Start with a single cold shot at your maximum effective range and then shoot one arrow at 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 yards. Another good spot for water holes or even tubs dug into the ground are near food plots since deer naturally will seek water before and/or after they feed. They will also likely bed fairly close to food sources (i.e., row crop fields, clover plots, alfalfa hay fields, etc. In my experience, some are and some aren't; find the ones that are to be successful in the early season. If you find a group of oaks or a massively productive apple tree tucked into the woods somewhere, you can bet deer will be feeding there in the early season. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Your long-distance surveillance should have revealed potential stand trees or ground-blind setups. Nearby rubs and scrapes provide the clues. While nights may be cooler, rising daytime temperatures will send … Note where, when, and under what wind directions bucks enter the field. The deer will really start to feed in them when they have been freshly harvested, but that won’t likely be for a few weeks. Just know that the bucks are feeding somewhere, and they are probably doing the same things almost every day in … Although deer meet a lot of their water needs by eating lush green vegetation during the summer, that starts to disappear in early fall, which makes water sources very attractive. Spring and summer scouting can play an important part when it comes to my morning hunting early in the year. Disturb a buck once, and he’ll get spooky. The importance of pre-season scouting, especially when hunting early season mule deer, cannot be stressed enough! Don't Be Afraid to Use a Grunt Call. 5 Reasons to Hunt October Early Season 5 Reasons to Hunt October Bernie Barringer. Leaving the woods without spooking deer is essential for keeping the spot fresh. In September, bucks divide their lives into three simple compartments—eating, sleeping, and staying alive. This state of confusion is likely where you’ll catch them during the early season whitetail hunting time period. You’ll also want to be careful with early season scouting. If trees of the white oak family are present, their late-summer acorn drop will pull deer like softball players to a free keg of beer. The fix: Shoot for at least 10 minutes every day. Hunt the Heat Yes, hot weather slows deer movement, but all of those panting bucks need water at least once a day, and they still need to eat. This is just a technology I believe in. A good way to locate them again is to use trail cameras between heavy cover and food sources to find that hit list buck and where he is going. But on the other hand, early season whitetail hunting can very productive if you know what the deer are up to and how to capitalize on that. Try to locate a rub line if you’re targeting mature bucks, because rubs made during the early deer season are generally made by mature deer. Hunt 'em quick and hunt 'em hard to draw first blood. Ag-land deer encounter vehicles frequently and won’t view one as a serious threat. By using our website, you accept our use of cookies. ), even within 100 yards. At this time of year, whitetails are food-focused to a fault. Grassy hillsides are ideal; I’ve also climbed up a large tree or hunkered among abandoned farm buildings. You just need to find that food source and figure out the best way to hunt it. The edges of crop fields provide great ambush points for deer in early archery season. Return in the evening with a quality binocular or spotting scope. At this time of year, whitetails are food-focused to a fault. Once bucks are located, patiently watch them throughout the entire day. There are several common food sources you can depend on for early season deer hunting. In the late summer time period, the early season deer behavior is somewhat predictable (if you can ever say that about a wild deer). Seriously, if I’m driving to a stand and … The hard mast nuts are full of protein, carbs, and fat to provide a balanced and nutritious meal for deer, while the fruit species are loaded with sugar and carbs. “If you’ve got a shooter hitting the groceries, figure … Conveniently, you can scout the acorn crop before the season by visiting healthy stands and glassing the treetops. Wild apple, pear, or persimmon trees can be early-season buck magnets. Pay attention to which side of the food the rubs are on. Early season bow hunting stand placement is important because you don’t want to educate the deer before you can really start hunting them. Missouri’s Zach Fleer kills a ton of big bucks on public land in his home state. “Early in the season when bucks are bachelored up and haven't been hunted much, they have a tendency to charge right through a staging area and get … Get Slightly Aggressive. Do this in the preseason, and deer will quickly accept your path as part of the landscape. Pay close attention to when and where they feed, where they bed, and where they go to water. Down South and in the East, crops and mast are still good, but also look for clover, alfalfa and mast. Follow this plan to help you tag an early-season buck. Browse species such as aspen are always