Ep 8. Illinois Late Season

In season 9 episode 8 of Driven with Pat & Nicole, titled "Illinois Late Season," the dynamic duo head to Illinois for some late season hunting. The episode starts with Pat and Nicole driving through the countryside, discussing their strategy for the hunt ahead. They mention that they're hoping for some cold weather, as it encourages the deer to move around more during daylight hours.

Once they arrive at their destination, Pat and Nicole meet up with their guide and set out to explore the hunting grounds. The area is full of dense woods and thick brush, which makes it a great habitat for deer, but also makes it challenging for the hunters. Pat and Nicole discuss how they'll need to stay quiet and remain stealthy if they want to have any chance of spotting a deer.

As they make their way deeper into the woods, Pat suddenly spots movement in the distance. He signals to Nicole, and they both crouch down behind a fallen tree to observe. After a few tense moments, they realize it's a group of does and fawns, but there's no sign of any bucks. They continue on their way, scanning the area for any signs of the elusive big males.

Later that day, Nicole sets up in a treestand while Pat heads out on foot. As he navigates through the thick brush, he suddenly spots a giant buck in the distance. He moves closer, trying to get a better look, but the deer disappears into the woods before he can get a shot off. Pat radios Nicole to let her know about the sighting, and she decides to remain in her treestand for a while longer to see if he'll come back.

Meanwhile, Pat continues his search, trudging through the snow and scanning the area for any sign of the buck. After several hours of fruitless searching, he decides to head back and regroup with Nicole. When he arrives at her treestand, she tells him that she's seen several smaller bucks, but no sign of the monster Pat spotted earlier.

The next day, the weather takes a turn for the worse and heavy snowfall blankets the woods. Pat and Nicole discuss how the conditions might affect the hunt, with Pat noting that the deep snow will make it more difficult to move around quietly. Despite the challenges, they set out once again, determined to bag a buck before the end of the trip.

As they move deeper into the woods, they come across a heavily-traveled deer trail. Pat says that it's a good sign, as it means there's likely to be more deer in the area. They follow the trail for a while, keeping their eyes peeled for any signs of movement. Suddenly, a buck appears in the distance, and Pat crouches down to get a better look. After a tense moment, he takes the shot and the deer drops to the ground.

Pat and Nicole rush over to the kill, admiring the impressive buck. They take a few photos and celebrate their successful hunt. Pat notes that it was a challenging trip, but they persevered through the tough conditions and came out with a great trophy.

Overall, "Illinois Late Season" is an exciting episode that showcases the grit and determination of Pat and Nicole as they face the challenges of hunting in the winter. From navigating through thick brush to enduring cold temperatures and heavy snowfall, they demonstrate the skills and experience that have made them two of the top hunters in the game.