November and the rut has not come and gone and December is here. Sure there may be some rutting activity left to service those few does that got missed during November, but hunting those rut spots is not what I would focus on anymore this season. It is time to start shifting gears from hunting travel corridors and bedding areas to hunting closer to food sources.
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Across much of the Midwest snow has begun to fall along with the temperatures.  The does are starting to go into that feeding frenzy preparing for winter months ahead. Bucks too are trying to rebuild fat reserves they lost during the rut. They may be resting some but I guarantee they will be up on their feet feeding in daylight hours at some point.

Hunting the food sources is also a good way to catch the little rutting activity that may be left. Does that have not been bred will be feeding and bucks will typically find them in the food sources for breeding. Now is where you may find the benefits of planting food plots such as Frosty Feed or Green beast for this time of the year they are highly attractive. They are nutrition rich and the only green food around. Standing crops such as corn and beans can also be a great spot to find that late season buck. Oftentimes I like to have the late season greens even planted in with that corn or bean food plot.

With most of the gun seasons having come and gone now throughout much of the Midwest, I often hear that there aren’t any deer left or they went nocturnal. Well there are deer left out there and yes it can be hard to find them during daylight hours after a gun season. This is why you need to hunt those areas that haven’t been pressured. All through archery season you hunt and see deer but a few guys in the woods now and then playing it smart usually does not affect deer movement too much.

However, once rifle season opens up there is an overload of pressure present. Some people push deer others hunt over and over. I also see that at times rifle hunters may throw out precautions like wind direction because of the added range they can shoot. All things lead to heavily pressured hunting in many areas making it hard to fill that late season bow or muzzleloader tag.

Concentrate on areas that you know haven’t been hunted. Maybe it is a small corner of the property or even where you least expect it like in the tree grove behind the barn. Think of those small overlooked areas and chances are you can find a mature buck hanging out there.

This is another reason for planting late season food plots. Get them planted in late summer or early fall and let them be until this time of year so you have a unpressured spot with a bountiful supply of food for recovering bucks and does preparing for the winter. Good luck out there!

Hunt Smart, Hunt Hard and Hunt Safe!

Brett Kleinschmit

​It is that time of the year again all across the Midwest. Days are getting shorter and shorter, harvest is nearly over, leaves are quickly falling and the temperatures should be falling. The Whitetail Rut is under way! Though the weather is not what we all dream of this time of year the deer are still bound to fulfill their annual mating season. 

Despite the unseasonably warm temperatures many people are finding success across the Midwest. The mornings are still cool and the evenings seem to be cooling off rather quickly. These can be some very good times to be in the tree-stand. Another thing in everyone's favor right now is the moon phase. In fact I don't know that it could be better. 

Wednesday November 11th, Veterans Day, we have a new moon. This means that from November 3rd to November 19th we have the opportunity to be hunting with no more than a half moon in the night sky; couldn't be any better for the typical rut dates of the Midwest. We are also experiencing weather changes. 

There is also a cold front moving in on Wednesday that will cause the temperatures to drop and looks like it will be bringing us some precipitation as well. With the unseasonably warm temp I feel that these cold fronts in the rut could be even more productive for us. Last week Thursday and Friday, November 5-6th, we had a small front move through causing the temperature to fall. 

I saw many deer across the Midwest hit the ground those two days. Including the two harvested by one of my customers and good friend, Jake, shown in the picture above. Jake put a arrow through both of these bucks within minutes of each other, both cruising after does that were in and around his food plots. There is not a bad day to be in a tree right now and many tactics may prove successful. Rattling, grunting, doe bleats and even dragging scent lines behind you on the way into the tree. The bucks are on the move and looking for those receptive does.

Some bucks may even be locked down with does right now. I have heard from a few friends in Northern South Dakota that they are experiencing this right now. A situation like this could be an excellent time to put a stalk on a mature buck while all his attention is focused on that doe. Just do not spook the doe and there is a good chance you could get a shot on one. 

