Northeast Outdoor Newsletter: November 2022

It’s hard for me to focus on being an outdoor-generalist this time of the year because there’s only one thing I can focus on: deer season. More specifically, rifle season, which in my mind are the greatest 16 days known to mankind. I had a family friend ask me the other day “so this has to be like Christmas Eve for you.” I replied saying “I really wish I could get this excited for any holiday.”

Vermont has a rich and colorful history of chasing whitetails, and one can easily ‘go down the rabbit hole’ so to speak, and look at all sorts of turn-of-the-century deer pictures and articles from various newspapers from all over the state. I found myself reading up on the Vermont state record non-typical buck, dubbed “The Milkhouse Buck” which was shot on a farm in Norton in the 1930’s. In typical Vermont fashion, the rack of this monster deer hung on the family farm, only being viewed by those fortunate enough to be on the property. Someone close to the family campaigned for the antlers to be scored, and in 2010 The Milkhouse Buck officially became the record at 190 6/8”, besting the 188” deer shot by Ron Moody in Starksboro in 1958.

In my opinion, the greatest deer hunter who ever lived called Vermont his home. Larry Benoit, or Ling as he was known to his family, is without a question the most well known hunter from the Green Mountain State, and became famous for his ability to track giant deer and harvest some absolutely amazing animals. I’ve read his only book numerous times, which is called “How to Bag the Biggest Buck of Your Life,” not because I think I can replicate his hunting style that was effective for him in the 1950’s, but because of how influential he was on New England hunting in general. Ever wonder why everyone wears plaid flannel during rifle season? Yep, that’s Larry. That pump action .30-06 your great uncle killed two dozen bucks with up at camp? Yeah, that’s Larry too. I highly recommend buying the book for yourself, it's still in print and very affordable to buy online. It’s nice to know that once in a while people like to listen to guys named Larry.

As I write this, we are approaching the halfway mark in Vermont’s rifle season, or ‘regular’ season, as it’s often referred to. I know the odds are stacked against me this year: I’ve shot a buck with a rifle the last two years in a row, but I’ve still put some miles on my boots so far this year in hopes for a three-peat. The weather has not been on our side this fall. Leading up to the season, we were setting records for high temperatures in Vermont, posting a 76 degree day a week prior and a 71 degree day on the second day of the season. Now it’s in the 20’s with snow on the ground where it should be, but given the lack of buck sign and overall deer sign, I’m going to blame the abnormal conditions in recent weeks for my lack of venison. Because, of course, as outdoorsmen, we need to blame the weather, state fish and game agency, work schedule, moon phase and government if we haven’t had any success yet.

This is deer hunting in its simplest form. I always tell people who are unsure of what to look for or who are new to hunting to walk out into the woods, and just sit down somewhere you can see a little ways. The bucks will come to you this time of year, because they’re chasing does with only one thing on their mind. I know I have five more full days of hunting left before the season ends, and I fully intend on exhausting myself and every resource I have to punch my tag.

Fishing remains good this time of year. Landlocked salmon are continuing their migratory runs up river to spawn, lake trout are stacked close to shore to scatter spawn in the shallows, and bass have moved up shallow to chase bait fish as the thermocline flips. I usually run the boat until December 1st before I put her away until spring, so if I am lucky enough to get my buck in the next few days here, hopefully I’ll have a weather window to go after some late fall smallmouth and put a video together for the YouTube channel.

Duck hunters are chugging right along as well with most seasons running until the end of December in Vermont, which could provide me with an opportunity after deer season is over and the boat is hibernating. But for now, I have deer on the brain. If you’re reading this, do a little deer-dance for me in hopes one steps out in front of my camera and the business end of my rifle.

“If it’s brown, it’s down.”