Winter is just around the corner and with it comes a total change in the lay of the land for hunters and trappers. Snow will soon be blanketing landscapes and ushering in a season presenting unique challenges – and opportunities – for hunters and trappers.
Colder weather may deter some, but those embracing the challenge of frosty adventure discover a wealth of possibilities. Whether you’re a seasoned winter sportsman looking forward to snow on the ground or a novice looking to know where to begin, we hope that our guide helps you to get a better handle on the specific challenges of winter hunting and trapping.
Understanding Winter Wildlife Behavior
Winter trapping and hunting requires specialized information about the behavior of wildlife during the colder months of the year. This is because winter triggers significant changes in wildlife behavior. Understanding the cold weather migration patterns and movement of game and furbearers is absolutely necessary for successful hunting and trapping.
What’s more, winter food scarcity leads to far more concentrated feeding areas. Knowing where and when wildlife is feeding during the colder months is a necessary precondition for successful winter hunting and trapping.
Hunting Techniques For Winter Months
Hunting during the winter months provides special opportunities to bag some game. However, it also requires keen understanding of specialized techniques designed for the winter months and based on animal behavior when the temperature drops.
Fresh snowfall provides an excellent opportunity to track game. It can be much easier to track an animal in the snow than it is without the snow. Learning to properly identify animal tracks and scat can help lead you to your quarry.
What’s more, when the weather is extremely cold, animals bed down to conserve energy. Setting up near bedding areas or known travel routes can dramatically increase your chances of spotting – and bagging – game.
Winter is also the perfect time for using your calls. Animal have different vocalizations such as distress calls, mating calls, and territorial calls. These can be highly effective to attract game. Learning to mimic these sounds effectively will help you to attract game.
Trapping Techniques For Winter Months
Much like winter hunting, winter trapping comes with special opportunities alongside the challenges. Knowing the lay of the land is going to dramatically increase your chances of finding a full trap.
Identify the paths animals use to move through their territory (often called animal trails) will help you to find the ideal spot to lay down your traps. Setting traps near trails increases the likelihood of coming back to a full trap.
You can also use the food scarcity of the winter months to help you catch animals. Bait or lures can be used to attract animals. Being well versed in the specific preferences of your target and adapting your bait or lure choices accordingly will increase your chances of a successful catch.
Snare traps can be highly effective for capturing furbearing animals like coyotes and foxes. Learning to set snares correctly and safely can increase your chances of getting yourself some wild fur.
Legal and Ethical Considerations Of Winter Hunting And Trapping
As with all hunting and trapping, there are legal and ethical considerations to take into account before you start tracking prey or laying traps. Not only is it important to stay on the right side of the law, it’s also important to do the right thing.
Ensure you have all the appropriate hunting and trapping licenses. Beyond just having the right licenses, you want to adhere to all local and state regulations. Violating these can lead to legal consequences. Game wardens generally don’t have much patience or sympathy for people who violate the law – knowingly or otherwise.
Go above and beyond the law by respecting ethical hunting and trapping practices. Always make clean and humane kills. If you’re not going to harvest the animal, practice “catch and release” when trapping.
Another way you can support ethical hunting and trapping is by setting up wildlife feeding stations. In many areas, wildlife struggles to find enough food throughout the winter months. Setting up wildlife feeding stations on your property can help sustain these vulnerable populations for future generations.
Donating to or volunteering for conservation organizations can likewise protect wildlife habitats and the animals that life on them.
After The Hunt Is Over
Once the hunt is over, there’s still a lot of work to be done. Doing this properly will help you to enjoy the fruits of your hunt better, while also leaving the area in good shape for other hunters and trappers – to say nothing of the animals who call the area home.
Once a successful hunt is over, properly process your game on the spot. Field dressing and butchering to prepare high-quality meat for your table are essential skills that every hunter and trapper should have.
For trappers, it’s essential to know how to handle and prepare your furs for sale or personal use. If you’re a trapper looking to sell your wares, proper fur handling ensures your ability to get top dollar for your catch.
Hunting and trapping in winter can be both rewarding and challenging. When the outdoors transforms into a winter wonderland, hunters and trappers have a unique opportunity to connect with nature, track game, and enjoy the thrill of the chase.
Understand winter wildlife behavior, dress appropriately, employ effective hunting and trapping techniques, and prioritize safety. Do all that and you can make the most of this special season. Embrace the cold and embark on your next (or your first) winter hunting or trapping journey!
Have you learned anything unique or interesting about winter wildlife behavior? Any interesting or unusual trapping methods you’ve learned over the years? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
