7 Strategies For Hunting Whitetail In The Winter

Nevertheless, don't give up. Not only is this time of year changing your hunting patterns, but it is also changing the whitetail's daily patterns as well.

Although it is only November, we Michiganders at HuntWise have already endured multiple days of snowy, below-20-degree weather. It is cold and very windy, but that is not going to stop us from chasing big bucks in the winter.

It shouldn't stop you, either! We've developed seven different strategies for hunting whitetail during the wintertime. Keep reading to learn what they are and how to apply them to your next wintery hunt.

1. Understand Winter Food Sources

In the winter, a lot about the whitetails' "home" has changed. Leaves have fallen, crops have been harvested, and overall, their home is entirely different.

Their feeding efforts have to be vastly different, as well. Yes, this does vary based on the location where you are hunting, but more often than not, a whitetail will alter what their food source is and change the times of day they are feeding.

In the winter, whitetail movement during the day will significantly decline because daylight is so limited. Deer won't trail as much as they would have during the early season because they would be burning energy reserves for no reason.

So, concentrate on areas with good bedding coverage and available winter food sources. Take some time to research your area and understand what vegetation will be available for your whitetail in the wintertime. If you begin to focus on these smaller areas, your likelihood of success will surely increase.

2. Ditch Your Stand

We've said it before and will say it again: ditch your stand during the winter season.

As we mentioned earlier, whitetail behavior will change significantly during this time of year, which means you must switch up your normal hunting patterns. Get on that big buck's level by ditching your stand and learning to still-hunt.

Considering whitetail are spending more time moving slowly in a more confined area, moving slowly through the woods will increase your chances of getting within range. Although this is not an easy change to make, it is so worth it.

The key to success when still-hunting is to be patient. You must move slowly, use available coverage, and always be ready. It will be challenging to spot a nice whitetail in their densely bedded area, but if you move too quickly, you could potentially walk right past one.

So, move slowly and enjoy your time afield. Spend all day still hunting, and we are sure the odds will be in your favor.

3. Know The Difference Between Winter and Fall Whitetail Behavior

Understanding how whitetail behavior varies from season to season is probably one of the most crucial elements of successful hunting.

You cannot use the same information you gathered throughout the early season.

Yes, if you have evidence of a buck living in your area, the chances are good that he is still there. However, from what you learned above about the changes in feeding areas and coverage, early winter is the perfect time to reevaluate your deer's behavior.

Although whitetails are creatures of habit, they will begin to stay in a more confined area and feed at different times. This is a good time to check out your trail cameras and figure out what the deer are up to. Looking at your trail camera footage will help you better figure out what area the whitetail are shifting towards, which will help you determine the best position to hunt. 

4. Seek Bedding Areas

As we've discussed, locating bedding areas is crucial for harvesting that big buck on your trail camera.

Bucks are very active during the rut but then tend to slow down, considering they have been on the move and the days are growing shorter. Always remember that during the winter season, a whitetail will spend as much as 90% of their time bedded instead of being active.

Due to blowing winds, they tend to veer away from open areas and shift their focus towards surviving these harsh months. Therefore, hunters should shift their focus, too, and think, "Where would my buck be bedding?"

5. Skip The Morning Hunt (Weird, Right?)

Although we typically tell hunters to sit all day long to harvest a big buck, things tend to be a little different during the winter.

On viciously cold days, many whitetails will not make it back to their bedding areas until just before daylight due to the change in feeding times. That is why you should skip your typical morning hunt, sleep in, and wait until the afternoon.

You do not want to risk scaring off a big buck.

6. Choose Your Tree Coverage Wisely

Finally, tree coverage is a very crucial aspect of hunting in the winter. However, tree coverage tends to be very different during the winter than during the fall.

With the lack of foliage at this time of year, many trees that you typically relied on during the early season are now not so helpful. Most coverage in the woods this time of year is slim to none – so instead of locating a very dense and thickly wooded area, look for "background coverage."  

What does this mean? Seeking background coverage simply means looking for an area that will allow you to blend in a little better by having a lot of branches, high bushes, etc. Having an open sky behind you is not ideal.

Instead, look for an area that was probably a thicket during the early season. This will help you blend in much better while you are still hunting that big buck.

7. Make Sure You Have the Right Gear

To sit still in the field and hunt whitetail in the cold, you need the right gear to stay warm and comfortable. You'll need quality gear like a jacket, pants, boots, and a hat to protect yourself from harsh winter conditions.

As a HuntWise subscriber, you can save hundreds on the gear you need – cold weather or otherwise – using exclusive discounts with our partners!

Use HuntWise for Whitetail Hunting in the Winter

Now that you understand why the winter is so vastly different and how to alter your hunting patterns to complement this time of year, it's time to get out into the woods. Remember to check your trail cameras, observe your deer's behavior, seek more confined and covered areas, and mark them on the HuntWise app.

Try to plot multiple areas that you believe will harvest big bucks within your HuntWise map. Use the various map layers to learn about the area's topography and access points before heading into the field. You can always try multiple areas based on the app's predictions for the day.

Start planning your winter hunt now! Download HuntWise and explore every feature – free – for a week.

Content updated June 14, 2024.