Some Team Realtree Pros look for two situations when hunting late-season, hunter-wise bucks. First, some like a small food source near a large area of heavy cover with plenty of escape routes. Second, they like small patches of cover surrounded by lots of croplands and open areas. Food, though important to late-season bucks, is not primary. Survival is. A savvy buck usually will pick safe cover over abundant food. Bucks also like to hang out near does at this time. Even though the rut is over, a buck likes the security of those extra eyes and ears being alert for danger. Avoiding competition from other hunters is also critical. You can be extra careful while hunting a buck that you are on to, only to be messed up by another less-cautious hunter. Fortunately, the hunters thin down as the season winds down. You must really be a student of deer in general and better yet, one buck in particular, to score when the season has all but run its course.

Want to see lots of deer sign? Deer sign that is plain as day? Take a walk in the winter woods. When the leaves are down and the cover is at its barest, deer sign stands out as if it is lighted in neon. Trails, last fall's rubs and even a few scrapes are very evident.

You also see the "big picture." You get a larger view of your hunting area and how all the now readily visible sign relates to the terrain. If you've never seen your hunting area at maximum visibility with all the foliage gone, you will probably be surprised at how real distances differ from what you had perceived.

Look for sheds, explore buck sanctuary areas, learn the entire trail pattern, including a big buck's "escape hatches" from heavy cover. Even if the resident dominant buck was taken during the season, "prime real estate" won't go unoccupied for long. Post-season scouting can be the most informative look you get at your deer-hunting area.

Picking an all-around shotgun, one gun that does it all, is much easier these days. Interchangeable, screw-in choke tubes have tremendously increased shotgun versatility. Today's shotgunner can have it all, or at least most of it, in one gun. With a pouch of standard choke tubes, including improved-cylinder, modified and full, the wingshooter can cover all the bases at all reasonable ranges. Add an extra-full "turkey" choke and you're ready for the big birds. There are even rifled choke tube extensions that will turn a standard smoothbore into a passable slug gun. The 12 gauge does it all very well while a 20 gives up a bit of range and performance for turkey and slug-shooting at deer. Most modern guns, 12 and 20, come with a three-inch chamber and some 12s feature the long 3 1/2-inch chamber for the 12-gauge "super" magnum. A pump gun is likely the lighter and cheaper option. An autoloader adds some weight and expense but it takes the edge off recoil.

Staying warm when it's cold is a key component of comfortable late season or winter hunting. First look at the weather conditions and then at what you will be doing. Of course the temperature reading is fundamental. Obviously, really cold weather requires really warm clothes. However, if it's windy or damp, even a relatively high ambient temperature can still feel plenty cold. In such situations, garments that are wind- and waterproof are just as important, and maybe more important, as pure insulation. Also consider your activity. Will you be actively walking or sitting still? The more you move, the more body heat you will generate on your own and the less insulation you will need. Sitting still for long periods in the wind and the cold demands really warm clothes. The best bet is to layer your undergarments. That way you can put on or take off layers to match both the current conditions and your immediate activity level.

Many areas have deer seasons that extend very late into the winter. The key to successful hunting is knowing what has happened before this final inning. If the late hunts have been preceded by much other hunting, such as archery, black powder, early gun seasons, etc., expect spooky deer -- especially the surviving bucks. This is particularly true on public lands where hunting pressure has also been unlimited during earlier hunts. In such situations, head for the toughest, most remote (or both) areas available. That's where the deer have sought refuge from hunting pressure. Hunt smart and very carefully. These deer are savvy survivors. Use every trick you know to avoid alerting deer to your presence. All-day hunting pays off, because the deer are accustomed to the standard "morning/evening hunt" routine and may move about at midday. When you find an area of heavy deer use in the late season, remember it. That's where the deer will head when the pressure builds next season too.