The Benefits Of Snow For Deer Hunters:
By the time we get to early February, most deer hunting seasons have ended. Hunting season may no longer be in session, but the prep work that goes into planning for the following season ramps up.
Tasks include taking down last year’s treestands and ground blinds to store them away for the winter, and other projects that include habitat improvements, for example, small logging projects or using a dozer to clean new areas for future food plots, are often performed in the off-season. Whatever the job, deer hunters know there is always something to be done to improve their chances for the upcoming season.
One tool often overlooked that can aid in a deer hunter’s future success comes from mother nature herself: snow. Most do not consider heading outside to work on off-season deer projects when the ground becomes a brilliant white from heavy snowfall. However, many activities can benefit deer hunters when snow is on the ground.
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Supplemental Feeding
When most of the ground is covered in snow, it becomes harder for wildlife to survive. A whitetail deer’s diet includes foods commonly found on or near the ground. For most crop fields, such as beans and corn, what is left of the crops after a farmer’s harvest is what is lying on the ground. Few grasses are growing by winter, and any acorns left are likely rotten and no longer desirable to eat. Add to the equation everything now being covered in snow, and it doesn’t take long for deer to become hungry.
Deer need more food to build body fat and stay warm through the winter, and they need easy access to food. Winter months are the time for ample feed, such as the amount held in 200 lb. feeders from Boss Buck. These tripod-style feeders can become an automatic feeding system filled with proper feeds during the cold, harsh season. It is vital to refrain from feeding too much whole corn because deer can develop a disease referred to as acidosis. Instead, use easier-to-digest feeds that are high in protein.
Frost Seeding
When greeted with snow, a favorite activity for deer hunters is frost seeding. When the snow has covered the ground, many will take time to spread seeds, such as Boss Buck Fatal Funnel, which contains clover, for several different reasons.
During the dead of winter, many food plots can begin to look rough and produce less food than desired. By spreading clover seed on top of the snow, the seed slowly buries beneath the soil as the natural melting pulls the seed into the ground. Within a few weeks of the snow melting, new growth revives already-established plots and attracts more deer.
Frost seeding also can save money for landowners. If hunters do not have the luxury of using a tractor or other machinery to plow and seed food plots, then frost seeding may be the ideal process.
Scouting & Shed Hunting
Another way hunters can take advantage of snow-covered ground is when scouting for the upcoming year. After a few days of snow, I love to find all the different travel routes that can be easily identified on freshly covered ground. Deer tracks and paths observed in the snow can help determine where the most heavily traveled routes are located, where deer are going, and where major bedding areas are located. Snow also makes finding where and what deer are feeding on during the winter months easier, which can also be beneficial for hunters scouting old or new areas to hunt. When scouting in the snow, I bring along my phone as I use a hunting app such as OnX Maps to mark all the different paths and bedding areas. These findings can later be used during the summer and early fall while hanging new treestand sites when travel routes can be harder to locate.
Finding shed antlers can be easier if the snow isn’t too deep because of the solid white background. When the ground is covered, antlers seem to shine like a light, making them easier to find.
