By: Wyatt Neall 

     Winter hunting seasons are soon to be in full effect, and The Squire is here to give some tips on how to stay warm and safe during these seasons.  

    Rifle deer season, which was from November 29 through December 13 is just wrapping up, and hunters benefited this year from some new rules and guidelines that are likely to remain in place for years to come. Hunting is now allowed on two Sundays with permission from the landowner.  

     With needing written permission on the Sundays, avid hunter, Derek Guiher, has a little trick when trying to get permission, suggesting, “When I’m trying to get the permission, I ask if I shovel their driveway, if I can have permission to hunt on their land.” Derek regards that this trick helps him get more permission when trying to hunt on those people’s property. While it might be too late to try this strategy this year, it is a great idea to keep in mind for next year. 

     There are many different approaches when hunting deer in the winter. Guiher shared his personal tips with The Squire and explained, “I like to find a nice spot to sit with good shooting lanes but also very good cover to be able to blend in with the surrounding area.” Another approach would be to spot and stalk the deer, which is where you spot a deer, and then you try and get close enough to the deer to be able to take a good shot.  

     With it being winter, the weather is showing very cold temperatures, making it important to stay warm when hunting. In order to stay comfortable, keep moving and keep your blood flowing. Another way to stay warm is to have many layers of clothes on and have a good pair of gloves and boots. When trying to pick out clothes, try and make sure that you get clothes that are warm but also light so that you are able to move but also stay warm.  

     With the snow falling, coyote hunting will start to pick up because of the advantage you get with tracking the animals. An avid coyote hunter, Brice Ludwick, shared some of the benefits of using coyote dogs while hunting, “When using coyote dogs, they give you many benefits, the biggest being getting on the tracks of the coyote, as they will find the coyotes after getting onto fresh tracks.” This is one of the many benefits of using coyote dogs when hunting. 

     Make sure to stay safe and responsible during the hunting this winter and good luck to everyone that will be taking part in the hunt.