Outside Iowa: Late muzzleloader: Hot or cold

I just love this time of year—everything about it. I love the cold weather, I love Christmas meals, time with family and being comfortable wearing long johns and wool socks all day long—inside.

I don’t like to sweat during any time of the year, but I especially dislike sweating during the late season and with our current weather pattern, it’s hard to say if winter will officially set in or if it will continue to tease us.

Personally, I skip out on the shotgun seasons so I can enjoy the solitude of an Iowa winter during late muzzleloader season.

I know I’m partially crazy for admitting this, but my dream late muzz season will have the nastiest weather that Mother Nature can dish up. I like lots of snow, extreme cold and a smokin’ hot cornfield.

Let’s get into some details. I start my pre-muzzleloader scouting during the regular weekdays of Iowa’s second shotgun season. After work each night I have about 30 minutes before the sun sets and I run a milk route around what I think will be the busiest food sources. Some nights I’ll drive, others I’ll park and watch the evening action unfold from a distance with my Nikon binoculars, a spotting scope.

As far as I’m concerned this can be the best hunting of the entire year. Sure, nothing beats a big ol’ rutting buck charging into a rattling sequence, but when it comes to making up for a frustrating bow season, late muzzleloader is where it’s at.

In fact, I feel safe stating this is your very best chance at killing the biggest buck of your life—as long as the weather cooperates. Pray for nastiness.

So, what to do if its warm and snowless? This is where things can get difficult and certainly will challenge even the veteran smoke-poler.

The corner stone of your effort remains the same—scout. The time you put in watching from a distance and keeping tabs on a particular buck and his movements will prove to be invaluable.

When I don’t have my “dreamy” conditions I start with the food.

Typically, when the weather is especially harsh, the deer will bed up within close proximity of their preferred food source, in fact some will never leave it.

But, when it’s not as cold as I would like it, the deer tend to bed in their traditional security cover. This adds an interesting twist, as they won’t move as early as they might if it were ugly out.

I live and die by my treestands during bow season, but under traditional winter conditions, I prefer to hunt on the ground.

I really feel this allows for mobility if necessary, not to mention I can hunt in areas where I don’t previously have a stand set.

However, with unseasonal weather, I am far more likely to move in and take the archery approach.
Regardless of the weather, following the two shotgun seasons the deer are on a very fragile pattern.

This means you better have all your “I’s” dotted and your “T’s” crossed or you could loose your edge faster than you might realize. Take your time, get in the set early, and hunt only when the wind is perfect.

This is one of the very best big-buck killing opportunities you will find all season long. Put your time in early, don’t stop scouting once the season has begun and continually look for the edge you need to bring down the trophy of a lifetime.

Hunt Hard!

From my family to yours, Merry Christmas! Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season!

Live It Up!

Thomas resides with his wife and two children in Guthrie Center.  He is the Managing Editor with North American Fisherman, official publication for North American Fishing Club. For questions or archived articles please visit www.outsideiowa.com; tha481@gmail.com