Due to some changes in my wife's work schedule, at least one day, maybe two days a week that I would normally hunt in the afternoon, I will not be able to hunt unless I hunt from 10am-2pm. Now, do you all think it is worth it to hunt from 10am-2pm during the first 3 weeks of October? I have never hunted during that time of the day during the early part of the season. And if you do think it is worth it, how would you set up? Thanks all.
With the full moon this weekend and mast crops falling like mad in east Texas I'll be out during mid-day. I'm planning on sitting all day in an oak grove watching a wild plum tree if the wind is right. If the wind doesn't work there I'll go to plan B, or C, or D...........
I mean in all reality , know body really knows. Ya some people might say that your chance are not good, and you prolly wont see many deer, but you never no..thats the best part....Nobody will know but you..gotta be out there to see deer. If this is the only time i could hunt, then i would no matter what anyone said
Tried it one time in second weekend of Oct...no other chance to hunt that weekend (plus had a 1 yr old and new born at the time - getting up early was not happening) I thought what the heck I just need to be in the woods...went from about 9:30 - 1:00...had an awesome hunt. I was located in the middle a some huge woods where I knew deer would be all day...sure enough - trying to get my climber on had a young doe approach from up wind and nearly shot from the ground...once I climbed up had decent action (1-3 deer every 30 minutes or so) with one smaller buck sighted...most deer got within 100 yards, but none under 25 which was all the cover would allow to shoot. Plus it was a sunny blue sky day - which I thought would hurt. Could have been random chance - but I had a great hunt and if that's all time allows - I will do it again. (Oh...I should add this was a state forest that is loaded with Oaks - I'm sure the acorns are what drew in the deer) Good Luck!
I've been getting pics on trail cams all hours of the day in our area. Most of the pictures were on a camera that we put on a trail that goes from a bedding area to a little pond with lots of cover. If you have a set up like that it may be well worth trying.
Jeff, I will be out there buck hunting primarily. I AM going to try it out, probably 5-6 hunts at 10am-2pm over the course of the first 3 weeks of October. I have too much hunting energy to just sit at home, plus I have some spots on the place I hunt where I am willing to go for broke, not really caring if I mess up the area. This will give me a chance to get aggressive in certain areas. Gri22ly--good info man, I really appreciate it. I went back and looked over my topos and remarked areas based on the information you shared with me in NC. I think I have a solid game plan on 4 large locations, based on almost every wind/thermal condition (I think). I am going to put into effect around October 24th or so during the earliest parts of the pre-rut. Until then I am going to jump around, being aggressive in my set-ups in other places. Deerslayer--that is the beauty of it isn't it? I can experiment and have a blast. Now if it is 85 degrees that day, forget it. Bz--thanks for the info and encouragement! Once the pressure mounts, the deer will alter their travel patterns, especially the first three weeks of hunting season.
i have found from my various outdoor times workin, that there is a mid morning travel for almost all deer between 10-12. its pretty uncanny really.
I would say that by the 3rd week of Oct you may find some bucks to be up on their feet checking scrapes around bedding areas at mid day.
Go to the link and scroll down to the 4th pic. http://www.bowhunting.com/blog/post/2009/02/07/Bowhuntingcoms-2008-Deer-Contest-Review.aspx I got that guy around 11:45 on October 13th last year. I was set up on a food source.
Every year I say I am going to hunt mid-day...then I never do until the rut. I see so many deer during the summer at mid-day, but I've almost never gave it a shot during hunting season.
I have a ton of trail cameras of mid day big buck movements in thick bedding areas from this summer and into the fall. I put cameras in places I never have dared too before.The tough part is trying to invade these bedding areas without ruining the area real fast. Very difficult.
If your not hunting 10 - 2, your missing plenty of deer. In PA, I consistency see deer movement during those times in the early season. Was scouting last Sunday and saw 4 doe and 1 shooter buck between 9:30 and 10:30. All the deer were in areas where plenty of acorn's were falling. My experience over the years and the areas I hunt are that 10 - 2 are good times to hunt and deer are moving int he early season.
Obsolutely! I'm an all day kind of hunter when I can. Set up? I don't know your land to recommend. Mid day I'd say look for a water source. If not, trails between beds or anywhere you have good acorn drop.
That is what I was thinking Shed----difficult to set up. I have a ton of areas I can play around with and mess up if I like as I hunt a huge military base. I might just set up where I think a buck might leak out for a mid-day snack...heck I am an opportunist. I probably would smack a doe if she showed herself at mid-day! Heck, if if it slow, I might just bring a kayak along and fish my way back out at noon!