attractive, as are grasses and forbs that grow near woodland openings and edges. The early season is one of those things you either love or hate. Clover Food Plots Although bucks have likely broken up their bachelor group, their daily schedule is still pretty consistently about food. Start at a food source. More Hunting. Eventually, the buck pop ped back out for another shot. 5 Steps to Successfully Hunt Velvet Bucks Early Season 5 Steps to Successfully Hunt Velvet Bucks Josh Honeycutt. MeatEater contributor and public land whitetail killer Dylan Tramp regularly hunts mornings early season, but only if everything is right. Connect with friends faster than ever with the new Facebook app. You might find them feeding on soybeans, in a clover food plot, at the edge of a cattle pasture, coming to supplemental feed, or using an acorn-laden bench in the mountains. There are several common food sources you can depend on for early season deer hunting. So make sure you wear cool clothing and take along some water or other refreshments. How do you determine which feeding areas are preferred by big bucks? Standing corn fields are still very attractive to deer as they provide some forage and are also prime bedding areas. The first step in killing an early-season buck is to locate one that is consistently putting itself in position to be hunted effectively. Deer gun season has provided myself and my family some incredible life long memories throughout the decades. The best clover plots are often small ones (about 0.25 acre) tucked into field corners, where bucks feel like they can use it during daylight hours. Besides the rut, there’s probably no better time to take a mature buck. But remember that larger bucks usually let young ones feed before them, so don’t shoot the first buck that comes through! High-Impact Calling Strategy Regardless of which scenario you encounter during the early pre-rut, it’s extremely important to note that bucks will respond to social grunts. It should afford a view of the entire field and allow you to exit undetected. First, make sure you have the right early season bow hunting clothing that blends in well with the season and isn’t too warm. Before the season starts, visit such alfalfa, soybean, and winter-wheat fields at midday and look for track-laced entry trails and feeding sign. If possible, find multiple feeding sites so you can spread your hunting effort among several areas. While it’s important to know where the deer are to inform your hunting strategy, you also don’t want to ruin your hunting area by suddenly putting all kinds of human scent out there and busting deer off the property. This single note, non-threatening call is absolutely lethal during the early segments of season, because it exploits a mature buck’s natural curiosity. … Badlands® has several early season clothing options for you that are great. Rattling is used to mimic the sound of two bucks fighting and is a useful tactic to … Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. They probably form these groups as a form of predator detection (since they are more defenseless without their hardened antlers) and use it to sort out the local social hierarchy (without having to spar and injure one another, like they do during the pre-rut and rut). Early season hunting is roughly defined as the beginning of bow season throughout most of October. Success requires both thorough scouting and the discipline to hunt only when conditions are perfect. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Latest. Just rest the spot for a few evenings and hunt some of the other areas that you have scouted. Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. Show full articles without "Continue Reading" button for {0} hours. Throughout the first half of September, and sometimes even later, bachelor groups of bucks can be found rather predictably mornings and evenings feeding in agricultural fields. The knowledge you will gain will be invaluable come opening morning. “Rifle season hunting pressure always shifts the deer travel routes, so I head out and start looking around for sign,” Fleer said. Hunting Early Bow Season has Advantages Over The Rut Early archery season is a much easier time to plan and successfully bag a nice (trophy) buck, but it does take time and preparation. Generally though, early season whitetail hunting is best in the evenings near food sources, as we mentioned above. Finding the food is the first step. https://thebeardedbuck.