archer58

Your situation now, is what us PA guys have to deal with from the middle of Noverber on. The deer are qiute wary and travel at dawn and dusk again. Feeding seems to be mostly browse and sugar maple leaves and left over acorns. There are areas that still have mast on the ground here. If you're too far away from their bedding you may not see them during shooting light.
A cold snap or a storm front may be the only thing to get them up to feed before shooting light fades.
One thing I have seen on many occasions this time of year is that the deer will walk w/ the wind at their backs. I think this is due to the fact that they can see through the woods so well with no foliage. That's good for you , but you need to keep well hidden.Stand or blind hunting seems to be the only option.

I would also try to tickle your horns a bit. You may find a frisky buck left.

GMMAT

I have no buck tags....lol. I need one more doe to make my mgmt. goal of 8 taken from the herd, here (with a little help....we're at 7).

Rick James

I've seen in more urban areas the deer focusing on eating the house shrubs and bushes heavily this time of year. Even with my food plots at my place being full of turnips, they have started eating my Aunt's bushes, you can see the highway of tracks around her house in the snow. I don't know if you have snow, but if so check these areas out to see if they are getting hit.

Other than this, I'd do as Fraley suggested, except just broadcast a good 20lbs of corn by hand in maybe a 30 yard circle, and setup the DB 10 yards downwind. If you do this, and hang out long enough you will probably get a poke at one......if it's legal and you need to get one more doe off there why not? If it makes you feel better, take the longbow.

HuntingBry

Jeff, as archer58 said the deer around here are hitting any hard mast that is left and a lot of browse. In agricultural areas they are hitting the food hard, but not until way past dark. What I've found to be successful in late season (in NJ previously and now SE PA) is to take a bag of food out and dump it. Come back the next day and hunt it. If you're nanny whackin' you have a good shot.

BTW, what did you use to produce that aerial image? I've been looking for something that does a topo layover on aerials.

Killer_Primate

This time of year/the season, I'd say that you need to go to them instead of waiting, cause they aren't coming...

Time to get out of that comfy stand...

GMMAT

The image was from our local GIS.

Baiting is legal in NC. I talked to Rob afew weeks ago.....and even asked him what he thought about it. Consensus was...for what I'm trying to do.....go for it. I'm doe hunting for mgmt. purposes. But....I have mixed feelings. I have tomorrow and Saturday to get it done. So....I'm gonna stick to a few known (at least earlier in the season) travel routes and take my chances. I may get skunked. So be it.

bawanajim

If it feels just a little wrong even in the back of your mind ,don't do it. Look at it this way what is more important to you? Reaching your management goals or the feeling you get by knowing you tried hard ,came close & learned enough this year to be a better more efficient hunter next year.

Save the bait for spring crappies.

Killer_Primate

Yeah man, I agree with Jim, totally!

Any more deer and you'll need to buy a fifth freezer anyway, challenge yourself, get down and walk! You'll probably fail, but you'll be a better hunter for it, you'll learn something.
You already know that they'll eat from a pile of corn, what is that going to gain you?

GMMAT

KP I've donated 5 and given away wayclose to another to friends (they LOVE the sausage). I have 2 in my freezer and a ham from a youngun I killed earlier. Yep...blessed with venison.

I don't know.....I honestly am gonna take the day off, tomorrow and just enjoy a couple sits. I'll do the same, Saturday.....and if I see something....I do. If not....no big deal. I can hang up all my gear on Sunday and still know it's been a heckuva interesting year.

Next year's already gonna be different. I'm not goingto kill as many deer. No interest.

Back to topic, though....I have no idea what the herd here's eating about this time of year. never have known. Last year.....next to last weekend....I saw probably 20 deer one day in my favorite morning spot. I haven't seen more than 2 in any spot in quite a while (of course....I haven't been out there much, either.).

Next two days will be fun.....and then I'll hang it up (hunting) 'til April.

Killer_Primate

Green briar.

That is what they're eating if they're not coming out of the thick stuff.