GET’R DONE

Thinking Outside the Box This Hunting Season

article by Dan Chason

January can be a wonderful time to hunt. For duck hunters in North Louisiana, this is the time to make it happen. Ducks are moving in on the arctic fronts, the geese are here to stay and the hope is for good cold weather with little rain, so that any remaining deer not breeding will get in on the secondary rut in the eastern parishes. However, this can be a very aggravating time to hunt. Ducks are not hitting fields with feeding being the driving force. Most of the grains are long gone, and they are hitting these fields to rest and to attempt to grab any scraps left over. Where I hunt, we generally wait and flood for the last split for this very region with a minimum goal of setting aside fields we planted, so we have groceries for the ducks during January.

Like most duck hunters, our first split left much to be desired this year as there was not enough freezing weather north of us to push our ducks down. When the set asides and the CRP’s to the north don’t freeze over, the ducks have no reason to move. We did have one day after a front where my woods’ holes were covered with mallards and gadwall. However, it was short lived, as a warm front came in the next day and off they went. This was pretty much the story all over. Reports of a lot of teal limits abounded and that usually means no big ducks. But don’t give up hope. As the critters showed early in the year, I am looking for a cold winter. Deer were hooking and scrapping early, squirrels rutted early and even insects were gathering and nesting early. This has always been an indicator of cold weather. This is while I sit here in November, writing this piece and it is 79 degrees outside. Only in Louisiana can we have a record snow early in November, but turn around two weeks early and be wearing flip flops and shorts. Guess it is time to go fishing.

But back to our subject. One of the things I would like to recommend is to change your tactics for deer in January. The deer have been pressured, gone through a hard breeding season and have seen every tactic and method known to conquer them. However, they can be patterned easily in January, as they have abandoned the rut patterns and are back to their primary movements. Here are some things that have worked well for me:

• Hunt the moon. If the moon is bright, hunt only during the hours of 10-3. A deer eats every 6 hours. If they are feeding right before daylight, be in your stand 6 hours after you have them on game cameras.

• Stop hunting the same stand, with the same approach, with the same food. Change up. Always approach your stand down wind. Take the time to de-scent. Walk in, don’t ride in. If you are like me, you need the exercise.

• Don’t hunt every day. If you constantly hunt the same stand every day, you will leave your scent or be seen and big boy will not show up while you are there.

• Leave the does alone until the last week. These does are to a buck like a crane is to a duck. Confidence that there are no humans or predators around. January is the time I will pass up the does until I absolutely have to take any remaining ones for DMAP. However, if you were smart, you took your does with a stick and string early so this is not a factor.

• Use cover/confidence scents. Stay away from deer smells and go to natural scents like acorn or pine, depending on where you hunt.

• Deer grunting still works, but mostly on young bucks who have not bred. Bucks will be separated, and big boy will usually come in alone.

• Hunt the major periods. One hour before and one hour after the major posted feeding periods is when deer feed the heaviest. Be there and be prepared.

For duck hunters, I can attest to what not to do after many years of hunting and as a guide. I have seen hunters get in my blind and high ball at high flyers and literally have a red face from trying to coax these birds in. During January, remember that these ducks have come all the way down the flyway and have heard every kind of calling and seen every decoy set up that can be placed. The way to have success is to quiet down the calls to a chuckle. Soft calling plays on a duck’s curiosity. I stay away from any motion decoys except for two shaker decoys and one jerk string. The other overlooked thing is to re-brush your blind. I know that takes work but it is well worth it. Brush gets old and faded, pulled away and blown apart. Taking one hour to re-brush the pit or blind can make a huge difference.

Another great option, if you have it, is to lose the blind. Last year, I probably killed more ducks between my blinds or in corners just leaning on a tree than I did in my blind. Sure it is nice to be comfortable, but comfort takes a back seat when it comes to bird watching or watching feathers fly.

Anyone in North Louisiana that hunts can give you their two cents on what works and what doesn’t. Be a sponge. Whether it is at your local hunting outlet, an online chat room or in person, listen to what is being said for some new tricks and tips. Not everyone uses the same tactics, but I assure you of one thing: If you will start thinking out of the box and with a change your hunting methods, the result can be unbelievable.