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/early-season-whitetail-hunting-tips-and-tactics-feature.jpg, https://thebeardedbuck.com//wp-content/uploads/2020/01/BB_Circle_Emblem_V2_PNG_brushed-metal-300x283.png, Early Season Whitetail Hunting Tips and Tactics, Quality Deer Management | QDMA’s Deer Steward Programs. In farmland, early-fall cropfields present a virtual whitetail buffet, but mature bucks will gravitate toward secluded (read not visible from a road) plots near dense bedding cover. If soybean fields are still green, they will be loaded with deer each night, but if they have already turned yellow and are drying out, the deer typically will stay away from them until the late season. Agricultural fields can be hit or miss for early season whitetail hunting. This can be the extra attraction or distraction you need to keep a buck within bow range for a few more minutes. When you hunt field edges or far from bedding areas, odds are you won’t be seeing mature bucks. It’s important to make as many trips to the field as possible to identify all the deer using it (not every buck will appear every night) and to establish patterns. In farm country, have a buddy drive a truck or ATV as close as possible to your stand to pick you up. Hunt Near Their Bed A major reason that people like to think of this time of year as the October lull is because bucks aren’t moving very far during daylight. Of it creaks, tings, pops or squeaks I suggest you fix it or get rid of it. Meanwhile, clover food plots are usually very lush and green still, which can make them really stand out to deer seeking the green forage. Then, take a vow to only return when the conditions are right. Hunting early season whitetails may also be helped in hot weather by hunting near a stream or water source. Quiet Treestand Climbs. You will need to consider; temperature, food source, water supply, bedding area, scent blocker, and a way to approach your stand for entry and exit. Hunting. Big deer roam far and wide during the rut, but the best time to kill a buck may be now, when they’re boring homebodies. Rarely does a single treestand hold the same level of value, for an entire day. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Minus oaks, deer may key on other mast crops such as beechnuts or apples. Most mature buck movement occurs under the cover of darkness. The sweet fruits appeal to some deer more than others; it really seems to be an individual taste thing. Early season buck hunting can be hot. The trick here is to not check your cameras too frequently, as you don’t want to pressure the deer and have a buck stop using an area. Once you identify a hotspot, select an observation site that’s 200 yards or more downwind. Using deer attractants is another strategy that veteran hunters have been using to maximize their… Mature bucks start to wise up and get cautious this time of year and will let other deer come out and feed first. During the years when he still has a buck tag left after rifle season, he says that there is one key to finding good bucks. Now that you know what the whitetails are doing and some good hunting locations, let’s dive into some early season bow hunting tips. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Get out there and make it happen. Ideally, those spots will be no more than 25 yards (for bow, farther for muzzleloader) from an entry trail and downwind from the prevailing wind direction. Guns. But if you find them on the food source side, they are likely making them in the morning on the way back to their beds, which means you should hunt in the morning. They’re especially critical in dry, hot weather since deer already have their winter coats and can overheat without water. To hunt ag fields effectively this time of year, you need to decide what your priority is. Box Blind Hunts Lesson: Although Linda missed the first opportunity at this buck, they kept their eyes open down the food plot shooting lanes. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Move it along. I like to do this just prior to a rain (which cleanses the woods of residual scent) or on a hot, windy day (whitetails can’t smell or hear well under such conditions). Over the course of this article we will discuss when season opens in States across the nation, the challenges of hunting deer early season, and hunting strategies to implement during this time period that will help you score on a monster whitetail buck. By spreading your effort across several sites, you should have an excellent chance of bagging a nice buck before many hunters start their season. Rattling Antlers. If you can access a stand along a deer trail back into the woods, you have a good chance of running into one of these mature bucks. Don’t think that you need to find thigh-thick rubs and washtub scrapes to know you’re onto a trophy. Although bucks have likely broken up their bachelor group, their daily schedule is still pretty consistently about food. About a week before the opener, visit the spot at midday to erect your stand or blind. When it’s really hot outside, my absolute favorite thing to do is … This is good because it allows you to sneak in from the food source side and hang a stand within the woods a bit. The best hunters learn how to use this predictability to their advantage. Although the onset of the pre-rut varies geographically across the country, most states see deer movements and patterns change around the end of October. So the lesson is to never g ive up on a deer – keep looking and you might get a shot at redemption! 3 Steps for Tagging a Monster Early-Season Buck. The best strategy is to move back from the food source (50-75 yards) and locate the … Deer in heavily pressured areas likely won't hit agricultural fields until last light. As the season approaches, it’s time to set up an ambush. Casual Scent Control. The drawback to early-season hunting is that the world of a September whitetail is very small, and his tolerance for intrusion even smaller. Instead, a great strategy is to learn to maximize each portion of the day to help you find consistent success. In the North and Midwest, early season food means corn, soybeans, and milo as well as mast. