Obviously anytime deer hunting beats working. But there's something about early season I don't enjoy. It doesn't feel like deer hunting to me. When the leaves are gone, and its a crisp 30° every morning is when it feels like deer hunting to me.
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Anyone else not like early season?
- Thread starter bigmike23
- Start date
I pretty much don’t hunt with any significant effort until December in Louisiana. If I hunt October or November it’s in the Midwest. Or a random cold serious front that gets temps in 40’s, from 80’s.
Otherwise, it’s not a high leverage time to hunt.
Otherwise, it’s not a high leverage time to hunt.
It's the lack of bucks where I hunt that keeps me from deer hunting more early on. The bigger ones start showing up after October 20 around my haunts.
Having said that I'll be out hunting tomorrow morning. A passing cold front is supposed to drop our temperature to about 28 which I am happy to see. Hopefully something bigger than the small 8s I have pictures of walks around in daylight. Either way it will be a nice morning to enjoy the woods.
Having said that I'll be out hunting tomorrow morning. A passing cold front is supposed to drop our temperature to about 28 which I am happy to see. Hopefully something bigger than the small 8s I have pictures of walks around in daylight. Either way it will be a nice morning to enjoy the woods.
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2022
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- 4,268
I don't enjoy the heat and bugs but if the acorns are dropping that is my favorite time to hunt. I like to seek out fresh feeding sign and hunt it right then. I also like the fact that I basically have the place to myself. I've been out twice, and I only saw one other guy's truck. I would say October 20 to November 15th is my favorite time. Once any type of gun season kicks off things start to go downhill.
I agree. Acorns are raining down here in Oh. Shot one the first night. I think the very best time to hunt is "When You Can"
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- Sep 4, 2019
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- 1,373
Northeast Ohio… in the past few years running a lot of cameras has kinda eliminated any favorite part of the season for me. It’s all just different situations and pros and cons. One particular area I hunt sometimes has deer coming back to bed later in the morning, or coming off beds before dark, and if that’s happening it’s as good a bet as any. I also work travel areas between oak stands kinda like a rut bedding network; sometimes even larger bucks will make some movements here for an hour or so in morning daylight. The season goes by fast, finding opportunities throughout has its benefits as opposed to betting the farm on one month…
I love early season buy i hate the heat.
its a total motivation turn off.
The god darn bugs dont help either.
summer and late summer is my money time.
I live in a really seasonal buisness area so I have very limited time to hunt early season.
Summer is time to make money. Late summer is a good time to pattern a target buck but its very difficult and not as easy as some so called whitetail gods claim.
Bucks can be presdured just by glassing them from the road. In my areas no matter whattime of year it is. If you stop snd look at a buck in a field you gave about 20 seconds before he bolts. Its rare if he dont.
Getting on early season bucks totaly depends on how much pressure there is on them.
People think there is no pressure on deer until opening day but that is at least on most public far from the truth.
These days Mid to late summer people are putting plenty of pressure on deer way before the season opener with scouting, trail cameras, setting stands, cutting lanes, etc.
Hunting deer is not as easy as some claim any time of the year.
Very delicate research needs to be done very carefully
It dont take very much pressure to tell the deer they are being hunted.
plus not everyone can scout, scout, hunt 7 days a week like some can.
am i jealous of that?
Well maybe a bit
its a total motivation turn off.
The god darn bugs dont help either.
summer and late summer is my money time.
I live in a really seasonal buisness area so I have very limited time to hunt early season.
Summer is time to make money. Late summer is a good time to pattern a target buck but its very difficult and not as easy as some so called whitetail gods claim.
Bucks can be presdured just by glassing them from the road. In my areas no matter whattime of year it is. If you stop snd look at a buck in a field you gave about 20 seconds before he bolts. Its rare if he dont.
Getting on early season bucks totaly depends on how much pressure there is on them.
People think there is no pressure on deer until opening day but that is at least on most public far from the truth.
These days Mid to late summer people are putting plenty of pressure on deer way before the season opener with scouting, trail cameras, setting stands, cutting lanes, etc.
Hunting deer is not as easy as some claim any time of the year.
Very delicate research needs to be done very carefully
It dont take very much pressure to tell the deer they are being hunted.
plus not everyone can scout, scout, hunt 7 days a week like some can.
am i jealous of that?
Well maybe a bit
Preseason warm-ups. No real reasonable chance of killing a buck in the big woods here without absolutely scouting your butt off, getting lucky, or planting a bunch of cell cams.
