you draw most every deer that lives on your Nebraska hunting property, but you will pull a lot of deer off of neighboring properties. Here in Nebraska when corn and soybeans crops are picked, livestock are brought in to graze the leftovers leaving virtually nothing for deer to feed on. Also with heavy gun pressure on adjoining properties, my Nebraska hunting property becomes a safe haven for older bucks seeking cover and food with the main reason being food. I thoroughly plan out my springtime food plot plantings to include a vast majority of corn and soybean plantings to take advantage of that one weakness that whitetails possess. Big deer burn up a lot of calories during the rut and rarely stop to feed. Eventually they too run out of gas and have to refill.
In conclusion, I don’t want to leave the reader with the impression that every time the weather gets cold and snowy that huge mature bucks will literally jump out at you. However, here in Nebraska I have witnessed exceptional late season whitetail hunting when day time temperatures struggle to get out of the teens and generally ahead of and right after a fresh snowfall.
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