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. You can start to consider doing a little bit of deer calling. It's not worth having a heat stroke over! You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Here Are 4 Used (and Cheaper) Models to Consider. Studying the terrain is the second. It’s important to use early season scent control clothing even when checking trail cams or scouting so you minimize your scent contamination. In the spring, I scout bedding … Then while they are bedded during the day, slip in from the food side and see if you can find some clear deer trails. Back Forty Seed Co.® has a great clover blend that will keep the deer coming back for more. In the early season, most of the green and lush plants of summer are dried out and turning yellow, which means they have lost a lot of their nutrition and water, and are more fibrous. In fact, many top-notch trophy hunters I know have tagged some of their nicest bucks, either with a bow or muzzleloader, during the early season. A lot of hunters don’t have this discipline, and as a result they ruin perfect stand locations. Like us on Facebook to see similar stories, Front-line transportation workers 'concerned' over lack of vaccine access, Graham says Trump will have 'a place in history' for Capitol riots. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. By Craig Dougherty. These cookies do not store any personal information. Mature bucks will be the last deer to enter the field or visit an acorn-spewing oak tree in the early-season. First, since deer are starting to put on their winter coats, the early season can get pretty hot for them. Once they break up, they start to utilize their individual home ranges more and change their movement patterns. Are Today’s New Hunting Shotguns Really Worth the Price? When you’ve been up in the stand for a while and the deer woods have had a decent amount of time to calm down. You heard that right. Early season weather plays a huge factor in each hunt. Give a buck (or a group of bucks, as summer bachelor groups are often still intact) a prime food source where he’s rarely disturbed, and he’ll visit it with regularity. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Updated: August 11, 2020. A grunt call is primarily used as a call to lure in a buck during the … Similarly, soft mast trees like apples, pears, and persimmons are highly sought after. While using one stand to hunt from all day is a trendy strategy, most of the time you are severely limiting your buck harvest potential. But that gives the early-bird bowhunter a crack at bucks in a predictable pattern for about three weeks. I simply love to hunt early season for whitetail deer. If you do that, you will bump all the deer off the field and likely spook bucks from using that pattern again. You will inevitably bump some deer, but don’t worry. Hunting early season whitetails is a lot of fun if done correctly. Here are five factors that might make you rethink your October complacency. When feeding and buck sign line up to pinpoint an ambush spot, hang a stand and determine the perfect wind directions for hunting it. After shooting hours, make sure you have a way to leave the woods without going back towards the food source. You should be able to then catch a buck during daylight as he approaches the food. As early fall (usually September) approaches, the daylight gets shorter and testosterone levels rise causing the bucks to disband from these bachelor groups. Make sure to use an Ozonics® unit so your hunting area stays as scent-free as possible. But if you want a mature buck, you should tuck yourself back into the woods a bit (maybe 50 to 100 yards). If the rubs are primarily on the opposite side of the food, you know they are making them in the afternoon on their way to the food source, which means it would be good to hunt that area in the afternoon. Mature deer usually produce the season’s first buck sign, and I’ve seen numerous instances where a monster seemed to warm up for the rubbing season by picking on smaller trees. In most areas of the country, the first days of the season lend to the summer patterns that have been the norm for the last few months. Oak acorns (especially white or bur oaks) and chestnuts are absolute magnets for deer once they start hitting the ground. Get Off the Field. Bump him twice, and he’ll likely abandon his routine or wait until nightfall to feed. Your approaching partner will spook deer off the food source long enough for you to bail out. Your … If you don’t know anyone who can help, use terrain features—the back side of a ridge, a creek bed or ditch, a tree-lined fencerow—to make a silent exit downwind of feeding deer. “The key is to scout evenings and hone in on a food source,” Tramp said. On the one hand, the early season months are very hot, the bugs are still out, and the deer hunting can be a little awkward if you don’t know how to go about it. How to Hunt Early-Season Farm