| January NEWSLETTER 2008 |
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Write to: Disappear Hunting Products Inc., 163 College Street, Wadsworth, OH 44281
Email: discoverscent@disappearhp.com
have topic you would wish to be discussed in a future newsletter, let us know and we will
consider it.
If you do not want future newsletters, please email or write us advising so and you will be
removed from the list.
Write to: Disappear Hunting Products Inc., 163 College Street, Wadsworth, OH 44281
Email: discoverscent@disappearhp.com
| Disappear Hunting Products |
HUNTERS,
January is a month of beginning and ending. The calender shows the start of a new year, but for
many hunters, it is the ending, of another hunting season. Ohio, as well as other states, allows
hunting, until the end of this month. I briefly touched on the fact, that especially down south, the
rut plays a big part of January's hunting scene. A fact, I discovered some number of years ago, is
something I would like to share with those of you reading this article. I have always kept a small
journal, of each time I spent in the field, as to weather conditions, wind direction, my exact
location, and of course, the most important, the deer activity for that day. Over the years, as I
graphed this accumulated information, not to my surprise, the highest average of buck sightings,
occurred the first two weeks of November (the majority of hunting was done in the midwest),
during the peak of the rut. Now comes the interesting part, the second highest curve of buck
sightings, occurred in mid January. This puzzled me to no end, as to the reason why. At first, I
thought the cover is reduced allowing better sightings, but as I came to realize, this information was
gathered, while at my stand locations, so that was really not a factor. The second thought, was the
colder weather encouraged more daytime movement, however the percentage of bucks was
noticeable higher than does, so that did not fit either. As I continued to study the deer, I realized the
bucks were very interested in mating and this was the attraction. After discussing this with my
biologist friends, I learned, that in a healthy herd, the yearling does will come into a heat cycle this
time of year, thus creating a secondary rut. Over the years, I have harvested some nice bucks as a
result of finding and staying with the yearling does, until the bucks show up.
This month, also offers another opportunity, for those whom have filled their tags. Go out and
track, locate, and observe as many deer as you can, to determine, the type of deer in quality and
quantity, that are there. This time of year, it is easier to do, because of the reduced cover, as well
as the chance, there may be snow on the ground, giving you a very vivid picture of what is going
on. I would suppose, also that it is probably easier to keep an open mind, when you are not needing
to fill a tag yet, but can concentrate on exactly, what you are seeing. Again, I have found, keeping a
journal of what I see, is extremely helpful in maintaining accuracy, as my mind tends to play tricks
on me, as I get older.
One other thing, that I like to do when time permits, is continue hunting, only with a camera or
video recorder. This allows you to monitor your current hunting areas and also expand
knowledgeably, into new areas, if that opportunity arises and get a head start on next year, as your
observations are being gathered, under true hunting conditions. Another benefit, you end up with
some beautiful pictures or film. After I started doing this, my admiration for professional
photographers rose considerable, as I came to the conclusion, it is easier to harvest a deer with a
bow, than to get a first class picture. It can get cold and lonely this time of year, but if you are
determined to go after quality deer, these activities should help you become more successful.
As always, let me know of any comments or questions that you may have, as well as any subject
you would wish to have discussed. I wish all of you a happy and prosperous New Year.
Keith Dotterer
January is a month of beginning and ending. The calender shows the start of a new year, but for
many hunters, it is the ending, of another hunting season. Ohio, as well as other states, allows
hunting, until the end of this month. I briefly touched on the fact, that especially down south, the
rut plays a big part of January's hunting scene. A fact, I discovered some number of years ago, is
something I would like to share with those of you reading this article. I have always kept a small
journal, of each time I spent in the field, as to weather conditions, wind direction, my exact
location, and of course, the most important, the deer activity for that day. Over the years, as I
graphed this accumulated information, not to my surprise, the highest average of buck sightings,
occurred the first two weeks of November (the majority of hunting was done in the midwest),
during the peak of the rut. Now comes the interesting part, the second highest curve of buck
sightings, occurred in mid January. This puzzled me to no end, as to the reason why. At first, I
thought the cover is reduced allowing better sightings, but as I came to realize, this information was
gathered, while at my stand locations, so that was really not a factor. The second thought, was the
colder weather encouraged more daytime movement, however the percentage of bucks was
noticeable higher than does, so that did not fit either. As I continued to study the deer, I realized the
bucks were very interested in mating and this was the attraction. After discussing this with my
biologist friends, I learned, that in a healthy herd, the yearling does will come into a heat cycle this
time of year, thus creating a secondary rut. Over the years, I have harvested some nice bucks as a
result of finding and staying with the yearling does, until the bucks show up.
This month, also offers another opportunity, for those whom have filled their tags. Go out and
track, locate, and observe as many deer as you can, to determine, the type of deer in quality and
quantity, that are there. This time of year, it is easier to do, because of the reduced cover, as well
as the chance, there may be snow on the ground, giving you a very vivid picture of what is going
on. I would suppose, also that it is probably easier to keep an open mind, when you are not needing
to fill a tag yet, but can concentrate on exactly, what you are seeing. Again, I have found, keeping a
journal of what I see, is extremely helpful in maintaining accuracy, as my mind tends to play tricks
on me, as I get older.
One other thing, that I like to do when time permits, is continue hunting, only with a camera or
video recorder. This allows you to monitor your current hunting areas and also expand
knowledgeably, into new areas, if that opportunity arises and get a head start on next year, as your
observations are being gathered, under true hunting conditions. Another benefit, you end up with
some beautiful pictures or film. After I started doing this, my admiration for professional
photographers rose considerable, as I came to the conclusion, it is easier to harvest a deer with a
bow, than to get a first class picture. It can get cold and lonely this time of year, but if you are
determined to go after quality deer, these activities should help you become more successful.
As always, let me know of any comments or questions that you may have, as well as any subject
you would wish to have discussed. I wish all of you a happy and prosperous New Year.
Keith Dotterer