Finally, don't overlook trying a variation on the traditional man-drive. You work with a buddy, one of you getting into a strategic position while the other glides slowly through prime cover. The idea here is to push deer into leaving their beds rather than to spook them into a dead run, thus getting shot opportunities that otherwise wouldn't present themselves.

The downside to this approach is that you can't employ the method more than once or twice in a given location before deer decide they have urgent business elsewhere. Yet in the depths of December, with the days you can hunt dwindling down to a precious few, it deserves consideration.

* * *

And there you have it: a bevy of late-season pointers that you might want to add to your bag of deer-hunting tricks. Plainly, none are applicable for all situations, but chances are good that some of them have the potential to work for you no matter where you enjoy the wonders of the whitetail quest.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Jim Casada is a full-time freelance writer who firmly believes in being a hunter for all seasons. For information on his books relating to deer hunting and venison cookery, or for a free subscription to his monthly e-newsletter, visit his Web site, www.jimcasadaoutdoors.com.