Big Bucks the Benoit Way by Bryce Towsley

Author:Bryce Towsley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: F+W Media, Inc.
Published: 2011-03-27T16:00:00+00:00

Deep, fresh snow shows the hunter recent deer activity as well as making the hunter a little quieter while on the track. Bryce Towsley Photo.

But, you know what? I love it when I see such conditions. Of course, you don’t want a downpour. But, a drizzle with a light mist is just right. Likewise, those nasty, snowy days do much to help your odds in deer hunting, particularly if you’re after a trophy. I’ve shot my biggest bucks on days it was raining or snowing.

For one thing, you can get closer than usual, because the weather cuts down the deer’s ability to see you. Snow or rain quiets the woods considerably because twigs and leaves don’t crunch the way they do when it’s dry. And, on wet days, scent stays closer to the ground, so it’s tougher for bucks to wind you or hear you. Because they don’t expect predators to be out in bad weather, deer sometimes can get a little careless under such conditions. Of course, you can’t count on big bucks getting too careless, regardless of the weather; after all, they didn’t get to be trophies without showing caution. Still, nasty weather does improve your odds a bit.

To take advantage of these conditions, the first thing you have to do is to get into the right frame of mind. Forget your cold hands and numb toes and the fact that your hunting coat is lying across your shoulders like a cold sponge. Forget about everything: the wood stove, hot drinks, your friends back at camp, whether or not your car will start, whether or not you’ll get snowed in. Forget about everything except one thing: bagging the biggest buck of your life.

Once you’ve made the commitment, you need to properly equip yourself for some tough hunting. I like to track my deer, so I’m constantly on the move. Many other successful Northeast trophy hunters follow the same tactics when the weather is mean. I take particular care not to overdress. I wear a T-shirt (in especially cold weather I’ll add some Duofold underwear), a flannel shirt over that, and top it off with a lightweight unlined green plaid jacket. Finally I’ll add a fluorescent orange vest if it is required where I am hunting. Because I’m constantly on the move, this outfit keeps me more than warm.

But, hunters who plan to travel shorter distances might consider some extra clothing. The main point is to dress in layers so that you can shed or add, depending upon your level of exertion and the severity of the weather. The second important point is to wear outer clothing that is quiet in the woods. A “plastic” raincoat sounds like a chain saw to that big ol’ buck you’re sneaking up on. That’s why I’m partial to wool on both counts. It doesn’t make noise in the woods, it “breathes,” and it is the one material that retains warmth when wet. On milder days, I’ll wear corduroy or denim pants, because wool gets too warm.

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