Finding a ready doe at this time of year is about as close to a sure thing as you will ever have in deer hunting. If you happen on one of those, especially in a remote location, she may well attract every buck in that area!

What I remember is that about the middle of November the ground froze, and I didn't have to build fence anymore! After the first freeze it would generally stay that way until February.

For whatever reason, that type of bone-chilling cold doesn't exist anymore, at least not for long spells. But deep winter in Arkansas can still be about as unpredictable as weather can be. It can snow on Monday, rain on Tuesday, and be in the 70s by Wednesday.

The good news is that in this day and time there is really no reason for the modern hunter to ever be cold or wet, even during extreme periods. The past decade has brought us new words such as Thermax, Gore-Tex, Thinsulate and polypropylene. These "miracle" fabrics have signaled an end to the days of freezing on a deer stand. Personally, I prefer the various "fleece" outfits for hunting because they are quieter. Choice of camouflage pattern is pretty much up to the individual, but there are many good ones.

Good footwear is vital wherever you hunt. Nothing is more irritating than a pair of boots that cause blisters or leak. Because I was taught that rubber doesn't let your scent through to the ground, I prefer the "pac boot" variety for colder weather, and often even wear insulated chest waders. Cleated soles work best in the mountains where the ground cover typically consists of slick pine needles. If you decide to buy a new pair of boots - particularly leather ones - break them in before the season begins.

Today I have a .45-caliber inline in my gun case that will consistently shoot 1.5-inch groups at 100 yards. Topped with a variable scope, it's a gun with which I'd unhesitatingly try to take any shot out to 200 yards under the right conditions. In addition, the fully enclosed disc system combines with sabots and Pyrodex pellets to make the weapon just about weatherproof.

I won't get into the never-ending argument about whether these guns are actually "primitive" arms. The answer is obvious: They aren't. But no one would confuse the compound bows being carried into the woods today with the ones that Native Americans toted when Europeans arrived, either. Modern inlines are considered legal under the present hunting regulations, so the choice of whether or not you use one is entirely up to you.

Whatever you decide to use, make sure you become familiar with it before heading afield. New or old, in-line or flintlock, with a muzzleloader you only have one chance when the moment of truth arrives. A few hours spent at the local rifle range can go a long way toward improving your chances.

But as the years have slid by, I've come to understand that to true outdoorsmen the actual act of killing a deer is only a part of the overall experience. How much of a part typically depends on your age and how many deer you've killed before.

Today I view late-season muzzleloader hunting as my last chance to deer hunt with a gun for an entire year. I still take it seriously, but the slower pace offers the perfect opportunity to reflect on the successes - and failures - I've had during this and past seasons.

So to sum up, late-season muzzleloading is for the hunter who's afield because he wants to be, and that's as good a reason as there is.