McClory: Deer hunting season is just about upon us

Hunters, dressed in bright orange, will be heading into the woods Monday morning, as Massachusetts deer hunting begins.Because of last year’s hard winter, wildlife managers predict deer will be harder to find than during the last few record-breaking seasons.Take advantage of the opening day crowd. The average hunter never travels any more than 200-300 yards into the woods.Get out an hour earlier and put your compass or GPS to work. Take a reading and get in deep! Determine where the most hunting pressure is, and position yourself to be on the receiving end of a wary buck.Typically on opening day, whitetails will be out of their comfort zones and moving unnaturally because of the activity, so set yourself up near a major escape route that leads to the thickest of the thick.Also try to have the wind blowing in your face. Be patient. It usually takes a while for deer to get there. Mid-morning is when antsy hunters get up to move and could unknowingly push a buck by patient hunters.Locally the season lasts for two full weeks until one half hour after sunset Dec. 12. The best opportunity to encounter a deer is still from the central part of the state to the east.As a bonus, Black Powder season starts on Dec. 14 and runs to the end of the year. To shoot a doe you need a doe tag and a primitive firearm stamp. Hunters who successfully harvest deer must bring the animal to an official game check station within 48 hours. There, information about the animal will be recorded, and a seal or tag will be affixed. The hunter who took the animal must be present with a license and any pertinent permits.uLocally, there is a plenty of public land open to deer hunting. The most popular are Harold Parker State Forest in Middleton, North Andover and North Reading, Rowley State Forest in Rowley, Boxford State Forest, off Route 133 in Georgetown, and Willowdale State Forest in Ipswich.Berkshire County has more than 20,000 acres of land open to public hunting. Ideally, obtaining permission from a private landowner is most desirable, but don’t wait until opening morning.uHere is a list of deer checking stations in this district: The new MassWildlife District HQ, 85 Fitchburg Rd (Rte 2A), Ayer 978-263-4347; Willard Brook State Park, Rte 119, Ashby, 978-597-8802; Essex Aggie, 562 Maple St. Danvers (978) 265-3220; Martin Burns WMA, Orchard St., Newbury, 978-465-8012; Harold Parker State Forest; 301 Middleton Rd. North Andover, 978-686-3391; Hunter`s Trading Post, 427 Washington St., Weymouth, 781-331-1151; Haverhill Hounds R&G Club, Chadwick Road, Haverhill, (978) 290-0705; The Sportsman’s Den, 666 Southern Artery, Quincy, 617-770-3884; Danvers Fish and Game, 20 Birch Rd., Middleton, 978-774-9870.uThis has been one of our leanest years at deer camp to date. Our crew’s been putting in the time up in Maine and our meat pole is still empty! This deer season reminds us of fishing weather. This time of year, deer are supporting a winter coat and layers of body fat to get them through the winter. We know that to be successful we have to almost step on the deer to get them to move, because just like us, they just want keep cool. By midmorning we’re pealed down to one or two layers, uncomfortable and overheated.I’ve noticed that many of nature’s little creatures all seem confused by the unseasonable weather. As far as we are concerned the biologist predictions of a slow season is true, and the checking station in our area is down.Don McClory is The Item’s outdoors writer