Well my peoples This is the time of year I start to get the bug a bit because I know its only a few months away.
In only A Few days it will already be June 1st, and In Just A few weeks Usually mid to late June Is when I will take a few days off and start to hang most of my cameras to soak and collect Data for the year.
(Please note that Yes, I am going into my 3rd season with I think 12 -25 dollar and under Tascos and they are working just as good as some of the top brands on the market) Here is a link to my videos on them. The first link is a Mid season Pull which I had to do early because of other obligations.
( Mid season Tasco review ) Here is my Post season video review ( End of season Tasco review )
Check them out if you want, My content Is raw and real like most of us with no sugar coating.
Most of my cameras will not be touched until mid November where intrusion will or shouldn't be a big thing to Rutting bucks.
Even then I try to get in and get out also I always try to enter areas around Mid day to keep intrusion consequences down.
I do hang some on easy access trails where I do get a lot of human activity but, I also get buck pics so it is almost a double learning thing.
This tells me when people are scouting, Hunting, or just doing whatever but, they are there which I know the deer know.
Next I can see how the bucks are reacting to that pressure. Are they skirting the area?, are they coming through at night?, or are they void of that area totally?
All will tell a story and help plan your attack or strategy for the year. This has really worked for me the last 5 or so years and it keeps me busy and in the woods almost year round.
I describe this trail cam tactic only because this has really helped me sky rocket my sightings or even opportunities with very limited time to scout, hunt ,or just get out. This helps a ton for the hunters who have minimal time to hunt or scout.
Mid July is when I start to take evening rides grabbing a cup of coffee while I glass and see what is going on with the deer in my areas.
Checking fields a few hours before dark can definitely tell you what the bucks are doing now.
With that said I want People to realize one thing.
My season is open September first in one state and then Late September to early October in another state.
Now please, please, please, people with limited time. 3 weeks is a huge difference in where, when, and what the deer are doing or where they are hanging out during legal shooting light. Also where they are sleeping and How they are travelling to the main food source
I really think a lot of people DO NOT realize this huge pattern change from late august compared to late September.
Most of us who work full time, Have responsibilities, And or Families to tend to compared to the time that most so called "experts have to get out and scout and plan.
Food sources are dropping away by the day but, others are popping up so the deer know this and adjust to use the areas that these seasonal foods are in.
Also cover for the deer is dwindling away by the day so they will be adjusting the bedding probably by the week.
To give an example of changing food sources would be in my areas corn, beans, or even milo is being farmed from September to dam near Halloween, and mid to late September the oaks are dropping acorns like rain drops falling.
the trick We need to learn and figure out is what foods the deer prefer and when they prefer it.
Seasonal timing is really big in the learning process on progressing in the learning curve. We also need to learn and pattern other hunters, where they hunt, when they hunt, and how they hunt. I promise you this, The deer know or will earn very quickly.
This is where Identifying and reading the deer and hunter sign is important.
I am not talking about rut sign I am talking about sign that deer leave outside of the rut. for example, big tracks, scat, yes scrapes and rubs but these wont be in a rut area that a ton of does live in. these rubs or scrapes will be where the bucks live. When you are lookin for rut sign try to think like this and simplify it in a way that Rut sign is Rut sign and will most likely be in food areas, open woods transitions, or outside or very near doe bedding. Just keep that all in your mind when your out maybe doing some early season scouting or hanging some trail cameras.
I can not wait for this season because I believe I am getting a lot better than how I was feeling in the last few years Mentally and I am plowing through every day to strive to be better at what i love to do and that is to Live and enjoy life. This year I will plan my opportunities to hunt a lot more strictly and this will or should give me more time than I was allocated in the last few years. Balance and Planning for me is very Important for me. The reast between is the challenge of putting the puzzle together which is why we all do what we do every year
Sorry to ramble but I really enjoy to share some things that have helped me improve my deer tactics immensely and want to share them so others can enjoy the the experiences I have been through chasing deer. Please remember to where tick spray or permethrin because the bugs are already nuts lol
and drink plenty of water
In only A Few days it will already be June 1st, and In Just A few weeks Usually mid to late June Is when I will take a few days off and start to hang most of my cameras to soak and collect Data for the year.