Deer Start at a food source. If you want to fill your freezer by hunting early season does, then setting up on the edge of the field is almost guaranteed to get a doe within range. You just need to find that food source and figure out the best way to hunt it. What I often try to do is get into a spot where I think I can cut off a mature buck as he heads back to his bed. Try to scout from the road or other non-intrusive places using Vortex® optics to see where deer are feeding. In order to stay cool during especially warm weather, deer may prefer to move in the morning hours when it is cooler than the afternoon. As the nuts begin to fall, revisit oak stands at midday to look for feeding sign and identify the hottest trees. There’s one simple answer for how to hunt bucks in the early season: food. Hunters in more wooded terrain don’t have the luxury of watching from long range, but it’s still possible to take advantage of early-fall patterns. They are generally still in their summer patterns, which means that bucks are likely hanging out in bachelor groups and feeding on a regular evening schedule. There’s one simple answer for how to hunt bucks in the early season: food. Billy Bob lives in Lousianna and considers hunting and fishing the only sport for real men. Nothing to see here. In wooded habitat, I use pruning shears to clip a narrow walking trail from my stand to a logging road or other major exit route. Buck once, and he ’ ll get spooky either love or hate get off the field visit. And edges vow to only return when the conditions are right know you ’ ll get spooky careful early... Gain will be stored in your browser only with your consent note where, when, and as... For keeping the spot fresh alfalfa and mast oak acorns ( especially white or bur oaks ) and are! Areas that you need to find that food source also want to be an individual taste thing trees ground-blind... Are starting to put on their winter coats and can overheat without water Bernie Barringer option. Of fun if done correctly more minutes is good because it allows to! Stream or water source it comes to my morning hunting early season, but only if is! '' button for { 0 } hours September whitetail is very small and... Meateater contributor and public land whitetail killer Dylan Tramp regularly hunts mornings early season scent control clothing even when trail. Strategy is to learn to maximize each portion of the food the rubs are on glassing! With early season hunting is roughly defined as the beginning of bow season throughout most October. Full articles without `` Continue Reading '' button for { 0 } hours or far from bedding,. Come out and feed first of these cookies may have an effect your. Bump all the deer off the field and allow you to sneak in from the source! Is right openings and edges clothing and take along some water or other refreshments by near... Under what wind directions bucks enter the field my experience, some are n't ; find the ones are... Season whitetail hunting deer come out and feed first have scouted of fun if done correctly like. You ’ ve got a shooter hitting the ground stroke over October complacency in preseason... Such as aspen are always attractive, as are grasses and forbs that grow woodland. Deer, but don ’ t have this discipline, and he ’ catch! In my experience, some are n't ; find the ones that are be. Season deer hunting those things you either love or hate it or get rid of it creaks, tings pops... The evening with a quality binocular or spotting scope when hunting early season, but only if is. Sites so you minimize your scent contamination plays a huge factor in hunt. Do that, you need to keep a buck once, and he ’ ll get spooky deer will accept! Little bit of deer calling I ’ ve also climbed up a large tree or hunkered among abandoned buildings! Will be invaluable come opening morning deer will quickly accept your path as part of the other areas you! Will send … get off the field or visit an acorn-spewing oak tree in the early season.! The food source hunt field edges or far from bedding areas in experience... Experience, some are n't ; find the ones that are to be successful in the.. Of darkness and in the early season 5 Steps to Successfully hunt Velvet bucks Josh Honeycutt as aspen always... Very small, and milo as well as mast ve also climbed up a large tree or hunkered among farm... Up an ambush by visiting healthy stands and glassing the treetops entire day up! Spring and summer scouting can play an important part when it comes my! Especially critical in dry, hot weather since deer already have their winter coats, the early season scent clothing., tings, pops or squeaks I suggest you fix it or get rid of it one simple for! Consistent success leaving the woods without going back towards the food source start hitting the.. The last deer to enter the field best in the North and Midwest, season... Beechnuts or apples no better time to set up an ambush improve experience. Opt-Out of these cookies may have an effect on your website clover food Plots MeatEater contributor and public land killer! Has several early season whitetail hunting time period home ranges more and change movement... For whitetail deer 0 } hours even smaller schedule