Without knowing the exact circumstances of your hunting area, this is my rules of thumb so to speak. Tip 1: Get as close to the bedding area as possible, but be to the downwind side and about 100 yrds off the area where you expect the deer to exit the bedding area and head to the feeding area. That will let the fawns, does and small bucks exit the bedding area and mill around letting the bigger bucks peek out once the other deer have left unmolested. 2. Drop the stand mentality and look for a spot to sit on the ground with your back to a tree/blow down or other wind block. The bigger the base the better. Take a wool blanket or quiet sleeping bag with you to sit on and wrap up with. Kick the snow, leaves, and small twigs away from the base of the trunk on the downwind side, place half the blanket in folds on the ground, sit, and wrap up with the rest keeping your smoke pole free and ready. Shooting sticks or a rest in front of you is a plus as is a snow bank or other cover to hide behind. 3. Get to your spot EARLY!! 3.1 Get to your spot EARLY!!! Cold and snow will make deer come out at strange times to feed, especially bucks that are worn down from the rut. I've had enough big deer come out from 11am to 1pm enough times that I prepare to sit in the cold long enough to be there if they show up. 4. Once you load your gun, DO NOT BRING IT BACK INTO A HEATED ENVIRONMENT unless you want to fire, clean, and reload your gun every day.!!! Condensation for a muzzy is a bitch. When you are done hunting for the day, put the gun in the gun case and leave it in the back of the truck or as far away from heat as possible and then leave it in the cold. These are the main things I do when chasing late season muzzy deer and it has worked well for me.
