December is a busy month: Shoppers frantically invade area malls looking for bargains on Christmas gifts, businesses prepare end-of-the-year financials for their CPAs, and deer gun hunters clean and store their gear away for the next season.

Brad Myers had planned for his soon-to-be wife Terra to kill this impressive 11-pointer, but it didn't work out that way. No matter; she was glad when Brad arrowed the near-180-inch buck. Photo by Brad Myers.

But wait! If you're an avid outdoorsman, a lot of action takes place in the woods and on the water near you at this time of year. For starters, you could enjoy some stellar waterfowling; there's also some tremendous upland bird hunting for quail and even pheasants. And, if you want to rid the landscape of a few pesky varmints, then you might consider hunting for coyotes, bobcats, and gray foxes (red foxes are illegal, as you know).

Better yet, wild or feral hogs top the nuisance list in most areas; you could shoot a porker and make a farmer's day.

As for me, the whitetail's second rut is beginning so I'll grab my archery gear and head to the Oklahoma woodlands for a crack at a late-season deer -- provided I have one of my two buck tags still in my pocket. If not, I'll be after a fat doe to add prime venison to my freezer.

It's true: Hunting our late archery season can be amazing! Experts confide that the activity they've encountered in December rivals any deer hunting they've ever experienced. But before you head to the deer woods. Let me stoke your fire with a few deer tales from some of last year's successful December bowmen.

LATE-SEASON BOWHUNTING HAS ITS REWARDS
What's so special about December bowhunting? Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation biologist and deer statistician Jerry Shaw said that December bowhunting can be very good. He pointed out that while most does are breed during the first rut in November, some aren't. Those females will start their second estrous cycles 28 days later and again be receptive to breeding. That second cycle generally gets going about the second week of December. And that means late-season bowhunters can find good rut-hunting action during our second bow season.

"Normally the deer start settling down in December, after being skittish from rifle season," Shaw said. "Generally, December has some nice days and provides a good opportunity for hunters to take some venison and help manage the herd."

THE HUNT FOR TERRA'S BUCK
Being a talented photographer, Kansas native Brad Myers is afforded with very limited opportunities to hunt deer. However, with a passion for bowhunting, he makes time to hunt as often as possible. In fact, last season Myers tagged a dandy buck and he didn't have to travel far from his Edmond home to do so.

Myers is no Johnny-come-lately to bowhunting. In 2001 he arrowed an awesome heavy-horned buck that scored 212 inches in northeast Kansas. He was named the "Moonlight Buck" because Myers' brother Nate first laid eyes on the behemoth one bright night as the huge non-typical crossed a river on their Kansas hunting property. Brad moved his stand to an area near the river, and the first time on stand he was rewarded with a 15-yard shot at the buck.

Myers is a big believer in game cameras, employing 10 of them to monitor the deer activity on his hunting areas. Nearing the end of the 2006 season, Myers saw a huge typical on his in-laws' land in Oklahoma County. "The buck was huge," said Myers, who anxiously awaited the 2007 season for a chance at the buck.