(Please note that Yes, I am going into my 3rd season with I think 12 -25 dollar and under Tascos and they are working just as good as some of the top brands on the market) Here is a link to my videos on them. The first link is a Mid season Pull which I had to do early because of other obligations.
( Mid season Tasco review ) Here is my Post season video review ( End of season Tasco review )
Check them out if you want, My content Is raw and real like most of us with no sugar coating.
Most of my cameras will not be touched until mid November where intrusion will or shouldn't be a big thing to Rutting bucks.
Even then I try to get in and get out also I always try to enter areas around Mid day to keep intrusion consequences down.
I do hang some on easy access trails where I do get a lot of human activity but, I also get buck pics so it is almost a double learning thing.
This tells me when people are scouting, Hunting, or just doing whatever but, they are there which I know the deer know.
Next I can see how the bucks are reacting to that pressure. Are they skirting the area?, are they coming through at night?, or are they void of that area totally?
All will tell a story and help plan your attack or strategy for the year. This has really worked for me the last 5 or so years and it keeps me busy and in the woods almost year round.
I describe this trail cam tactic only because this has really helped me sky rocket my sightings or even opportunities with very limited time to scout, hunt ,or just get out. This helps a ton for the hunters who have minimal time to hunt or scout.
Mid July is when I start to take evening rides grabbing a cup of coffee while I glass and see what is going on with the deer in my areas.
Checking fields a few hours before dark can definitely tell you what the bucks are doing now.
With that said I want People to realize one thing.
My season is open September first in one state and then Late September to early October in another state.
Now please, please, please, people with limited time. 3 weeks is a huge difference in where, when, and what the deer are doing or where they are hanging out during legal shooting light. Also where they are sleeping and How they are travelling to the main food source
I really think a lot of people DO NOT realize this huge pattern change from late august compared to late September.
Most of us who work full time, Have responsibilities, And or Families to tend to compared to the time that most so called "experts have to get out and scout and plan.
Food sources are dropping away by the day but, others are popping up so the deer know this and adjust to use the areas that these seasonal foods are in.
Also cover for the deer is dwindling away by the day so they will be adjusting the bedding probably by the week.
To give an example of changing food sources would be in my areas corn, beans, or even milo is being farmed from September to dam near Halloween, and mid to late September the oaks are dropping acorns like rain drops falling.
the trick We need to learn and figure out is what foods the deer prefer and when they prefer it.
Seasonal timing is really big in the learning process on progressing in the learning curve. We also need to learn and pattern other hunters, where they hunt, when they hunt, and how they hunt. I promise you this, The deer know or will earn very quickly.
This is where Identifying and reading the deer and hunter sign is important.
I am not talking about rut sign I am talking about sign that deer leave outside of the rut. for example, big tracks, scat, yes scrapes and rubs but these wont be in a rut area that a ton of does live in. these rubs or scrapes will be where the bucks live. When you are lookin for rut sign try to think like this and simplify it in a way that Rut sign is Rut sign and will most likely be in food areas, open woods transitions, or outside or very near doe bedding. Just keep that all in your mind when your out maybe doing some early season scouting or hanging some trail cameras.
I can not wait for this season because I believe I am getting a lot better than how I was feeling in the last few years Mentally and I am plowing through every day to strive to be better at what i love to do and that is to Live and enjoy life. This year I will plan my opportunities to hunt a lot more strictly and this will or should give me more time than I was allocated in the last few years. Balance and Planning for me is very Important for me. The reast between is the challenge of putting the puzzle together which is why we all do what we do every year
Sorry to ramble but I really enjoy to share some things that have helped me improve my deer tactics immensely and want to share them so others can enjoy the the experiences I have been through chasing deer. Please remember to where tick spray or permethrin because the bugs are already nuts lol
and drink plenty of water