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Early season, is it to hot?

austin1990

austin1990

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2018
Messages
666
Location
AR
I hear a lot of people say they don't hunt til the rut and it always baffled me. Early season is my favorite time of year to hunt and if you can get a buck on a early season food source you have a great shot at him. Guys I work with always state the reason for not hunting early season is the heat as the main excuse. They say its miserable to sit there, the deer don't move til it's dark, the bugs make it worse. These are also the same guys that don't pay attention to wind direction, stand placement or a why a deer is using that location. Theyll see a rub or scrape pop up on the side of a field or road and sit there, even though the blessing area may be a mile from there. Being able to read hot sign and where to hunt is just a piece of the puzzle. I was looking back through pics and videos and came across this one and it's what gave me the idea for this post. Now this spot is great all year, just because deer bed within 100 yards a lot of the time, when it's super dry the only water for 1/2 mile is just out of the frame and I always have a food plot here. Note the time and temp. It sure didnt stop these bucks from enjoying a hot food source, so why should the heat keep you from hunting?
 
Great video!

I hunt early season and believe that if you can catch a buck BEFORE the acorns drop, you have a great chance at establishing a reliable pattern. Clearly, the earlier season opens in September, the better the odds of this working in your favor.

Things I hate more than hunting the early season heat are
  • mosquitoes
  • chiggers
  • poison oak/ivy
  • ticks
  • snakes
BUT ...I'm still after 'em!
 
dpierce72 said:
Great video!

I hunt early season and believe that if you can catch a buck BEFORE the acorns drop, you have a great chance at establishing a reliable pattern. Clearly, the earlier season opens in September, the better the odds of this working in your favor.

Things I hate more than hunting the early season heat are
  • mosquitoes
  • chiggers
  • poison oak/ivy
  • ticks
  • snakes
BUT ...I'm still after 'em!
Click to expand...

The boys up north don't have the pleasure of knowing what chigger bites feel like.......absolute misery for about 3 - 4 days.
 
dpierce72 said:
Great video!

I hunt early season and believe that if you can catch a buck BEFORE the acorns drop, you have a great chance at establishing a reliable pattern. Clearly, the earlier season opens in September, the better the odds of this working in your favor.

Things I hate more than hunting the early season heat are
  • mosquitoes
  • chiggers
  • poison oak/ivy
  • ticks
  • snakes
BUT ...I'm still after 'em!
Click to expand...

Made the mistake of summer scouting a grown up field last year.....looked like I had chicken pox I was so covered.
 
Reminds me of early season muzzleloader in Kansas. I made my buddies up orange dry fit shirts that said Kansas...too hot to hunt
 
I do have places that I don’t molest until the rut but I still hunt in the heat. Presets are nice to have but I will go run and gun when needed.
 
I usually only get to hunt weekends so if I have an opportunity to go the heat doesn't stop me. It's hot here til early November anyway
 
Always really liked the first week of the season here in pa. Which is typically last Saturday in September or first Saturday in October. Calm deer and hunt good food sources
 
hauscaliber said:
I'm hunting central Florida. If I used those excuses I'd miss the entire hunting season :tearsofjoy:
Click to expand...

I’m in central FL as well and a couple yrs ago killed a good buck chasing does for bow opener (mid Sept) when was about 95degrees and heat index over 100 & then last week of my season (in February ) about 1.5 hrs away killed a FL book buck with a rifle while he chased does in 90 degree heat

If we wait for good weather we won’t ever be able to hunt central FL


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Yes, but usually only the mornings. Really, by the time we could get the deer, field dress it, and get it back to some ice, it would be questionable. Some of the hunting areas are a mile in. We don't have too many chigger, but damn skeeters are hell. Also really hard to not stink.

That said, Sept 7th, I'll be in a tree
 
Opening week last year was pretty hot. Once I was all set up beneath the canopy, my sweaty shirt cooled me down nicely. Didn't feel hot at all. Ran the thermacell and sprayed with bug spray. No bug problems whatsoever.
 
I just go through a butt load of shirts during the early season. My truck becomes like a closet trying to keep enough dry clothes on hand. I pit em out like it's my job. But hey, if it keeps the public land less pressured, bring on the heat!
 
NW_Arkansas22 said:
The boys up north don't have the pleasure of knowing what chigger bites feel like.......absolute misery for about 3 - 4 days.
Click to expand...
I was stationed at Ft. Bragg in NC so I did get "enjoy" chiggers for a little while. I'd get bit up some, but I had a friend named Tom who was heavy set and hairy as hell and the chiggers did love him. They'd tear him up. That's one little bug I was happy to leave with you all.
 
I definitely hunt the early season heat. I pretty much forget about the heat as soon as I start seeing deer. I get pretty good daylight pics of bucks all summer so I can’t let that time go by without hunting. Had my largest buck on camera just out of range last year on Sept 17th. 3rd day of the season. Hopefully i can a little closer to the beds this year with my saddle.MFDC9985.jpg


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