For all of you hunting Nebraska's rifle season opening this weekend, remember to wear your orange and watch out for other hunters. 

Hunt Safe, Hunt Hard and Hunt Smart!

​Brett Kleinschmit

If you are a hunter there is always some sort of a slump we all go through. That slump is longer for some than it is for others. For me it has nearly been 7 years since I have harvested an antlered deer. The last buck I harvest was November 9, 2008, my birthday. Since then I have harvested a number of antelope bucks but the deer has been another story. I have had many opportunities that I have passed on, some of which I may regret, but just have not had those mature bucks either be in range or give me an ethical shot. It was always something.

Well October 28, 2015 the slump finally came to a end. Earlier in the week the rancher who owns the ranch I had been hunting a buck we began to call “Sky Scraper” on, asked me if I would like to go elk hunting with him Wednesday morning. Beings I had a cow tag in my pocket I was all for that.

The morning started with us hiking in the dark about a mile to a ridge top we could glass from. About 10 minutes before legal shooting light I spotted an elk about a mile away. He was on the neighbors but we decided to work our way there in case he would cross the fence to bed. The bull ended up bedding in the bowl I spotted him in on the neighbors. We continued to walk the land to see if we could come across some other elk. We found some sign that was about a week old at fence crossings. We continued to check water sources where we did find some elk tracks in the mud.

We were hunting during the full moon so everything was likely bedded up before sunrise. Continuing to look for sign at water sources and checking draws and timber patches that are known to hold elk from time to time, we slowly made out way back to the truck to go in for the morning hunt.

As we neared the truck the rancher told me if I’d like to continue deer hunting I could walk some mud buttes that overlook deep draws and creek drainages. I took him up on this for the wind direction was correct to hunt this way and the deer should be bedded by that time. On the last leg of this morning hunt I found 3 deer sheds, found about a dozen does with a few small, young bucks along with a couple 3 year old bucks sparring. I didn’t see not mature bucks as I came to the last ridge as I could see the water tank the rancher would pick me up at.

As I walked towards the water tank I had pretty well gave up on the morning and was looking for more deer sheds. All of a sudden I looked up and saw a tall, narrow and heavy rack sticking up between the cedar trees on the ridge just above the water tank. I pulled up my Nikons and was pleasantly surprised what I was looking at. This buck was bedded near a cedar looking right at me. Given he was bedded in was hard for me to tell his age though judging by his body length I was fairly certain he was a mature buck. I dropped into a cut and worked around it to get a better look. However I could never see him again.

By this time the rancher was waiting for me by the water tank. Eventually I worked to him and told him about the buck. We decided it was best to come over the top of the buck to try and find him. We eased over the ridge and I spotted just his antlers sticking above the grass. After a further look we both agreed this was a mature buck and I decided to try and harvest him. I crawled into 40 yards before I set up for a shot. As if on cue he stood up to stretch and I fired my shot.

After guiding clients to mature bucks over the last 4 years and not harvesting a buck for 7, words cannot describe how excited I felt. It was so nice to feel the buck fever set into my knees after the shot. As I approached him it was one of the best feelings I have had in a while hunting. He truly was much bigger than I had anticipated and the giant brow tines were a plus. I didn’t even know he had them until the recovery.

I pride myself in harvesting only mature bucks, not only for the clients I have guided the last 4 years, but also for myself. To me nothing is more satisfying than beating a mature buck on his home turf. This is likely part of the reason for the 7 year slump. I couldn’t be happier and more proud of this buck. I believe him to be at least 5 years old and I will know for sure when I get the age results back from the lab in March.

The rut is not far from kicking off so get out there and hunt. Maybe now is the time for you to end your slump. The Whitetails in Nebraska and South Dakota are not far from being in full rut. So get out there and enjoy the great outdoors and the gifts God has provided for us to enjoy.

Remember to Hunt Safe, Hunt Hard and Hunt Smart!
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Brett Kleinschmit