TIS THE SEASON BY TOM TATUM The late December and January deer woods, with their sometimes-promise of snow, create in archers the same anticipation felt by youngsters ready to ravage their stockings on Christmas morning. Unless, of course, they don't. My 2023-24 late bow season might have fi t that category. I passed up a number of smallish bucks in hopes of crossing paths with a big bruiser I'd caught on trail cam. In the end, though, my persistent patience left me still holding my buck tag when the season ended. The lack of snow in the southeast corner of the state didn't help. The mildest of winters failed to produce a single fl ake. While that meant never having to plow our driveway, it also erased the advantages that snow often bestows on late-season bowhunters. A blanket of snow on the ground can change the dynamics of any bowhunt, usually for the better. One important benefi t is the ability to see deer more clearly. Tawny whitetails that were invisible against the shadowy grays of November become a highprofi le brown against a white backdrop. The same deer that caught you off guard at close range in the fall won't be able to walk up on you undetected. That's especially true if the snow UNLESS IT TISN'T JANUARY 2025 61 Tom Tatum