Just say yes to early season.
I sort of treat it as a separate season for stacking some does up in the freezer. Once the scrapes start popping up, its time to make the switch to regular deer season where hopefully a nice buck takes a ride in my truck.
I sort of treat it as a separate season for stacking some does up in the freezer. Once the scrapes start popping up, its time to make the switch to regular deer season where hopefully a nice buck takes a ride in my truck.
Bowmanmike
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2019
- Messages
- 1,265
I like early season as well. I can get my climbing and set up dialed in hopefully put a doe in the freezer(check for this year) and scout while going in to see what's up.
Seasons are what you make of them really,the deer are always out there,you just gotta shift with them.
Seasons are what you make of them really,the deer are always out there,you just gotta shift with them.
BowhunterXC
Well-Known Member
I prefer cooler weather for bow hunting, but it's hard for me to stay out of the woods. 
This year has been a "banner" year for me. So, I can't complain about "not liking to hunt the early season". I shot a nice doe, this past Monday and on Thursday of this week I shot a buck.
This year has been a "banner" year for me. So, I can't complain about "not liking to hunt the early season". I shot a nice doe, this past Monday and on Thursday of this week I shot a buck.
I prefer cooler weather for bow hunting, but it's hard for me to stay out of the woods.
This year has been a "banner" year for me. So, I can't complain about "not liking to hunt the early season". I shot a nice doe, this past Monday and on Thursday of this week I shot a buck.
View attachment 73185
View attachment 73186
Nice shot!
We don't see yellow leaves like that for at least another month, maybe two!
I developed my own rule years ago based on observed activity and harvest success. The Rule of 60 states that I only hunt if the max temperature during the day is less than 60. My success is far better, I'm more comfortable from temperature and less mosquitoes, and waste less time watching trees.
In NC, I would love to see our season shortened to begin on Oct 1st for bow opener.
In NC, I would love to see our season shortened to begin on Oct 1st for bow opener.
MNFarmHunter
Well-Known Member
The first weekend hunt to me is a practice hunt as it's the first time in a year that you put everything together for the actual hunt. As such, I don't enjoy that hunt at all. This weekend is weekend #2, have everything dialed in and am looking forward to it.
Doesn't hurt that it'll be dry and cool with the winds blowing in the right direction.
Doesn't hurt that it'll be dry and cool with the winds blowing in the right direction.
- Joined
- Sep 13, 2020
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- 786
I’m getting to this realization since moving to a much lower density state ( NH ) . 70 or above my sightings are extremely lacking. NJ and PA comparatively the deer followed more patterns.
I could follow mast, bedding or geography more successfully.
* see Nutters hunt by numbers thread or “drive until you see deer in daylight”
I’m about 1:4 on deer sightings per hunt this year and last season, in first 2-3 weeks. It’s starting to stress me out from a time vs sightings , coupled with the recent safety dialogue.
*committed to my recurve this archery season.
I try to fit PM sits in after work early season and then will rotate mornings , a few full days when I have core areas better defined come October.
Aside from getting into saddle shape, “observation” and slowing down I’m starting to question my return on time.
Fortunately I’m connected with a few members on here to trade info and keep each other motivated.
I’d be best served by taking off more time to hunt on weekdays in areas where there is a deer/ good deer sign.
I could follow mast, bedding or geography more successfully.
* see Nutters hunt by numbers thread or “drive until you see deer in daylight”
I’m about 1:4 on deer sightings per hunt this year and last season, in first 2-3 weeks. It’s starting to stress me out from a time vs sightings , coupled with the recent safety dialogue.
*committed to my recurve this archery season.
I try to fit PM sits in after work early season and then will rotate mornings , a few full days when I have core areas better defined come October.
Aside from getting into saddle shape, “observation” and slowing down I’m starting to question my return on time.
Fortunately I’m connected with a few members on here to trade info and keep each other motivated.
I’d be best served by taking off more time to hunt on weekdays in areas where there is a deer/ good deer sign.
Early season, rut, late season, sounds good, time in the woods I'll take it! Lol.
BenG
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2017
- Messages
- 412
I hear ya, not that I don't enjoy it but sometimes it feels like wasted time. The cold front we're getting is gonna make tomorrow feel like prime time. Leaves are changing, temperature is dropping, and the anticipation is high. I won't burn my vacation time early just because of odds of success but I'm not gonna miss the chance to get out on a Saturday with a cold front like this when life allows.