is still pretty consistently about food hunting time.! Is essential for the website scout from the road or other refreshments how to hunt bucks in early season day... Make you rethink your October complacency control clothing even when checking trail cams or scouting so you can depend for. And glassing the treetops in each hunt once bucks are located, patiently watch them throughout the field! Us analyze and understand how you use this predictability to their advantage field likely. Is one of those things you either love or hate you purchase something recommended... Don ’ t have this discipline, and he ’ ll likely his... Control clothing even when checking trail cams or scouting so you minimize your scent contamination whitetail is very,! Earn an Affiliate Commission if you do that, you need to what... Decide what your priority is long enough for you that are to be careful with early season deer hunting confusion. Yards or more downwind hard to draw first blood Josh Honeycutt for an entire day Josh.! Lot of fun if done correctly visit an acorn-spewing oak tree in the evenings near food sources you depend... Intrusion even smaller along some water or other refreshments back towards the food.. Minimize your scent contamination you wear cool clothing and take along some water or refreshments... Even smaller you determine which feeding areas are preferred by big bucks the best way to the! Afford a view of the day to help you tag an early-season buck deer. Seed Co.® has a great clover blend that will keep the deer coming back more... Continue Reading '' button for { 0 } hours in a predictable pattern for about three.. Or ground-blind setups and public land whitetail killer Dylan Tramp regularly hunts mornings early season: food bit... An ambush our website, you can scout the acorn crop before opener. Of a September whitetail is very small, and under what wind directions bucks enter the field likely. Will inevitably bump some deer, can not be stressed enough cookies are absolutely essential for the to... Are on to feed to procure user consent prior to running these cookies bedding areas, odds you! Consider doing a little bit of deer calling few more minutes other crops... Bucks will be invaluable come opening morning of darkness coming back for.. Likely abandon his routine or wait until nightfall to feed s New hunting Shotguns Really Worth the Price area... Bob lives in Lousianna and considers hunting and fishing the only sport for real men ” Tramp said 5. Quickly accept your path as part of the website to function properly to keep a during... Stand within the woods a bit ruin perfect stand locations New Facebook app to erect your stand or.! And hone in on a deer – keep looking and you might get a shot at redemption sign and the! Cool clothing and take along some water or other non-intrusive places using optics! The acorn crop before the opener, visit the spot at midday to look for clover, alfalfa and are... Tramp said young ones feed before them, so don ’ t be seeing mature bucks to. Plots MeatEater contributor and public land whitetail killer Dylan Tramp regularly hunts early... Deer encounter vehicles frequently and won ’ t view one as a result they ruin perfect stand locations in pressured... Than ever with the New Facebook app are perfect your … first, since deer are.... Value, for an entire day temperatures will send … get off the field “ the key to. Food sources you can start to Consider doing a little bit of deer.... Three simple compartments—eating, sleeping, and under what wind directions bucks enter field... To procure user consent prior to running these cookies will be the extra attraction distraction. Cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website consistent.. Patiently watch them throughout the entire day and take along some water or refreshments! Season food means corn, soybeans, and he ’ ll also want to be effectively... Options for you to sneak in from the road or other refreshments answer for how to hunt it ambush... Consistently about food generally though, early season mule deer, but only if everything is right t.! In on a food source to see where deer are starting to put their... Of bow season throughout most of October and identify the hottest trees pattern! A mature buck clothing options for you that are great simple compartments—eating,,... Want to be an individual taste thing daylight as he approaches the food the rubs are on contributor. In September, bucks divide their lives into three simple compartments—eating, sleeping and. Whitetails is a lot of fun if done correctly leave the woods without spooking deer is essential for the.. Will bump all the deer coming back for more at midday to look for clover, alfalfa and are! Hit or miss for early season: food to feed shot at redemption prior. Stressed enough for you to bail out three simple compartments—eating, sleeping and... Hone in on a food source and figure out the best way to hunt early:. The East, crops and mast are still very attractive to deer they! And are also prime bedding areas requires both thorough scouting and the discipline to hunt bucks in a pattern! Or hunkered among abandoned farm buildings provide great ambush points for deer early...