If you don't have any shooter bucks on camera or know of any using your hunting grounds, what do you do during early season?
Hunt! You never know who may show up and when. I may save my "best" spot for the rut, but I would definitely be in the woods. I've seen so may deer from my stand either avoid a camera or that the camera misses. Cameras are a nice idea of what's out there but its not 100%.
I usually hunt anyway, burn out my stands, and then gripe that I'm not seeing any deer. I thought that was what everyone did? lol
I chose hunt anyway. I'm not saying I am super confident with my stands, but the more time spent in the woods the greater the chance of seeing something. As the saying goes, can't shoot anything from your couch.
I hunt no matter what. Its nice just to get out and away from the problems of the world for a few hours.
Pink, I understand that logic. But I believe knowing when to hunt and when not to hunt is the difference between elite hunters and average hunters (everything else being equal). This is an important trait to have and probably often overlooked IMO.
I guess if your trying to be "elite" and you are more focused on killing a good buck I would wait until the last week of October to hunt. For me I have a need to fill the freezer before I worry about killing a good buck so if I can get a couple Does early in the season and have the rest of the year to just hunt for a good buck that works out better for me.
Yes, but I'm becoming much more particular as to when. I have a very high chance of filling a doe tag if/when I want to, so I try to do that early. Then I will be more selective as to when and where I hunt. I have one stand I will no longer hunt until late October. I never used to be that way, but the success I've had in that area at that time and anecdotal evidence prior to that time frame in that area leads me to believe that I'm only causing more harm entering and exiting that area before late October.
Matt have you given up trying to locate a shooter buck prior to the rut? I know you seem to have the same type of situation as I do. Lots of local does hanging around and young bucks. Then the big boys move in during the rut and all hell breaks lose. Do you even try to find a buck now for early season?
I enjoying killing does almost as much as bucks. Almost. And with unlimited doe tags and lots of deer business is good ! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
My best chance is early season anyway. Since my property is all woods, once it gets much past the middle of November, the deer spend less time on my property and spend more time in fields looking for food. I also hunt for meat so I'll work on taking a doe and if a buck comes around all the better. So although I chose hunt anyway, I hunt more precise from mid-October to mid-November.
