Mother Nature has thrown us a curveball this opening weekend of gun season. We are going to be experiencing a cold front. Now, I know it’s not the bitter winds of January but for those that haven’t been out and about in the woods, it can be a major shock to the system.

When this type of weather hits, there are basically two schools of thought. The first one is wait until it warms up. The second is go for it, but spend less time in search of filling your tags.

Over the years, I have utilized both schools of thought but recently I have taken to the woods in bitter cold with several adjustments to my hunting plans. Some would ask: Why the heck are you heading into the woods in search of venison when the wind is blowing and temperatures hang out in the teens? My response is really simple: deer are moving in the all types or weather.

While winter in our part of whitetail country is defined by harsh weather with cold fronts bringing periods of ice, wind and snow, this arrival of frigid weather against common belief does put deer on the move. If the weather has been consistent for days or weeks without much change, the movement will often decrease.

We all must remember when hunting in cold weather that deer are built for it. The winter coat they have is made of tens of thousands of hollow hairs that keep deer comfortable year-round.

Like many other mammals, deer physically prepare for the winter by better insulating their bodies. Deer also alter their behavior to survive the winter. They are generally less active, sometimes dropping their metabolism by half, which allows them to save energy and eat less. The hollow hairs in a deer coat trap air. This provides an insulated outer layer that can keep them warm even when it gets to minus-30 degrees.

Watching the weather forecast and being in the stand the day before a front moves in or is set to hit your area as well as the next two or three days after is a great time to head to the woods. The deer will be feeding, so you’ll have the opportunity to catch them slipping from bedding areas to food sources. Older bucks, even those with nocturnal schedules, can be caught moving during daylight. Set your stand near the edges of bedding areas with the wind at your face, taking care when entering the woods not to spook any deer.

In stable weather, deer will follow their typical patterns. This usually includes moving from cover to feed at dawn and dusk. If the weather is cooler than normal, or during rutting activity, you may find that pattern not as predictable. Regardless, a trail connecting feeding and bedding areas is your best bet.

At the beginning of deer season, food is abundant and deer are scattered about the woods, which can make it difficult to pattern a buck. Once the weather turns cold, food is scarce and we can use that to our advantage. The deer will likely be concentrated on what little browse is still available, taking the guesswork out of where to look.

Target late-producing food plots or commercial crops like corn or soybeans, which are high in the carbohydrates deer need to make it through the winter. Look for natural food like oats or honeysuckle as well as common browse near field edges.

Water is an important part of the deer diet. Around here we talk about it much, but when these little creeks and streams freeze over, they still need water. Finding a small area that isn’t frozen over yet can be a honey in cold weather.

Late in the season, the deer have been pressured by the consistent flow of hunters running around woods, making deer particularly wary to human presence. Stay out of the woods when you’re not hunting. Check trail cameras sparingly and don’t tromp near bedding areas or food sources unless you are accessing your stand. When you’re heading into the field to hunt, take care to minimize noise to reduce chances of spooking any nearby deer.

Winter in the snowbelt is brutal and it’s important to stay warm. You don’t want to have to call it a day early because the cold has gotten to you, so it’s important to dress appropriately to spend as much time as possible in the stand.

Pop-up blinds are good options for late-season hunting because they for the most part keep you out of the wind and many times keeps warmth in, they also keep the noise down. You can also use indoor-rated heaters inside a blind to keep you toasty throughout the hunt.

Start with a merino wool or moisture-wicking base layer as well as wool socks. Add on a waterproof layer on top and wear a facemask and gloves. Keep your bulky layers off when walking to your stand to limit how much you’ll sweat. Put on your outer layer once you’ve settled into your tree stand.

Cold weather deer hunting is never easy, but if you can brave the cold and find where they’re congregating, harvesting one isn’t as hard as it’s made out to be. Just like the early season, have some patience, put in plenty of time in the stand and make the shot count.

Deer can sense a change in the weather before it arrives. They will be feeding before the front slides through, then hunker down in heavy cover as it blows over. Target on food sources, whether that’s natural browse like oak trees or a food plot.

When the wind is howling and rain or snow is falling, deer will be bedded down in heavy cover. They will move, but only short distances and during lulls in the storm. This is when we hunt the edges of cover or near a food plot with thickets nearby.

You know how we make a beeline to the outdoors on the first nice day of spring to end cabin fever? Deer do the same after a storm passes. The storm doesn’t have to be a big one, either. If wind or heavy rains keeps a buck from feeding at night, he will be out in the morning if conditions settle down. Focus your efforts on the same areas you did before the storm passed.

They weather looks unpredictable for the next couple of weeks and late Thanksgiving holiday this season. Deer hunters for the most part will have to put in a little extra effort to fill their tags this season. But that will make the hunt more enjoyable and that freezer filled with venison is always a good thing.

Remember to always keep you head, fingers and of toes warm. Doing so will keep you in the woods longer and possibly fill a tag or two.