[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/a-winter-plan-for-fall-success\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/a-winter-plan-for-fall-success\/","headline":"A Winter Plan For Fall Success","name":"A Winter Plan For Fall Success","description":"As most whitetail hunters know, there is no off season.\u00a0 There\u2019s always something to be doing in regards to deer...","datePublished":"2016-02-25","dateModified":"2018-10-24","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/author\/hagosto\/#Person","name":"Hector Agosto","url":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/author\/hagosto\/","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d7bfedbdc5ef3ed8f8df91eb37e1ffbe?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d7bfedbdc5ef3ed8f8df91eb37e1ffbe?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Legendary Whitetails","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/logo-legendary-whitetails.png","url":"http:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/logo-legendary-whitetails.png","width":522,"height":226}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Bino-1.jpg","url":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Bino-1.jpg","height":675,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/a-winter-plan-for-fall-success\/","about":["News"],"wordCount":1387,"keywords":["News"],"articleBody":"As most whitetail hunters know, there is no off season.\u00a0 There\u2019s always something to be doing in regards to deer hunting during every part of the year.\u00a0 While it may not feel like you have anything to do in terms of preparing for the fall deer season, there is in fact, plenty to do.Here’s\u00a0why late-winter is far and away the best time to prepare and plan for a successful fall in the deer woods.Deer Trail IdentificationFinding and following trails that you may have never known about is one of the most exciting things about late-winter and early-spring scouting.\u00a0 Trails are easy to spot and follow, as they\u2019ve been beaten into the mud and are usually covered in deer droppings. This is the one time of year many hunters venture deep into bedding areas and other places that are otherwise undiscovered.\u00a0 Mapping these trails out on Google Earth or other aerial\/topo maps is a great way to understand the big picture and find new stand locations.A heavy deer trail coming from a thick bedding area runs through the open hardwoods.Stand LocationsAgain, late-winter is like rediscovering a property that you thought you knew everything about.\u00a0 Maybe it stemmed from a close encounter during the fall, an observation, or newly found trail, oak tree, or rub line. Whatever it is, every year there seems to be\u00a0another place to hang a treestand, brush a blind\u00a0in, or get a trail camera set.\u00a0 Typically, I will find these new stand locations while I\u2019m out searching for shed antlers.\u00a0 When I do, I either mark them with tape or on a GPS App so I can\u00a0find them at a later date.\u00a0 Rather than hanging treestands in the heat of the summer, hang them in spring when there\u2019s still no foliage to compete with.\u00a0 Not only is it cooler, but it\u2019s much easier to trim lanes and see what it will look like come fall.Shed HuntingCertainly this is an obvious and fun activity that many hunters indulge in every spring.\u00a0 Looking for shed antlers is basically the ultimate scouting method and, in many instances, is the cause of the first two topics \u2013 trail identification and new stand locations.\u00a0 There\u2019s a lot to be learned from shed hunting, but the basic things learned from finding sheds include:knowing whether or not a buck has survivedproof he visits\/lives nearbyhow much he grew (if prior history)where he feeds, beds, or travelshow big he really is#ShedRally has begun! Here are\u00a011 Advanced Shed Hunting TipsHinge CuttingHinge cutting is the popular timber stand improvement process in which you saw half-way through a tree and then bend it over to the ground in order to provide living cover and browse for deer.\u00a0 While you can really hinge cut trees during any time of the year, winter is the best time.\u00a0 For one, the trees are dormant during the winter, thus, you\u2019ll experience a better survival rate.\u00a0 Secondly, it\u2019s comfortable working conditions – it\u2019s not hot out, and there\u2019s no bugs and leaves to annoy you all day.\u00a0 It\u2019s also a lot easier to see what you\u2019re doing and where the trees are falling in winter compared to the green jungle of summer. Also, you won\u2019t be making any major disturbances close to hunting season.\u00a0 Lastly, hinge cutting during the winter allows time for deer to find and utilize these new sanctuary thickets and browse areas.Read more about hinge cutting at qdma.comFood Plot PlanningIt always seems like food plot season sneaks up fast.\u00a0 One minute you\u2019re searching for sheds and the next you\u2019re throwing seed out.\u00a0 Take the time in February and March to figure out these key details of food plotting:Collect soil samples in time to add amendments prior to planting. (Click here to learn WHY and HOW you should be collecting your soil samples)What type of forage will you be planting in your food plots? And where? (Click here to find out what you should be planting in your food plots)How much seed will you need to purchase?Are you creating any new food plots this year? (Click here to learn how to design a killer food plot)What kind of site prep is needed?Who is planting the food plots? And when?It’s important to have a good plan in place with regards to food plots before heading into spring. \u00a0Use Google Earth to plan where, what, and how much you will plant.Search for New PropertiesShed hunting and coyote hunting are the perfect opportunities to get out and explore new hunting land.\u00a0 Whether it\u2019s scouting a new piece of public land or knocking on a few doors, your search for new properties should never end.\u00a0 Many times, landowners are more open to letting coyote hunters and shed hunters onto their property compared to deer hunters.\u00a0 Building relationships now may open some doors for the fall.Use this time and these helpful tips to lock down a new piece of hunting ground for this fall.How to Find and Gain Access to Great Hunting PropertiesDoor Knocking Tips for Gaining Hunting RightsMapping Whitetails: Hidden Secrets of County MapsI don\u2019t know about you, but I always feel like I\u2019m rushing to get things done at the last minute when it comes to deer hunting projects.\u00a0 Make this year the year of preparedness and try to get as much done during the winter and spring.\u00a0 If you do, I\u2019ll bet that you\u2019ll have a more successful hunting season."},{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/#breadcrumbitem","name":"Legendary Whitetail's Blog"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/community.legendarywhitetails.com\/blog\/a-winter-plan-for-fall-success\/#breadcrumbitem","name":"A Winter Plan For Fall Success"}}]}]