CHRIS SMITH

The 2024-2025 East Texas whitetail deer season will end Sunday at sunset.

Actually general season closed back on Jan. 5, with these final two weeks set aside for the youth and blackpowder or primitive arms folks. This is a great time to get your youth hunter in the stand and connect with their deer before season closes.

As for the blackpowder, it’s a newer season and it’s growing in popularity. Some deer hunters have even purchased a blackpowder rifle to take advantage of the additional hunting days.

Late season can be a great time to fill your tags and more importantly give a youngster their chance. This late in the season, many deer (specifically does) have relaxed and started their winter feed patterns and are more predictable. Food plots and feeders will most likely be busy with yearlings and “swayback” does at nearly any time of day.

I have one corn feeder set to feed three times per day and there are three deer that will be at that feeder every time it spins. We have plenty of other deer using the corn with some regularly but these three do not miss a spin.

The food plot nearby gets plenty of visitors but nothing like the “golden nuggets” A winter cover field (wheat, oats etc.) will also draw more numbers of deer as the winter gets going. I always like to talk about feeding programs when we talk about feeders. Keeping a feeder or three going year round is a small investment for your local deer. Protein and minerals are recommended for the nutrition and overall health for the deer not to mention the antler development and healthy mama deer going into the spring and fawning season.

A healthy mature doe will produce twins every year, occasionally triplets but bitter winter, drought conditions or otherwise poor health expect single fawns or none id drastic conditions. As much as we do to get ready for deer hunting, feeding them is a small cost comparatively speaking. Plant some peas, turnip greens, we have even raised some soybeans with some success.

The point is to scatter some seeds throughout the year. Turnips and wheat/oats or great for winter, the peas and beans during the summer. I have never tried it before but beets are cool season crop and can be grown in the spring and fall.

Any of the commercially prepared seed blends should be considered as success is virtually guaranteed.

Get to the woods, after work, after school or as soon as possible and stay in the stand as long as possible. Time is running out so enjoy the last few moments.

Send in those youth pics, fishing or hunting or just enjoying the great outdoors of East Texas.