Late-Season Whitetail Tips with Ralph Cianciarulo
Late-Season Whitetail Tips with Ralph Cianciarulo
Published on December 2nd, 2024
Old Man Winter is getting aggressive. The West and Midwest have already experienced massive mercury drops, and multiple states have seen monstrous snowstorms.
Is this a prelude to what’s to come?
According to legendary whitetail hunters and hosts of The Choice, Ralph and Vicki Cianciarulo, things might shape up for a legendary late season in the whitetail woods.
“We lived in Illinois for a long time,” said Ralph. “We craved the late-season months. The rut is fantastic but is ultra-unpredictable. Bucks move between does, and your one target-buck sighting might be when that buck is hot on the heels of an estrous doe.
“When the rut is over, bucks and does are biologically expendable. They are weak from the rut. Both sexes needed to pack on the calories. If the weather worsens, deer get on their feet earlier and spend more time feeding than sleeping. This is one of the best times of the year to pattern and kill a trophy buck.”
Ralph feels that too many whitetail hunters overcomplicate the late season with too many tactics. However, Ralph and Vicki do agree that running trail cameras and doing lots of hands-on scouting around food sources is critical to late-season success.
“The deer will be where the best food sources are near excellent bedding cover,” Ralph said. “Your job is to find those food sources. Grain crops — harvested and non-harvested — are the go-to when temperatures get cold. Grain food sources are full of carbohydrates, which give the deer energy and help them pack on the pounds. If Mother Nature is gentle, look to green food sources. If you find food, you’ll find late-season deer.”
Ralph also pointed out that scouting should trump hunting during the late season. The more time hunters spend scouting, the more they familiarize themselves with late-season patterns. As mentioned earlier in the article, one of the excellent things about late-season hunting is that deer are incredibly patternable. If you develop a food-to-bed, bed-to-food pattern, you can play the wind, get on the X, and slip in and kill your target buck.
“During the late season, Vicki and I watch our trail cams, scout with good glass from afar, and pay attention to the weather. We do the work beforehand so that we’re ready to strike when favorable late-season weather arrives.
“You want, if you can, to wait on frigid weather. When the weather turns cold, deer get cold. It’s straightforward. Bucks are worn down, and when the temperatures dip, they need to feed more to create more body energy and more body warmth while packing on the calories. Don’t overthink it.
“If you know where the deer are bedding and where they are feeding, and a front is forecasted, go kill your target buck. Get into the area clean, and make sure the wind is good. Often, you’ll drop that Browning X-Bolt 2 trigger and punch your late-season tag.”
There's More to The Late-Season Than Waiting on Cold Weather
Ralph and Vicki are friends of mine. They moved to Colorado from Illinois a few years ago. What I love about this hunting couple is their vivacious energy and desire to tell things like they are. They are both NO GUFF people, and after touching on food, Ralph went in a different late-season direction that savvy hunters talk about.
“If you know where the food is, finding a late-season buck is easy if you get some weather. However, killing that buck, for many hunters, is difficult.
“This is because most hunters don’t take the time to practice how they plan to hunt. It’s cold. Heavy coats, bibs, gloves, etc., are part of the late-season whitetail playbook. For this reason, I’ve developed a list of questions I ask myself if I’m late-season hunting before I step afield. Follow this list, and you’ll make clean, one-shot rifle kills on late-season deer.”
Ralph’s Late-Season Kill ‘Em Checklist:
Have I practiced shooting in the clothing I plan to wear while hunting?
Have I practiced shooting in the clothing I plan to wear while hunting from the shooting position I will likely be in when my moment-of-truth opportunity arises?
Have I shot my rifle in extreme freezing conditions to ensure it can withstand Mother Nature’s worst moods?
Do I have a piece of latex rubber medical glove or some other material to place over the end of my barrel when moisture is present? You need to keep the inside of your barrel and action dry.
Have I practiced shooting when I’ve had my hands out of my gloves or muff for an extended period? As crisp as Browning triggers are, triggers feel different when you can’t feel them.
Can I get to my lens cloth immediately? Warm breath on cold glass can create a visibility problem.
When I return to my truck after a wet outing, do I have the wipes and gun-cleaning equipment I need? I don’t want to place a damp rifle in a gun case and remove it three days later when I’m ready to hunt. You must care for your rifle if you want it to take care of you in the field. Give it some TLC and always check the inside of the barrel and action for moisture.
Ralph was straight-faced while going through his list. He firmly believes that the late season is prime deer time; and a time when hunters are most likely to miss deer or have some kind of rifle malfunction.
“Browning rifles are the best there is, period. However, we all owe it to these amazing animals to put the bullet in the right place,” Ralph said. “People think I'm kidding about my list. I’m not kidding. I don’t want a late-season mishap. We all work too hard to earn our opportunity. When we do, don’t want to leave anything to chance.”
