Hunting in the snow

[Trevor]

This is only my third season bowhunting and the last two seasons we did not get any snow until January when the season was closed. We are getting snow today, calling for about 5-10 inches today. my season opens backup tomorrow , just wondering if having snow on the ground changed anything or deer patterns.

[Maine Hntr]

With 5-10", they may search out other food sources. Obviously if it's snowing its cold which means they'll probably be on their feet, not enough snow or big enough storm to keep em hunkered down. I like it because sometimes you'll cut a track and they can be easier to see.

[arrow32]

I lovr being able to hunt in the snow.

I always try to be near a food source i knoe they'll want to hit

[Trevor]

Hunting in the snow

Well I was planning to hunt today but the snow hasn't stopped falling. We probably have 15 inches and still falling. I have about a half an hour drive to my hunting spot and the highway is a mess. Just not worth the risk.

[Shaun_300]

Hunting in the snow is awesome. We had some snow up here in the Ottawa valley for rifle season. Only snowed a few inches but it was still nice to have some on the ground.

[Trevor]

Unofficial reports says we got 70 cm or 28 inches. Took me 2 hours to clean off our vehicles and snow blow the driveway. Going to try to hunt through the week if I have time.

[Maine Hntr]

Wow, I guess 5-10" was a bit off, good luck! Early to get that much even where you're at I would think

[Adjam5]

I like the white stuff when hunting. If a leaf moves...you can see it. That is a big advantage to me. Now the cold on the other hand...Buy good clothes and you will be warm. Food sources are a great place to hunt when storms are coming. Good luck.

[dbHunterNY]

a few years ago I got snow camo coverups (pants and jacket) to go over my normal camo. I can't believe how well this works. I've picked a patch of snow in the middle of a brown 30 acres field and had deer walk within bow range of me. I prefer to use these when the snow is on the ground. if the snow melts throughout the day you can roll them up small and put them in your pack. deer will hit high energy food sources or the best food source that's around. they'll use access trails and other packed down routes to burn less energy to get around. many times you can cut a track. a good 200lb buck will leave a track with a hoof print close to 3" wide. when the track is going straight you can move quicker. when it starts to go left, right, and wander show down. take a step or two then glass. do that over and over again while following the track, keeping track of the wind, and your location if you're in unfamiliar territory. that what advise I've got. hope that helps.

[stevebeilgard]

with cold and snow the animals eat more. i love to hunt the snow, or directly after it stops.

[Ravin R10 man]

As Ive always said...snow @ cold makes for a great hunt..not to mention the blood trail they leave behind

[Trevor]

The weather here has been crazy this weekend with all the snow. Well my hunting spots are about a 1/2 hour drive from the city and it didn't get a single snowflake. I was looking forward to hunting in the snow. It's nuts that in the city we got 2 feet of snow and none just outside the city. Thanks for all your help.

[colorado bob]

I'm in the minority, I hate hunting in the snow. After the 1st day it gets crunchy, the elk can hear you coming a 1/2 mile away. This year we got about 15" day before the season. I found the elk but couldn't get to them. It was a good mile to them-----it would have taken me a good 2 hours to get there, then wait till sundown, hopefully kill one, then clean it & then a 4 to 5 hour hike out. If it was dry, I could have done it. But with the snow, I just watched them for 2 days.

I couldn't still hunt with the crunch, crunch with every step. Then add the extra effort it takes to walk in 15" snow. I would rather blue bird days.

[Dawg]

I hunted in the snow one time in Colorado. About 8" of it......took about 2 hours and I was tired of it. It was wet and the ground underneath was muddy. My boots had about 5 lbs of mud after walking a short distance. If I were hunting out of a tree stand or box blind I would have loved it but still hunting in it is a pain.

[redkneck]

We don't get to hunt many days in snow thus far south, and when we do get snow it rarely is around for more than a day. I love it, love to get out in it and see the woods all nice and white because sometimes it may be a few years before it comes again, but honestly I've seen very little deer movement in the days I've hunted in snow. Sleet and ice are completely different though, I always see movement with sleet.

Of course our snows aren't like northern snows, our deer likely are clueless what that white stuff is lol.

[RangerClay]

I love hunting in the snow more than anything else. I get goosebumps everytime because it ups my odds of getting a deer. I like to hunt the hemlock swamps. The deer will go there for cover and because its warmer.

[wtnhunt]

We don't usually get much snow during our seasons here. Seems what little snow we have gotten here when we have and I have been able to go hunting that the deer did not move real well in it, at least not on our property

[Ravin R10 man]

heading out to do just that..we gotour first decent snow last eve..maybe 3to 4 inches...creek bottom will be a lot easier to see into and detect movement

[FireStation46]

Too deep the deer will stay put pretty much. They will eventually move about. Use snowshoes to get to your spot. If it gets crusty, get in early and hold tight. I like to hunt as the front comes in and just after as long it is not as heavy as you are getting. Good luck!

[Ravin R10 man]

we just got a bit over two foot here, and now lows down to -15 the rest of the week...we will see what pulls in the next few days on cam..may ML hunt this weekend if a bruiser shows up