Top 6 Winter Habitat Strategies

6 Winter Deer Habitat Strategies You Can Begin to Implement Immediately
By: Ryan Nordahl email: [email protected]

With the whitetail seasons winding down, or now even closed for the season, in a few states, now is a great time to get out onto your hunting property, private and/or public, and start your scouting and planning for the next season. The recent hunting season is fresh in your mind. If you've kept a journal to log your observations and thoughts for the following season, then now is the time to stretch your legs and dust off your walking shoes. And perhaps it's even time to start looking for new habitat equipment such as food plot seeders or other equipment if your budget will allow.

My hope is that the following 6 tips help you in your planning and implementation for the next deer season. 

So, let's dive in... 

#1: Scouting & Planning

Late fall and early winter can be the best time to start scouting the property you hunt, be it private or public land. Especially if you hunt an area that has little to no snow cover this time of the year. Ground scrapes, rubs, fall travel corridors, etc. are easily prevalent at this time and can offer you a glimpse into where the bucks were most frequenting during the heart of the rut. And it is also a great time to look back through the previous seasons trail camera intel. Also, if you are a late season hunting fanatic like I am, it could also be a time to scout out that lone survivor that slipped by during the earlier parts of season.

If you at all keep a weather/hunt log like many seasoned hunters do, you can begin to put a particular deer's tendencies together. And if that particular buck made it through all of the gunfire, the intel you gathered this season could make the next season with the same buck that much more predictable.

The winter months bring many to checking out the YouTube gurus for the latest tips and tricks. Not that any of the advice you here from these individuals is a bad thing, because it's not, you have to practice and implement what works best for your property in your geographical location of a whitetails domain. And this may be a time where you'd want to hire one of these experts to your property to help you design a plan best suited for your area and catered to your individual goals. Many of these well regulated experts can also help you come up with the best hunting strategy for public land as well. But just remember, you get what you pay for with these types of service experts. The higher their daily rates, you can be rest assured they typically bring more value above and beyond your expectations. So don't let sticker shock influence a knee jerk reaction. Do your research. Most, like myself, have many references readily available upon request to legitimize the value they represent in their daily rates.

Just remember, a second set of eyes from that of a mature buck and habitat expert can bring you a lifetime of precious value for years to follow.

#2: TSI & Hinge Cutting

Further developing the cover given by local natural surroundings assets is basic for future achievement and winter is the ideal chance to get to work. In the event that you have a property with homogenous stands of hardwood timberlands you might consider accomplishing some chain saw work. In an open stand of woods there is almost no ground cover for deer. Keep in mind, security cover for deer exists between ground level and roughly three feet up.

While Timber Stand Improvement can accomplish numerous objectives, the center accentuation is frequently to open up the canopy and to release favored trees specifically. By opening up the high canopy you will see a quick change this spring with new development of forbs and ground vegetation. This new development assists with browse and cover, so it resembles solving two problems at once.

Hinge cutting is the famous timber stand improvement process in which you saw part of the way through a tree and afterward bend it over to the ground to give living cover and browse to deer. While you can truly hinge cut trees during any season, winter is the best time. For one, the trees are dormant throughout the colder time of year, in this way, you'll encounter a superior endurance rate. Also, it's more comfortable working conditions - it's not excessively hot out, and there's no bugs and leaves to irritate you day in and day out. It's likewise much more straightforward to see what you're doing and where the trees are falling in winter contrasted with the green jungle of summer. Ultimately, hinge cutting throughout the colder time of year permits time for deer to find and use these new safe-haven thickets and browse features.

But please, if you've never hinge cut a tree, or have any hesitation whatsoever, contact a professional such as a logger or hinge cutting expert. Hinge cutting is one of the most valued services Epic Whitetail Habitat, LLC provides for its clients. With 10+ years of experience under my belt, I've seen a thing or two, but it ultimately leads to better deer habitat and ambush hunting opportunities.

Click on the video above this section to learn about hinge cutting and if it's the right fit for your private hunting property.

#3: Game Camera Surveys

​The best times to lead camera studies are during August and in January before bucks start to shed their antlers. Leading a yearly game camera survey will give a significant measure of data relating to the deer herd. Sex ratios, deer density, buck age class, antler improvement, and fawn recruitment numbers can be generally assessed by directing a game camera review.

#4: Planning Food Plots

When it comes to food plots it's not a one size fits all game. Evaluate what has worked over the course of time on your property if you've been doing food plots for a while. If you are new to the game of food plotting and consider yourself "not a farmer" whatsoever, now is the time to chat with someone with experience. And my best advice would be to consult with a local farmer or agronomist from the area where you hunt. They understand soil types and conditions best. And believe it or not, most are willing to help you be successful at growing food sources that will excel long after the surrounding ag fields in your area have been harvested, if your property is located in farm country.

For big woods areas like that of northern Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, etc., you must understand that not all traditional food plot vegetation is created equal. Whether it's traditional green forage food plot varieties, hard and/or soft mass producing trees and shrubs, you must consider where you are located and choose varieties congruent with your growing zones. 

Bottom line, now is the time to look back on the previous season and evaluate what worked, what could be improved or done better, and how can we capitalize maximization the following food plot season? What soil types are we dealing with? What is our current soil pH levels? What's our organic matter within the top 2" of soil? How can we increase organic matter? How can we reduce soil erosion if on slopey terrain? How can we minimize deer browse pressure before the hunting season? Are conventional or organic cultivation practices best for our goals? How can we reduce costs for our food plot program the following growing season? Are there cost savings on particular seed and other inputs that we intend to implement the following growing season before the end of the year (December 31)?

These and many more questions can be answered by reaching out to the local seed, fertilizer, chemical and agronomy dealers in your area to help you manage and maximize your allocated budget for the following growing season. Knowing the answers to these questions can result in significant savings to help you come in well under budget ahead of time, which can lead to keeping your significant other happy, if you are married to a non-hunter like I am. HAHA!

#5: Consider New Equipment

The winter months can also be a great time to consider new hunting or habitat equipment for the following year as well. Many retailers and equipment dealers could possibly be offering year end savings deals to help reduce inventory carryover. 

Things to think about and to consider might be new box blind tower stands, tree stands, food plot implements, tractors, ATVs/UTVs, etc..

To check out my review of the Kasco Plotters Choice no-till drill from Kasco Mfg, Click Here for the video review.

#6: Ordering Trees & Shrubs

Winter is the time to start ordering any trees and/or shrubs that may be part of your plan for the following spring. Many local tree nurseries, green houses, county extension services are now taking orders for spring delivery, with most pre-order savings deadlines happening by January 31. 

Conclusion

I understand many of my readers reading this have been through the rigors of the season and would rather not think about deer or hunting strategy for the following year, and that's just fine and dandy. I understand. Especially when it comes to spending more precious and valuable time with family and friends during the busy Christmas season.

But if you are anything like me and take your whitetail hunting serious, you realize that deer season never truly ends. And that is why winter is the perfect time to evaluate the previous season and plan ahead for the following season to help put you ahead of the curve.

And if you should need help, whether you hunt private or public land, looking to purchase a new parcel of whitetail heaven, or just to run your own plans by a second set of eyes, don't hesitate to reach out to someone that can help you set and achieve your goals. Epic Whitetail Habitat, LLC is an excellent resource to start helping you implement a plan to send you down the right path.