Tips for Whitetail Deer Hunting in the Snow

There is nothing better than deer hunting in the snow. I don't know why but snow adds to the hunting experience like nothing else. Perhaps it is because we revert to children and pretend to be mountain men out to get our supper. Perhaps our evolutionary memory takes over and we realize that crops don't grow in the winter and we need meat to survive. Or perhaps it is just because it makes the deer move and easier to spot, but for some reason I love to hunt deer in the snow.

Fresh snow offers a lot of advantages to hunters. One, deer can be tracked in fresh snow by anyone regardless of experience. If it snowed last night and there are deer tracks, you know they are fresh. While few of us get to deer hunt in the snow often enough to be great trackers, novices can find tracks and make large quick circles in front of the deer to try and get in front of the slowly browsing deer. If you make a circle without finding deer tracks it is likely that the deer have bedded down. Either pick a stand and wait, or move in slowly on a stalk. Fresh snow also makes walking in the woods quieter for those who still hunt and for those coming and going to a stand. Snow also makes it much easier to spot deer moving through woods and fields (except for the albinos who get a rare break as they now blend in well). The one disadvantage of fresh snow is that deer move without making a peep on the soft, new fallen snow.
The absolute best time to deer hunt in relation to snow is before the snow comes. The deer apparently keep and eye of the forecast and will hit the forest's mast and the fields hard before a snow arrives. After the snow falls and the weather clears, deer will usually begin to move again unless it is unusually cold. If you missed hunting the approaching snow storm, be on stand as the sun comes up after the snow and you will be in for a thrill. Deer will be moving to find food that has been buried under the snow and will be easy to spot. Consider hunting from a ridge as the usually well camouflaged deer will now stand out and be easy to see.
So when you see the snow coming, get in the woods. While the best time to hunt is anytime that you can, hunting in the snow offers a productive experience that you won't want to miss!

Source :
http://voices.yahoo.com/tips-whitetail-deer-hunting-snow-2036372.html?cat=11